This Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program (CFDA 10.212) will investigate the use of a closed cycle greenhouse (CCG) system as an urban embedded solution to improve food and energy resilience for disadvantaged communities. The $124,655 award to Evicient, LLC will develop a comprehensive model of the CCG system coupled to a thermal microgrid to predict yields, energy performance, and economic viability. The project will also assess technical, social, and regulatory challenges to implementing this solution, laying the groundwork for a future demonstration project. This work supports the broader "Oakland Thermal and Renewable Electrification Enterprise" initiative to explore sustainable distributed low-carbon energy and urban agriculture approaches.
Generated 3/25/25, 3:42 AM