Renewable Energy Leader Iberdrola Seeks Your Innovative Solutions to Boost Energy Efficiency at Data Centers

Iberdrola firmly believes that the transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 is possible and makes economic sense. Today, the data centers industry has grown exponentially as a core component of the digital economy and will continue to grow over time as cloud computing expands. Anticipating the bottlenecks that arise with such high demand, the Iberdrola International Startup Challenge seeks innovative solutions to boost energy efficiency at data centers.

Discover the Iberdrola Startup Challenge to Boost Energy Efficiency at Data Centers

Decarbonizing the economy and digital innovation entail building innovative distribution grids to cope with new models of electricity consumption. Data centers represent a growing source of power demand accounting for 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) a year – around 1% of total global electricity demand. In some locations such as Ireland, where there is a huge density of data centers, this ratio could account for up to 14% of the electricity consumption.

In this context, Iberdrola in collaboration with Schneider Electric and Microsoft, through PERSEO – Iberdrola’s International Startups Program – is launching this challenge, looking for innovative solutions to boost energy efficiency at data centers and allow facility sites to improve their power usage effectiveness.

Which challenges can you apply for?

Sub-challenge A – Heat & Water Recovery: Solutions include the reuse of the heat generated by data centers (hot air stream at 32-40 Celsius degrees) for residential, commercial, or industrial processes.

Sub-challenge B – Smart Building: Solutions include smart cooperation between different energy management systems, such as thermal & electrical systems.

Sub-challenge C – Demand-Side Response Capability: Includes solutions for the provision of flexibility and balancing services to grid operators.

Exciting Prize & Opportunities Await the Winners!

Iberdrola is no stranger to working with startups and emerging companies – over the last two years, the Group has launched over 16 Startup Challenges to address pressing issues in today’s energy networks. Moreover, working with Iberdrola presents a unique opportunity:

Winning this Challenge will award you with signing a collaboration agreement for the development of a Proof-of-Concept (PoC). The PoC will be developed in collaboration with experts from Iberdrola, Schneider Electric, and Microsoft.

Explore all your benefits:

• Collaboration Agreement & Pilot Test: The prize for the winner consists of a collaboration and test agreement with PERSEO or any other Iberdrola group company. The group will support the cost of the pilot activities.
• Access-all-Areas: Iberdrola will provide the winner with all necessary technical support, as well as a site and real data to test the solution. This includes access to equipment, teams, infrastructure, high technology sites, and shared work areas.
• Scale Your Technology: If the pilot test is satisfactory, Iberdrola may offer the winner the opportunity to scale up the solution by adapting it through commercial agreements.
• Investment: What’s more, PERSEO will consider investing in the participating company and/or the winner of the challenge.

Key Dates for the Boosting Energy Efficiency at Data Centers Challenge

Applications are now open for this challenge! Apply here now.

• Last Date for Submitting Applications: 12 June 2022 (Deadline extended!)
• Evaluation Period: Starts June 2022
• Pilot Project: Second half of 2022

How to Ensure You Submit a Strong Application?

The following value propositions will be considered, among others:

• The maturity, reliability, and scalability of the solution
• Simplicity of installation
• Economic impact for data centers managers (cost vs revenue)
• Power usage effectiveness improvement
• Energy Reuse Effectiveness, or ERE, a measure of heat reuse success
• Applicability of the solution for this and other industries

Proposals should specify what equipment and connections are needed to implement your solutions. Your proposals will be analyzed by experts from Iberdrola, Schneider Electric, and Microsoft’s expert teams, among others.

Ready to decarbonize data centers and scale your innovative solution with Iberdrola? Click here to apply today!

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