Boulder-based Cool Energy awaits its big break

After years of research and development, Boulder-based Cool Energy Inc. is waiting to hear if it has landed its first major customer for its Stirling engines that turn heat into electricity.

Schneider Electric is testing Cool Energy’s technology before deciding whether it will incorporate it in its program to provide power for people around the world who don’t have access to electricity.

Cool Energy’s technology can use heat such as solar thermal energy or waste heat put out by power generators to create electricity at temperatures of around 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, which is far lower than other Stirling engines.

While Cool Energy does have some revenue and early adopters of what it offers, it’s not yet profitable.