Dubai Electricity & Water Authority |DEWA participates in selecting 12 international energy startups for 3rd Free Electrons programme

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) took part in selecting 12 start-ups from around the world for the 3rd Free Electrons, the global energy accelerator programme for startups to develop innovative energy solutions. DEWA is one of the prominent members of the alliance which also includes leading global energy companies. 30 startups were shortlisted from 300 companies that had applied and took part in the first bootcamp in Dublin, Ireland in 2019. The shortlisted startups now have three modules to complete, each for 4 days, where they meet the energy members of the programme in USA, Hong Kong and Portugal.

"Today, DEWA has become one of the world's leading utilities, not only in anticipating the future but also in creating it. Our participation in the Free Electrons programme, along with a number of leading energy organisations is part of our efforts to strengthen cooperation between major global utilities and energy start-up companies. This supports and encourages innovation and develops effective solutions to meet current and future energy challenges, explores opportunities early on and promotes innovation in renewable and clean energy. We are pleased with the great response and the quality of the projects. This is a wonderful opportunity for energy startups to embrace innovative ideas, to share information and knowledge as well as expand into new markets around the world," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“The Free Electrons programme provides an integrated framework for establishing partnerships and innovating disruptive technologies and enhance innovation on clean and renewable energy as well as pave the way for more achievements in the future. It also supports DEWA’s efforts in employing technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, energy storage, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, among others," said Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future at DEWA.

In addition to DEWA, the Free Electrons alliance comprise 9 prominent international energy companies. These are AusNet from Australia; ESB from Ireland; EDP from Portugal; innogy from the EU; Origin Energy from Australia; Singapore Power; TEPCO from Japan; American Electric Power; and CLP from Hong Kong; in addition to Beta-i from Portugal that supports such entrepreneurship projects.

The Stanford Graduate School of Business, the University of Melbourne and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland used the Free Electrons Accelerator programme as an academic case study for graduate studies that focused on the methodology and approach of the programme in research and development.