A Note from the Editors

This month's edition of Energy & Sustainability Connections brings the latest developments in energy investing, legal insights, company activity, and industry events straight to your inbox. August's Leader in the News is our client Vionx Energy, which has been named one of Inc. magazine's "25 Most Disruptive Companies" for its work in long-term power storage of renewable energy from solar and wind. This month's Legal Feature, "Software Is Still Patent Eligible," breaks down exactly why software patents remain critical in today's market. Learn the where, when, and how of the 2017 Hult Prize Global Finals and Awards Gala in the Event Highlights section. Finally, don't miss updates related to Hurricane Harvey and other energy policy news in the Washington Update.

LEADERS IN THE NEWS

Vionx & Its Renewable Energy Storage Solution

We're excited to extend our congratulations to Vionx Energy for being named one of Inc. magazine's "25 Most Disruptive Companies of the Year!" Each year, Inc. highlights companies putting groundbreaking ideas into sustainable action. Vionx is being recognized for tackling one of the biggest issues in renewable energy: making renewable energy accessible year-round through long-term power storage from solar panels and wind turbines.

Backed by several premier partner companies in the industry, Massachusetts-based Vionx Energy is led by a team of top veterans in the energy storage industry aiming to make renewable energy sources practical, resilient, and economical for communities nationwide. Vionx is honing in on the issue of energy storage, which has proven to be an obstacle for energy suppliers seeking to modernize and expand their power grids. The problems often encountered by renewable energy suppliers are those of reliability and flexibility: how can we make sure the people depending on this energy will remain supported even when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing? Additionally, how can we ensure that when our grid needs to expand in order to accommodate a growing population or evolving infrastructure, energy suppliers will have the capacity to keep delivering power?

Indeed, many power grids across the country are actively seeking new methods of ensuring reliable, long-lasting capacity from solar and wind, particularly in growing cities or areas without substantial access to traditional power sources. In response, Vionx is developing a revolutionary battery with a cycle life that can last up to 20 years. Vionx's durable, high-capacity, and low-cost energy storage units not only make it possible to harness today's energy for tomorrow's rainy day, they also enable suppliers to transport energy collected at one site and distribute it in another region. This feature has the potential to make renewable energy sources more accessible in areas that aren't otherwise conducive to solar or wind-based power generation.

Vionx is already working on implementing a new energy distribution system in Worcester, Massachusetts, where a storage unit collects energy generated from local wind turbines and powers the surrounding communities through the regional utility company, National Grid. With the support of global energy, tech, and finance companies standing behind an impressive team of visionary engineers, there is no doubt that Vionx will continue to redefine the future of renewable energy in the United States.

Congratulations to Vionx Energy for this much-deserved recognition. We look forward to keeping up with you as you continue to pave the way for sustainable energy!

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