Science to Solutions: Classroom to Global Investments
November 2025 | Back to Powerhouse Post
This post is part of a mini-blog series highlighting how the CSU Powerhouse Energy Campus and Energy Institute bring science to solutions to scale, a motto that defines our global impact.
Read more about Envirofit in our previous blog in this series.
In the early 2000’s, CSU student Morgan DeFoort enrolled in an independent study graduate class taught by Dr. Bryan Willson, founder and executive director of the CSU Energy Institute. The class, considered experimental at the time, had students examine the importance of environment, technology, and international development. Through this process, seeds were planted that led to the launch of Envirofit and eventually Factor E.
For a time, DeFoort served as principal investigator for Envirofit’s R&D program located in the Engines and Energy Conversion Lab (EECL) at CSU Powerhouse Energy Campus. The Shell Foundation, who funded Envirofit’s research, encouraged DeFoort to explore how other energy/climate technologies might be commercialized to positively impact emerging markets.
What DeFoort saw in the EECL could be described as “active tech transfer.” As DeFoort said, “The Energy Institute (at Powerhouse) was a bit of a test ground for the business model.” It was in this environment that DeFoort launched Factor E [link to website], with the support of the Shell Foundation, specifically to ramp up active tech transfer across the globe.
“We call ourselves an innovation factory,” said DeFoort. “We’re trying to democratize access to innovation, supporting climate technologies that could impact in emerging markets that would otherwise stay in the lab.”
Not does Factor E provide funding, but other resources that are perhaps more important. Business consultation, connections for research and development, collaboration across industries, strategic guidance, and support for successful scale up are all critical parts of what Factor E brings to the table to innovative climate technologies. Currently, Factor E specifically focuses on early-stage clean energy technology in Africa, because of the continent’s population growth and disproportionate impact of climate change.
Throughout Factor E’s history, the Energy Institute and Powerhouse Energy Campus have been critical partners. “We frequently turn to the Energy Institute for testing or to help develop technology,” said DeFoort. A recent example of this is the Roam Electric Senior Design Project.
We can work on things that are interesting, and we can work on things that are important. What is interesting isn’t always important, but what is important is always interesting
“Bryan Willson frequently told me, ‘We can work on things that are interesting, and we can work on things that are important. What is interesting isn’t always important, but what is important is always interesting.’” said DeFoort. “I’m know the continued partnership between Factor E and the Energy Institute will move important things forward.”