General Electric Co., the world’s largest maker of power-generation equipment, has awarded $63 million to 10 closely held companies developing solar and renewable energy technologies.
GE is spending about $10 billion by 2015 developing environmentally friendly products across its businesses through Chairman Jeffrey Immelt’s “ecomagination” program.
Solar power companies, makers of communications equipment and software and building efficiency developers were among those recognized in the second round of the $200 million contest, Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE said today in a statement.
Winners in the latest round include San Francisco-based residential solar installer SunRun Inc., Boston-based Ember Resources Inc., a Boston software and communications provider, and Austin, Texas-based Nuventix Inc.
Awards were also given to companies that improve the energy efficiency of buildings, including VPhase Plc, based in Manchester, U.K., Project Frog Inc. in San Francisco, and solar installer GMZ Energy Inc. of Waltham, Massachusetts. Communications companies Hara, On-Ramp Wireless Inc., Viridity Energy Inc. and WiTricity Corp were also winners.
GE didn’t disclose the amount of the funds that came from its venture-capital partners.
