StartUp Beat

-Google and eSolar Team Up for Solar Energy – This week, Google announced that it would head-up a major initiative to develop and promote cheap renewable energy sources, with Pasadena’s eSolar being one of the first companies getting funding through the project.  eSolar is an IdeaLab startup that makes solar thermal plants based on heliostat technology.  In a nutshell, heliostat design utilizes an array of flat mirrors that gathers and directs sunlight onto a water tower.  The water then boils into steam, which turns a turbine to make electricity.  IdeaLab founder Bill Gross serves as eSolar’s chairman.  More on the Google initiative: Two Google efforts - solar thermal and high-altitude wind

-Evolution Robotics Supports Robot Hobbyist – Here’s a feel-good story for the end of the week that also illustrates some of the amazing technologies being built by robotics developers, led by Pasadena-based Evolution Robotics (also an IdeaLab startup): Robot Contest Winner Gets Surprise Bonus from Evolution Robotics