The international initiative "Start Up Energy Transition" (SET) calls on innovative start-up companies to participate in the SET Award 2019. The third round of the competition for business ideas in the field of energy transition and climate protection started at the World Energy Week in Milan, initiated by the German Energy Agency (dena) in cooperation with the World Energy Council. Applications can be submitted until 31 January 2019.
The SET Award 2019 will be awarded in the following five categories:
1. Low-emission energy production,
2. Smart grids, platforms and cybersecurity,
3. Energy efficiency, smart devices and storage,
4. Innovative mobility,
5. Special Prize: Energy Access and UN Sustainable Development Goal 7
Pioneers of the energy transition sought
The three best startups in each category will be invited to present their ideas at the SET Initiative's annual meeting, the SET Tech Festival.
"With the SET Award, we are looking for pioneers of the energy transition. Our global SET network is growing rapidly. In the last two years, we have had around 1,000 applications from 88 countries. Several finalists have been able to develop their companies very successfully. Any startup that contributes to the sustainable use of energy is welcome in our initiative and should apply for the SET Award 2019."
says Andreas Kuhlmann, Chairman of the dena Management Board.
The SET Tech Festival, featuring the finalists' presentations, will take place in Berlin on April 9, 2019. The awards will be presented that same evening as part of the "Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue"—an international conference jointly organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Foreign Office.
Accelerate the energy transition
Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, says:
"If we want to achieve the UN's sustainability and climate goals, we must accelerate the energy transition—with smarter policies and strong, new business models and technologies. SET selects the top 100 startups and trailblazers to enable collaborations and support the energy transition. The World Energy Council is proud to be a partner of this dynamic platform and to join it in paving the way for a more sustainable energy system."
In the current round, the competition is supported by partner country Canada and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. In addition, over 100 partners from politics, business, science, and non-governmental organizations are participating in the initiative. Each year, the SET Initiative publishes a list of the top 100 startups committed to a global energy transition (#SET100).
