Eight energy utilities have started a global accelerator called Free Electrons, to support startups in clean energy, energy efficiency and mobility, digitisation and on-demand customer services.
Australia-based AusNet Services and Origin Energy, Japan-based Tokyo Electric Power, Ireland-based ESB, Portugal-based EDP, Germany-based Innogy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Singapore Power are the energy companies supporting the scheme.
New Energy Nexus and Swissnex San Francisco will help to manage the accelerator. Free Electrons will select 12 startups and applications to the six-month scheme close at the end of February 2017.
Peter Terium, CEO of Innogy, said: “We have set up this global initiative together with leading energy companies and startup specialists in order to find new enterprises worldwide that will revolutionise the energy market of the future with their ideas.”