Climate Tech at WPI | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Real problems. Innovative solutions. Unbounded potential.

The energy and clean technologies industries are rapidly evolving and expanding as demand grows for solutions that will make the Northeast and the nation more prosperous and secure.

WPI is an integral partner in an emerging Worcester-area hub that includes major players in government, academia, and industry, all focused on innovative ideas and collaborative strategies to boost the region’s resiliency and build its workforce.

Why Massachusetts?

Climate change, extreme weather events, and destructive natural disasters are having profound impacts on people and property. Central New England, a historic leader in America’s industrial revolution, is emerging as a region with the know-how, workforce, and entrepreneurial networks to address those problems while leading the evolution to an economy built on new fuels, better batteries, and much more.

Want to partner with us? Send an email to research@wpi.edu.

Woman by solar panels in front of windmills.

TIME magazine’s list of America’s Top Green Tech Companies of 2024

5 Top Green Tech Companies with Ties to WPI

Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s prowess in advancing sustainability and innovation in the Clean Tech/Climate Tech sector was on display at a recent event at the Massachusetts State House. Five companies with ties to WPI were honored by Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and other state leaders for being named to TIME magazine’s list of America’s Top Green Tech Companies of 2024.

Advancing sustainability and innovation in the Clean Tech/Climate Tech sector

Big challenges. Many solutions.

Climate tech encompasses a range of innovative technologies and solutions designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote resiliency. By advancing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings and transportation, and developing carbon capture and storage methods, climate tech can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, clean tech supports sustainable agriculture practices and waste management solutions. Overall, climate tech plays a crucial role in transitioning to a low-carbon economy, fostering resilience in communities, and driving the necessary changes to address the climate crisis effectively. 

See How WPI Experts are Contributing

Mixed Plastics

WPI Receives Funding to Tackle a Major Recycling Challenge

WPI has secured $331,592 in state funding to develop a new process for converting mixed plastic waste into valuable chemicals. Led by professors Michael Timko and Alex Maag, the project aims to create an efficient, scalable method using modular reactors, addressing the significant issue of plastic waste. The funding, part of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), will support the purchase of equipment for analyzing catalysts and products in the hydrothermal catalytic conversion process, aligning with sustainable manufacturing goals and enhancing WPI's commitment to material recovery and recycling.

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WPI’s Yan Wang Develops a Cleaner Way to Manufacture Batteries

Researchers Led by WPI’s Yan Wang Develop Solvent-Free Process

WPI researcher Yan Wang has developed a solvent-free process for manufacturing lithium-ion battery electrodes that are greener, cheaper, and charge faster than current options.

Published in Joule, this dry-print method eliminates toxic solvents and lengthy drying times, potentially reducing manufacturing costs by 15% and allowing electrodes to charge to 78% capacity in just 20 minutes. By using dry powders instead of slurries, the process also cuts energy use by 47%. Wang has filed a patent for this innovation and co-founded AM Batteries Inc. to help scale the technology.

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