As Open Innovation enablers, Mind the Bridge is continuously identifying the best startups focused on solving major industry challenges that large corporations are facing. We are thrilled to share our Worldwide top 5 startups worth looking at in the Energy sector as well as the main drivers these companies are leveraging.
The Energy sector has been going through deep transformations in the last few decades. Here are four main drivers of this industry.
- Interconnection between sectors, which traditionally had been separated, is becoming stronger and stronger. Mobility and the electrical power market are a clear example of this.
- Growth in electricity demand and self-production requires incumbents to be well prepared for a smarter, flexible electric grid management.
- Energy for Environment – the pressing need for contrasting climate change is impacting deeply the energy industry, including electric and Oil&Gas companies.
- Digital Care for infrastructure – high CapEx infrastructure is critical in the Energy sector. However, inspection and maintenance in often remote or underground equipment is costly and time-consuming. New autonomous technologies and digital solutions are here to help.
Fermata Energy - pioneer vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems
HQ: Charlottesville, VA, United States
Founded: 2011
Funding: Series A
Fermata Energy pioneered the (V2G) technology, and was one of the first to be safety Standard UL 9741 certified in North America. Their EV charging equipment allows private cars to provide power to buildings and stored energy to the grid in addition to receiving it. Fermata hopes to make EVs cost competitive and increase the adoption of renewable power.
What’s the value: Riding the “mobility”, “environment” and “self-production” trends, Fermata was an early comer when it comes to building and commercializing their devices. Not only the EV is charged according to user needs and grid conditions, but also but the bidirectional technology makes it an off-the-shelf solution to renewable energy’s storage problem, as it can “give back” to the grid when the demand is high and the offer low. ,
Worth mentioning:
- Fermata Energy Receives the First UL Certification for ‘Vehicle-to-Grid’ Electric Vehicle Charging System.
- Clients include Nissan.
Also working on the same problem: Chargepoint and Bovlabs.
#Interconnection between sectors #Mobility #EV Charging
Deepki - Making real estate more sustainable with data
HQ: Paris, France
Founded: 2017
Funding: Series B
Founded in 2014, Deepki supports real estate players in their transition to net zero and sustainability. To achieve this transition towards sustainability, Deepki helps realign stakeholders’ interests to build efficient strategies and transform real estate into a positive force for the planet. Deepki offers a fully populated ESG data intelligence platform combined with expert advisory services. The company’s end-to-end solutions leverage data to improve ESG performance and enhance the value of real estate assets.
What’s the value: Deepki focuses on different use cases, such as real estate businesses, companies with many branches (such as banks), or public entities. Their platform makes it extremely easy to gather information and provides actionable insights, reducing the expenses with a nudge at sustainability.
Worth mentioning:
- More than 100 clients including Accor Hotels, Aviva, AXA, Auchan, BNP, and more.
- Vincent Bryant received the Innovators Under35 award from MIT Innovation in 2016.
Also, on the same spot https://www.dexma.com/.
#Energy for Environment
Envelio - making the grid smart
HQ: Köln, Germany
Founded: 2017
Funding: Series A
Envelio provides the software as a service solution Intelligent Grid Platform to assist grid operators in the next phase of the energy transition towards high shares of renewables. With algorithms based on artificial intelligence and smart meter data, the planning and the operation process of distribution grids will be facilitated and accelerated. Smart Grid Technologies are fully integrated into the grid operators’ toolbox to tackle challenges in the power grid.
What’s the value: In the near future millions of new solar panels, wind turbines and EV charging points have to be integrated into the power grids. They have been working with the biggest and most innovative players to make this transition already possible.
Worth mentioning:
- Clients include Iberdrola and EON.
- envelio is finalist for the SET Award 2019
- Envelio awarded as 2020 Global Cleantech 100 Company by Demeter
Also, on the same spot http://www.nimbeo.com/
# Growth in electricity demand and self-production
Seab Energy - On-site containerized energy from waste
HQ: Southampton, United Kingdom
Founded: 2018
Funding: Series A
SEaB Energy designs, develops, and manufactures micro anaerobic digestion systems that create biogas, water, and fertilizer. The patented units can be combined with Combined Heat & Power units, Biogas Fuel Cell, or Biogas boiler to use the gas. The fertilizer is available in liquid or solid bagged format. The company is headquartered in London. SEaB Energy has developed and patented Muckbuster® and Flexibuster™ as compact, easy to install turnkey Anaerobic Digestion (AD) systems in shipping containers.
What’s the value: To properly make use of waste too often it is required to employ complex logistics and move it to processing facilities, making even the recycling less environmentally friendly than it should. The systems are modular, easily configured and scalable to address food waste and other bio wastes directly at the sites of smaller waste producers who typically generate between 200 and 1000 tonnes of waste per year, making it the ultimate solution to delocalized energy generation from biowaste.
Worth mentioning:
- Their clients include Fortune 50 companies, hospitals, non-profits, multinational property developers, and hypermarkets in four countries.
#Self-production
Multisensor Scientific - detect methane leaks
HQ: Cambridge MA, United States
Founded: 2015
Funding: Series A
MultiSensor Scientific is developing a machine vision software and sensing platform for creating color images of gas leaks across leak inspection and gas safety industries. Using remote sensing techniques and advanced image processing and pattern recognition algorithms, inspectors will have in-field imaging and analysis capabilities that were not previously available. The couple sensor-software is able to quickly identify and quantify small and big leaks that might end up in the atmosphere.
What’s the value: Reducing the environmental impact of the energy sector is a core pillar of the global energy transition. While it is clear to the most that we will be slowly transitioning away from fossil fuels, the focus of the legislation is on reducing the impact during this period of time.
In the European Union’s Green Deal, methane, and the need to reduce methane emissions, has been identified as one of the areas that shows the best potential to boost the transition to a clean energy system. Multisensor Scientific is ready to tackle this issue, right at the source.
#Digital Care for infrastructure
Final thoughts
The energy sector is a thriving and dynamic field for innovation. It is interesting to note that “digitalization” is not the only driving force behind the growth of innovative startups and the interest in them from big corporates. Which means plenty of business opportunities.