DOE Offers Cheap Patents for Energy Startups

By Paula Melton

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is selling unlicensed patents for just $1,000 (normally they are $10,000–$50,000) through December 15, 2011 as part of its “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” program. More than 15,000 unlicensed patents from 17 National Laboratories are available for entrepreneurs to commercialize, including an energy-efficient laboratory fume hood, a system to transport stored solar energy over long distances, and an alternating current photovoltaic building block. A complete database of available patents can be searched at www.techportal.eere.energy.gov. “Because we’ve cut the upfront fees and reduced the paperwork, we’ll make it easier for start-up companies to succeed and create the new jobs our economy needs,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a press release. “Our goal is simple: unleash America’s innovation machine and win the global race for the clean energy jobs of the future.”