EDP joined a consortium of utilities from countries in Europe, Asia and the US to promote a Global Energy startup accelerator program. The Free Electrons Global Accelerator is looking for energy startups that will drive the next generation of ideas in clean energy, energy efficiency, e-mobility, digitization, and on-demand customer services. Startups chosen for Free Electrons participate in three separate week-long ‘customer adoption’ modules in Silicon Valley, Lisbon/Dublin and Singapore

Free Electrons is initiated by eight international utilities, AusNet Services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), ESB (Electricity Supply Board), EDP (Energias de Portugal), innogy, Origin Energy, Singapore Power (SP) and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), with the support of two accelerator partners, New Energy Nexus and swissnex San Francisco.

A win-win approach 

The utilities and accelerators behind the Free Electrons program are committed to a future where energy is smart, clean and accessible to everyone. The global accelerator program is designed for energy startups to further refine their products and services, with the potential of testing and developing them to a global customer base of 73 million. Industry leaders will offer expertise, resources and access to their customer base in exchange for investment and partnership opportunities.

A global calling

The utility partners in Free Electrons are leaders in the clean energy transition, covering more than 40 countries, representing over $148 billion in combined net income and access to over 73 million end customers worldwide.

Energy startups around the world with a working prototype are encouraged to apply to Free Electrons. Twelve energy startups will be selected by the eight utility partners to participate in the six-month accelerator program.

The call for the world’s energy startups starts on 9 January 2017. The application deadline is on 28 February 2017. The selection period is in March 2017 and the selected startups will be announced in April 2017. Interested applicants can apply for the Free Electrons program at freeelectrons.org.

“Opening up the utility world to the startups, providing them with a global customer base, accelerating deal execution with the utilities, that’s what Free Electrons is all about. I can’t think of a better opportunity for a startup operating in this space.” - Luis Manuel, Executive Board Member, EDP Innovation