State’s Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program Awards $3.3 Million To Support New Mexico’s Advanced Energy Industry

EDD News

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that five advanced energy companies were awarded \$3.3 million through the state’s Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program to support innovation and commercialization.

The competitive state-funded grant is awarded through EDD’s Office of Strategy, Science & Technology (OSST).

Applications from 24 companies were evaluated by the state’s Technology Research Collaborative Board, a volunteer board that promotes the commercialization of New Mexico-born technologies. Seven applicants were invited to the Advanced Energy Award Finalist Pitch on April 16, hosted by UNM Rainforest Innovations, where their applications were re-evaluated, and five were ultimately selected as awardees.

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"The work of these innovative companies solidifies New Mexico as a leader in advanced energy," EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black said. "It’s critical that we continue to elevate homegrown technology to ensure that our state remains ahead of the pack in science and technology."

Below are the 2025 New Mexico Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program awardees:

Carbogenics USA in Santa Fe was awarded \$440,000. The company upcycles liability biomass, like fire-devastated forest woodlands, into a novel biochar called CreChar that can be used as a bio-additive to enhance the production volume and quality of biogas, and prevent carbon emissions.

Firescape Inc. in Albuquerque was awarded \$500,000. Firescape delivers the most advanced suite of wildfire management tools to assist electric utility companies in confronting increasing wildfire risk.

KiloNewton LLC in Albuquerque was awarded \$550,000. They provide full-scope solar design engineering services and engineering consulting services to solar tracker manufacturers worldwide to make renewable energy more competitive.

Spiritus Technologies PBC in White Rock was awarded \$925,000. Spiritus offers high-quality direct-air capture (DAC) carbon removal that captures and isolates megaton-scale CO2 from the atmosphere.

VastVision Technologies, Inc. in Albuquerque was awarded \$925,000. The company is developing a new class of wireless and passive magnetoelastic sensor systems and integrated software, including MagTag, which enables real-time, interference-immune sensing of hydrogen gas leaks, ground faults, and environmental conditions.

As finalists at the pitch event, Dash2 Labs in Albuquerque and The Trollworks in Silver City, were also awarded \$10,000 each to support further growth.

KiloNewton, Spiritus Technologies, and VastVision Technologies are all previous recipients of EDD grant funds and/or state incentives; the advanced energy award will build on past progress while laying the groundwork for their continued success.

OSST is collaborating with the University of New Mexico Rainforest Innovations to manage the pilot program. Awardees will receive funding over the next year as they achieve specific milestones.