Focused on discovering and advancing emerging clean technologies with the potential to dramatically alter the future global energy landscape, GCxN partners early-stage companies with the resources, expertise, and world class facilities available through the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Shell’s incubator program, Shell GameChanger to reduce technology development risk and accelerate tech to market. Cleantech start-ups are referred by NREL’s network of channel partners (cleantech incubators, accelerators, and universities) with finalists selected after reviews by technology experts at both NREL and Shell.
DTE Materials selected for GCxN Cohort 6
Hexas Biomass selected for GCxN Cohort 6
Zila Bioworks selected for GCxN Cohort 6
Invizyne Technologies selected for GCxN Cohort 6
NREL – October 1, 2024 – While reading papers describing the use of enzymes to transform materials into biofuels as an alternative to using microbes, NREL research group leader Yannick Bomble first came across the eventual founders of Invizyne.
NREL – August 21, 2024 – National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research Group Manager Dan Schell says he gets to do the fun part.
“I get to use a big piece of equipment and turn wood into very small particles with continuous explosions,” Schell said.
NREL – Jul 2, 2024 – Biotech entrepreneur and Hexas Biomass founder and CEO Wendy Owens has brought her groundbreaking (pun intended) crop to the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) after admiring the program from afar for several years.
NREL – February 12, 2024 –To put it simply: Antora Energy, a Shell Gamechanger Accelerator Powered by NREL™ (GCxN) graduate, focused on decarbonizing industry by converting low-cost, intermittent renewable electricity into reliable industrial energy, would not be where it is today without the help of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
NREL – December 5, 2023 – The themes from Cohort 6 move GCxN into technical areas it has not explored in prior cohorts, piecing together different expertise from across the laboratory in ways that are industry relevant.
Denver and Houston – October 17, 2023 – Shell GameChanger Accelerator™ Powered by NREL (GCxN) Announces Participants for Sixth Cohort: GCxN will support technology advancement for selected companies working on carbon-negative materials and biological energy and chemical products.
DTE Materials converts agricultural and forest waste into sustainable, carbon-negative construction materials.
Hexas Biomass created a nature-based alternative for wood, food crops, and fossil fuel-based feedstocks for biofuel production.
Invizyne Technologies is a cell-free enzyme platform that enhances biomass conversions, vastly improving the economics of bio-based chemical production.
ZILA BioWorks developed a bio-epoxy resin from hemp seed oil that has a 60% smaller carbon footprint than petroleum-based epoxies.
Round 1: Energy Storage and Grid Integration – Cohort selected in December 2018
Round 2: Fast Charging and Grid Integration – Cohort selected in August 2019
Round 3: Energy Storage and Grid Integration – Cohort selected in January 2020
Round 4: Electrosynthesis for Fuels and Chemicals – Cohort selected in March 2021
Round 5: E-Mobility and Industrial Electrification – Cohort selected in December 2021
Round 6: Carbon-negative materials, and biological energy and chemical products — Cohort selected in October 2023
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The Shell GameChanger™ Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) is a multimillion-dollar, multiyear program developed in collaboration between Shell GameChanger and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) focused on discovering and advancing emerging clean technologies with the potential to dramatically alter the future global energy landscape. GCxN identifies promising startup companies through an ecosystem of more than 60 clean-tech business incubators, accelerators and universities, providing access up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding in the form of technical experts to develop and demonstrate new energy technologies. GCxN is made possible by funding through Shell GameChanger. GCxN is administered by NREL, located in Golden, Colorado.
Potential applicants are referred to the GCxN team through our Channel Partners. The GCxN program seeks companies with technologies focusing on rotating themes such as energy storage, grid integration, e-mobility charging, and industrial electrification. A preference is given to companies between TRL levels II through V.
A TRL is a company’s technology readiness level. GCxN follows the the U.S. Department of Energy’s TRL definitions.
Shell GameChanger™ Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) is looking to identify the next generation of technologies with the potential to impact the future of energy. Specifically GCxN is looking for companies with a novel early-stage technology idea, a provable concept, and demonstratable value. GCxN aims to provide start-ups with the support necessary to move from an idea on a chalk board to a commercial product deployed in the market place.
Applications are reviewed according to 3 primary factors – Viability and potential energy impact, fit for laboratory assistance, and alignment with GCxN program mission. View the application scoring rubric.
GCxN is a collaboration between Shell Global and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with staff from Shell GameChanger and NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.
GCxN’s Channel Partners are a combination of academic, industry, and government institutions who work in clean energy technologies across North America.
Each GCxN cohort is comprised of three to five companies.
Start to finish duration is approximately 24 months from announcement of call to completion of projects.
Yes, the award is used on non-dilutive technical assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
More information can be found at the NREL IEC.
More information can be found at the Shell GameChanger.
Questions, comments, and concerns are welcome at gcxn@nrel.gov.
Do you want to know more about the program or how GCxN is changing the game when it comes to the future of energy? Get in touch today
Email: GCxN@nrel.gov