Accelerator program recruiting energy innovators

Australian utilities AusNet Services and Origin Energy have co-founded a new global consortium searching for energy start-ups to participate in a business mentoring and development program that includes three fully funded week-long workshops in Europe, Silicon Valley and Asia.

The Free Electrons global accelerator program seeks to connect the people with the next generation of ideas in energy innovation to major utilities currently serving more than 70 million customers in 40 countries. As explained by AusNet Services’ executive general manager for commercial energy services, Chad Hymas, “We want to see the best local ideas and entrepreneurs get a global kickstart.”

Twelve energy start-ups around the world will be selected by consortium members to participate in the six-month accelerator program. Workshops will provide access to skills, knowledge, investment and markets around the world, and will also facilitate discussions about possible opportunities for pilot projects and the testing of products with utilities.

“This is a world-first opportunity for start-ups to work with utilities from across the globe to provide them with unprecedented scale and access to markets,” added Anthony Lucas, executive general manager, future energy and business development at Origin Energy. “By leveraging the expertise of partners involved, we are confident great outcomes can be achieved for the industry and for our customers.”

Origin and Ausnet Services are joined by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), ESB (Electricity Supply Board), EDP (Energias de Portugal), innogy, Singapore Power (SP) and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), with the support of two accelerator partners, New Energy Nexus and swissnex San Francisco. The program is recruiting in the following categories:

• Clean energy
• Smart grids
• Energy efficiency
• Energy management
• E-mobility
• Customer experience
• Business model innovation
• IoT and digitisation
• Energy access

Energy start-ups with a working prototype can apply to join the program at www.freelectrons.co from now until the end of February, with the successful applicants to be announced in April.