EDP Renewables has opened the 9th edition of Energy Starter—its open innovation program to accelerate the adoption of technologies that drive the energy transition.
The program connects EDP decision-makers with startups and scaleups worldwide, offering a powerful platform for creating long-term collaborations. For this phase, EDP focuses on startups and rapidly growing technology companies from around the world with innovative solutions that optimise grid capacity and flexibility while streamlining deployment and maintenance processes to reduce costs and enhance the integration of renewables.
EDP head of innovation ecosystem Tomás Moreno says, “Innovation is key to addressing the challenges of transforming and strengthening our grids, from optimising capacity to enhancing safety, minimising environmental impact, and integrating renewables.
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“These efforts are essential for building a sustainable and reliable energy system. The EDP Energy Starter program allows us to partner with startups and scaleups worldwide, driving groundbreaking solutions that accelerate the energy transition.”
The Future Grids track for 2025 thus seeks startups that offer innovation and technology to address six major challenges, including optimising grid capacity, streamlining grid deployment, improving grid monitoring and control, increasing safety in field activities, minimising grid environmental impact, and increasing grid resilience to extreme events.
After the application period, startups will be evaluated throughout March and April, with participation in online meetings with EDP. Those selected will advance to the next stage of the program: the bootcamp, which will take place on May 26-27 at EDP’s headquarters in Lisbon.
During these two days, participating startups will have the opportunity to work with EDP decision-makers and representatives from various business areas and innovation teams, with the aim of accelerating the co-development of pilot projects and commercial agreements. Additionally, they will be able to access possible financial support and benefit from the experience and network of EDP Ventures, EDP’s venture capital arm.
After the bootcamp, the selected startups will begin a collaborative journey with EDP teams to refine, validate, and implement their proposed pilot projects. These will be fully funded by EDP and will involve access to their data and assets, along with continuous monitoring to ensure the solutions are tailored to EDP’s needs. The goal is to accelerate these innovative initiatives towards commercial viability, paving the way for long-term partnerships that contribute to driving the energy transition.
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In the same week, on May 28, EDP will also organise the Energy Starter Open Day in Lisbon, which will be an opportunity to learn about the results and impact of EDP’s innovation initiatives and discover the innovative collaborations that have resulted from them. It will also be a privileged space for networking and interaction with industry leaders, decision-makers, and the innovation ecosystem, allowing connections with those who share the ambition for a greener and more sustainable energy future.
In addition to this first track dedicated to Future Grids, the 9th edition of the program includes two more tracks: one on Renewable Energy & Green Hydrogen and a final one on Client Solutions.
Startups from all over the world can apply to the program from now until February 21.
