Energy Innovation

The Greater Rochester, NY region has a fully integrated supply chain to support energy innovation companies.

Experience World-Renowned Energy Innovation in Greater Rochester, NY

Whether it’s fuel cell technology, solar energy, wind energy, or energy storage, our assets are perfectly aligned to support energy innovations. Here in the Greater Rochester, NY region, we have nearly 3x the national average for employees with high-tech, precision manufacturing expertise. Our skilled workforce is adept at managing complex electro-mechanical and chemical products. We also have university-led research and development already underway to find smarter energy solutions.

Rochester has a fully integrated supply chain to support R&D, prototyping, testing, and production to turn your energy innovation into reality.

High-Powered Resources

Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology offers world-class sustainability and clean energy R&D.

The Battery Prototyping Center at Rochester Institute of Technology focuses on the development of emerging energy storage technologies.

Kodak Pilot Coating and Production-Scale Manufacturing for development and commercialization of substrates for batteries, fuel cells, and photovoltaic films.

DNV GL’s Best Test & Commercialization Center at Eastman Business Park is a joint venture with NY Battery and Energy Storage Technology consortium, which helps companies develop and commercialize emerging technologies, offering essential product testing and qualification.

The rich agricultural base in the Greater Rochester, NY region provides the necessary feedstock to support ethanol and biodiesel production.

New York’s first state-of-the-art dry mill ethanol plant, Western New York Energy, LLC, is located in Orleans County, just west of Rochester. This facility produces an estimated 50 million gallons of ethanol a year.

Another BioFuels / Biomass asset in this region is our research and development expertise. The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, located in Geneva, NY, and affiliated with Cornell University, is a national leader in agricultural research and development. Research is underway to support biofuels technologies and production facilities at the Experiment Station, including next-generation cellulosic ethanol. Another Cornell resource, The Technology Farm, was established to foster agriculture, food, and bio-based technologies. One of its major purposes is to transfer Cornell’s cutting-edge research and technology to the private sector in order to aid commercial development.

NOTABLE BIOFUELS / BIOMASS COMPANIES
SweetWater EnergyProduces nano-fibrillated cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sugars, and clean lignin from non-food plant materials.
Synergy Biogas LLC – Synergy Dairy Produces renewable energy by anaerobically digesting manure
Western New York EnergyFirst biofuel plant in the Northeastern United States, annually producing 60 million gallons of ethanol.

The Greater Rochester, NY region has a battery and energy storage ecosystem, from state-of-the-art product development facilities, to innovative start-ups, world-class research institutions, leading companies and a skilled workforce.

The Greater Rochester, NY region is home to many members of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY+BEST), established to help position New York as a global leader in energy storage technology for heavy-duty transportation, electric grid, and other applications. Regional companies and universities are involved in a variety of energy storage R&D or commercialization projects.

The Kodak Cell Assembly Center at Eastman Business Park, created in partnership with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY BEST), completes an ecosystem of three core processes for energy storage manufacturing, providing coating, assembly, and testing all in one location. 


NOTABLE ENERGY STORAGE COMPANIES
Li-Cycle CorporationLeading lithium-ion battery resource recovery company.
Sionic EnergyCommercializing high energy, long life, and more durable lithium-ion battery technology portable electronics, vehicles, and industrial applications. 
Progressive Machine and DesignCreates advanced and traditional battery manufacturing, assembly, and test systems
Ultralife CorporationIntegrates battery and ultra-capacitor on a common power circuit, serving two renewable-energy generation sources.
XactivDeveloped intellectual property related to the use of nanomaterials in renewable energy systems and has also partnered with the University of Rochester to begin commercialization of these new developments, in areas including lithium-ion batteries and lithium primary batteries.

Companies such as Plug have tapped into the Greater Rochester, NY region’s talented workforce and ready-to-use lab space at facilities like Eastman Business Park. We’re also home to a clean energy business incubator, and one of the nation’s premier Hydrogen Technology Learning Centers at Rochester Institute of Technology.

NOTABLE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES and SUPPLIERS
Advanced Interconnect ManufacturingSupplier of wire harness and electromechanical assemblies to the rail, bus and recreational vehicle manufacturers.
EMF, a Dynasil CompanyCommercial high-volume and large format optical coating solutions to support fuel cell R&D
PlugProvider of clean hydrogen and zero-emission fuel cell solutions
Progressive Machine and DesignFuel cell line manufacturing and test systems
Solid CellDeveloping fuel cell components

The Greater Rochester, NY Region is a leading hotspot for Energy Innovation, with a skilled workforce and more than a century of experience in materials and precision manufacturing.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has research and development underway at its NanoPower Research Labs to support the solar energy sector. Another major university in our region, University of Rochester, is participating in federal programs to develop new solar energy technologies.

Local area employers, Eastman Kodak, and Xerox have spawned a technologically savvy workforce well versed in managing thin films, which are critical to the development of next-generation alternative energy materials such as thin-film membranes for solar applications. Eastman Kodak is leveraging its expertise for conductive films used in the flexible electronics and solar film markets.

NOTABLE SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIES
GreenSpark SolarResidential, community, and commercial solar provider
Progressive Machine and DesignAutomated assembly, process, testing, and inspection systems
Rochester Solar TechnologiesTurnkey solar energy solutions
Transcat Inc.Wind, solar, and PV energy test equipment and in-lab calibration services
Trident Precision ManufacturingPrecision machining and fabrication; Solar energy components

In addition, the Greater Rochester, NY Region is a world leader in optics, a key component for developing next-generation solar applications.

  • More than 120 optics companies are in Rochester, including Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, and Optimax
  • World-class optics education programs, research labs, and facilities
  • 60% of the world’s optics Ph.D. degrees are conferred by the University of Rochester

The Greater Rochester, NY region has a strong supplier base that includes more than 100 companies with related expertise to support wind turbine manufacturing.

Gleason Works, one of Rochester’s oldest manufacturers, is a leader in the design, application, testing, analysis and production of gears. Gleason manufactures specialized gears for the wind energy industry.

Notable Local Companies

WIND ENERGY COMPANIES
AmetekElectronic instruments and electromechanical devices
GleasonEngineering; gear solutions; production equipment manufacturing; wind turbine supply chain
GorbelCranes and lifting devices for wind energy industry
Lapp InsulatorsManufacturer and supplier of high voltage insulators; Wind energy components
O’Connell ElectricTurnkey electrical construction solutions for wind power generation facilities
Progressive Machine and DesignAutomated assembly, process, testing, and inspection systems; Wind energy components
Transcat Inc.Wind, solar, and PV energy test equipment and in-lab calibration services
Trident Precision ManufacturingPrecision machining and fabrication; Wind energy components
Vance Metal FabricatorsLarge-capacity metal fabricator and weld shop; Wind energy components

There are several wind farms in Rochester’s Wyoming County, with a combined capacity to generate 517 MW of power and serve more than 131,000 homes.

  • Invenergy’s Stoney Creek Wind Farm: 38 wind turbines, 94.4 MW, serving 37,000 homes
  • Invenergy’s High Sheldon Wind Farm: 85 wind turbines, 112.5 MW, serving 25,000 homes
  • Noble Bliss Wind Farm: 67 wind turbines, 100.5 MW
  • Noble Wethersfield Wind Park: 84 wind turbines, 123 MW, serving 42,500 homes
  • Wethersfield Wind Farm: 10 wind turbines, 6.6 MW, serving 3,200 homes
PositionRochester Annual Mean WageNational Annual Mean WageRochester Advantage
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,940$172,2909.5%
Chemical Engineers$82,750$122,91032.7%
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,710$74,4409.0%
Electrical Engineers$103,530$117,68012.0%
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$40,700$43,7407.0%
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$101,750$124,19018.1%
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$59,880$75,29020.5%
Engineers, All Other$107,820$118,3508.9%
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,380$79,0203.3%
Industrial Engineers$98,090$103,1504.9%
Mechanical Drafters$64,850$69,9207.3%
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,940$67,9904.5%
Mechanical Engineers$92,610$105,22012.0%
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$93,550$100,5807.0%
Physicists$137,850$158,27012.9%
Production Workers, All Other$37,700$41,0008.0%
Sales Engineers$110,660$125,46011.7%
Software Developers$115,160$138,11016.6%
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$100,190$108,4607.6%
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Photo by Ed Welch Photography

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