New Orleans resident Johny Lopez wants to make building facades follow the sun.
His startup, Solara, is developing moving solar panels that attach to building exteriors and not only generate electricity, but also provide shade and reduce interior cooling costs.
It’s one of six startups selected for this year’s Cleantech Open NOLA cohort, whose founders will share their ideas at a public showcase on Wednesday in New Orleans. This fall, they’ll take what they learned here and head to the Cleantech Open Global Forum and compete at the National Finals in Boston.
The 2026 NOLA cohort’s innovations range from producing fuel and fertilizer to harnessing kinetic energy, developing lignin products, energy storage and electric vehicles. They were selected with the help of experts from the nonprofit Deep Blue Academy.
At a national level, the annual Cleantech Open, which calls itself the world’s largest cleantech accelerator, provides training and mentorship for up to 150 early-stage companies focused on environmental and energy challenges. Cleantech Open NOLA brings that to Southeast Louisiana, joining a broader collection of startup accelerator and incubator programs around the state.
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The free Cohort Celebration and Regional Innovation Showcase begins at 5 p.m. at The Nieux, 2040 St. Charles Ave. The speaker program starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by one-minute founder pitches at 6:30 p.m.
Robbie Vitrano, board chair of Mad Agriculture, will deliver a keynote about regenerative agriculture and lead a panel on Southeast Louisiana’s potential in emerging technology and sustainable development. Panelists include Madeline Trudeau Kawanaka, director of innovation programs at Louisiana Innovation, and Greater New Orleans Foundation President and CEO Andy Kopplin.
The discussion comes as public agencies and other Louisiana institutions are also looking to accelerate coastal resilience projects in a region where environmental challenges are closely tied to infrastructure and economic development.
Cleantech Open NOLA 2026 startups
Dwayne White, eWay Technology
Reinventing the wheel is pretty much exactly what founder White is doing with the eWay Generator, his concept for a new type of modular generator that can harness kinetic energy from vehicles as they drive on roadways.
Andrew Romaner, Nitrocap
To approach the chemical industry’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels, Romaner launched Nitrocap to pioneer an eco-conscious, offshore fix that tackles industrial pollution while actively protecting ocean ecosystems.
William McGehee, Novalign
Lignin is a polymer substance found naturally in plants. It’s already used to replace petroleum-based plastics and resins, but McGehee aims to elevate and expand its potential by refining the organic matter into a premium alternative.
Mike Bagot, Refuel Power Co.
Long reliant on diesel generators to run remote sites, the temporary power sector could use a less carbon-heavy option. Refuel Power is tackling the challenge with advanced battery systems, offering industrial operations an alternative specifically targeting EV fleets.
Johny Lopez, Solara
Developed by Lopez, a University of New Orleans research assistant, Solara is a solar paneling system that tracks the sun to maximize energy output. Designed to double as a structural shade, it touts the additional advantage of lowering building installation and maintenance costs.
Sid Padmanabha, Sunflower Cogen
A recent doctoral graduate at Tulane, Padmanabha helps research and manage the pilot of Sunflower Cogen’s tech currently installed at the university. The startup’s solar arrays capture both electricity and usable heat to create two distinct energy and revenue streams from one installation.
