5 Top Surplus Power Conversion Startups Impacting The Energy Industry

Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the energy sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we want to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising surplus power conversion startups.

Heat Map: 5 Top Surplus Power Conversion Startups

For our 5 top picks, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 interesting examples out of 184 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.

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KiWi – Power-to-Solar

The transition to a neo-carbon society entails the reorganization of a circular economy with renewable energy and peer-to-peer operations. In such an economy, power-to-solar technologies convert energy and carbon dioxide into novel end products. The Internet of (Solar) Energy makes this system flexible and secure and structures its distributed and autonomous members.

KiWi is a US-based smart Internet of Energy (IoE) blockchain startup that develops an online green investment and financing platform. It connects global investors with solar project developers around the world. The company creates a well connected smart microgrid system to remove the usual hurdles in smart energy sharing platforms. The artificial intelligence (AI) based smart energy solution minimizes costs and transforms the peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading marketplace into a green financing system that is more efficient, transparent, and customer-friendly.

H2SYS – Power-to-Hydrogen

Power-to-Hydrogen (P2H) technologies are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based energy sources. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells provide electricity during the low availability of renewable energy. E-Hydrogen technology reduces carbon emissions by adding blue hydrogen to fossil fuels. The aim is to gradually increase the proportion of hydrogen until the total replacement of fossil fuels in a carbon-free future.

H2SYS is a French startup manufacturing fuel cells to produce electricity from hydrogen. Their proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel system is air-cooled, scalable, and generates 0,5 – 3,2 kW energy. H2SYS algorithms optimize power flows to meet the real-time energy demands and prevent wear and tear over time. The startup also develops electrical generators with an electric storage system with smart on-board control.

E-Energy – Power-to-Liquid

Even though electric transport directly consumes electric energy from rechargeable batteries, it is not yet feasible for main freight transportation. Synthetic fuels are derived from fossil materials and are not carbon-neutral or carbon-free. However, energy-intensive synthetic fuels or e-fuels produced from renewable sources are more eco-friendly power-to-liquid solutions.

E-Energy, a startup from Luxembourg, produces crude oil from waste and integrates it into existing value chains. Their synthetic fuel powers highly efficient thermal engines in dilute or refined quantities. Additionally, the startup develops proprietary products and energy forms using a process that does not affect the food-to-energy supply chain or other resources. Their solution optimizes the use of natural resources and produces energy with improved efficiency as compared to existing bio-energy sources.

ENERSTORAGE – Power-to-Heat

Power-to-Heat (PtH) innovations replace traditional combined-cycle power plants where an assembly of heat engines work in tandem. PtH technology uses heat pumps or heating rods to convert electricity to heat and offers an environmentally friendly way to heat buildings and provide process heat for industrial enterprises.

The German startup ENERSTORAGE designs, finances, and markets PtH plants for industries that require a lot of heat. Their business model helps companies to achieve sustainable additional revenue without any added investment. The PtH systems provide an important link between the heat supply and the power grid, regulate the power grids, and thus lead to a successful energy transition.

Be Power – Power-to-Mobility

Electric vehicles (EVs) suffer from low battery capacities, long charging durations, and an insufficient number of charging stations even in industrialized regions. Long trips in electric cars often mean searching for charging stations and driving at slow speeds with the air conditioner turned off. Power-to-mobility solutions address these issues.

The Italian startup Be Power develops a comprehensive and turnkey business model, wherein they own and operate a nationwide public EV charging infrastructure. They aggregate a multitude of distributed energy resources within a Virtual Power Plant that allows them to offer the flexibility of an electricity grid operator within the dispatching services market. It supports the growth of the EVs in Italy and makes a decisive contribution to the development of a sustainable mobility system.

What About The Other 179 Solutions?

While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 5 surplus power conversion startups showcased above are promising examples out of 184 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.