About us

Norma Powell Byron is the Founder and President of Ashlawn Energy, LLC. With over 15 years of leadership in the energy storage sector, she has successfully transitioned innovative short and long-duration battery technology-specifically Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs)-from initial licensing and research to domestic manufacturing and commercial deployment. Norma's background as a defense contractor focused on hydrogen fuel cells initially inspired her to launch Ashlawn Energy in 2008 to address critical gaps in renewable energy stability. She has since scaled the company to 5 full-time employees, relocated operations to the Xerox Webster Campus in NY, and secured more than $6M in funding alongside high-profile state awards, including NYSERDA funding for a long-duration energy storage project. Her leadership is distinguished by recognition of the only battery system allowed by the FDNY for in-building use in NYC, effectively removing a significant barrier to urban energy storage.

Chief Technology Officer with over 50 years of technical, engineering, and systems development experience. Extensive background in energy systems, electrochemical technologies, fuel cells, and large-scale battery systems. Long-term technical leader for Ashlawn Energy, guiding development from early fuel cell concepts through commercialization, prototype development, and transition to manufacturing-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) systems. Recognized for deep system-level understanding, invention, and ability to integrate engineering, science, and business strategy.

Clifford is a strong research professional with significant research experience in industry, widely recognized for his leading research in microwave electronics, materials science, nanomaterials, electromagnetics and physics. Formerly a research scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, Clifford has a strong background and interests in theoretical and applied research in physics, mathematical physics, electronics, electromagnetic field theory, microwave circuits, material science and nanoscience, with over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications. His most notable instructor was Julian Schwinger (Harvard, UCLA) Nobel Prize in Physics.

Cycle is a transformative architecture, sustainability, and urbanism practice pioneering the industrialization of deep energy retrofits. Cycle creates deep and enduring value for clients with architectural, planning, and urban design solutions that go gently on the earth, and are practical, efficient, and beautiful. He has a keen focus on the LMI community in New York City and in upstate New York. He is committed to integrating Ashlawn's battery with building retrofits. Cycle works with Taitem Engineering. Cycle has 20 years of renewable energy building deployments and deep energy retrofits working with NYSERDA and NYCHA and other commercial deployments.