SEATTLE (AP) — Researchers and startups are lining up to use the state-of-the-art labs to help speed development of their clean energy innovations.

The new Washington Clean Energy Testbeds opens Thursday and aims to close a gap in getting clean-energy technologies from idea to prototype by providing researchers and entrepreneurs the space to test out and scale up their designs.

Everyone from students to industry startups to government researchers are invited to use the labs to scale up or validate designs at the state-funded, 15,000-square foot space at the University of Washington's Clean Energy Institute.

Users can rent time, lab space or technical expertise to test batteries for electric vehicles, fabricate materials for solar cells or experiment with other devices, software or systems.

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