Scale Your Power Electronics Business With Electricity Industry Innovation Leader Iberdrola

Iberdrola operates more than 1.1 million kilometers of electric transmission and distribution power lines, across the United States, Brazil, the UK, and Spain. Their network comprises more than 4.400 high-to-medium voltage substations and more than 1.5 million medium-to-low voltage distribution transformers. Together, Iberdrola provides high-quality and reliable service to a total of 31 million electricity supply points.

Electricity networks are currently experiencing a significant change in the way electricity is generated and consumed due to the increased uptake of low carbon technologies (LCTs). Therefore the need to enhance network flexibility and adaptability is critical, with power electronics proving to be a key enabler in this transition. That is why Iberdrola is launching its new Startup Challenge, seeking power electronics devices.

Navigating Through A Changing Power Electronics Landscape

Despite the recognized benefits of using power electronic devices in medium-to-low voltage networks, there exist several barriers preventing the wider application within the energy network. These barriers include the pace of developing technologies, communications, health and safety, product lifetime, and efficiency.

Iberdrola is a pioneer in the digitization of its networks through the deployment of smart grid technologies, the integration of storage solutions, and the roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. To push the needle on innovation, Iberdrola utilizes its international startup program, called PERSEO, to seek competitive and innovative solutions.

Some examples of power electronic device innovations include solutions spanning:

• Medium & Low Voltage DC
• On-load tap changers
• Smart transformers
• LVDC Networks
• Solutions to avoid and defer conventional reinforcement

How To Apply For The Iberdrola Startup Challenge

This time, the challenge is calling on startups, scaleups, and market-ready power electronics solutions that allow optimization of medium- and low-voltage networks to improve network flexibility under different load scenarios.

The main characteristics that will be taken into consideration are as follows:

• Solutions that improve the efficiency and reliability of power electronic devices
• Power electronic devices that are economically competitive in the market
• Solutions that integrate power electronic devices into new offerings to support a net-zero energy network
• Power electronic devices that effectively improve the power quality of the distribution network
• Solutions that enable the control & communications associated with power electronic devices
• Solutions that achieve tangible savings for the network business

The proposals will be analyzed based on criteria of scalability, replicability, ease of implementation, and direct impact on medium and low voltage networks.

Each participant may submit one or more proposals.

Why Your Startup Should Apply

By applying for the Power Electronics Challenge, you stand a chance to begin your collaboration and pilot project with Iberdrola.

PERSEO and/or any other relevant Iberdrola group company will then:

• support you throughout the pilot project – technically & financially;
• provide you with the necessary technical support to test the solution proposed,
• give access to equipment, appliances, infrastructure, high technology sites, and joint work areas;
• provide you with a real environment and real data to test your solution.

If the pilot project succeeds, Iberdrola may offer your business the opportunity to scale up the solution by means of commercial agreements. In addition, PERSEO, Iberdrola’s VC arm, may consider investing in your company.

The analysis of the offers will be carried out by experts in the network business of the Iberdrola group. The project will be developed in collaboration with the technical specialists from the Iberdrola Network area after the evaluation process will end in January 2021.

Click here to find out all the details regarding the Iberdrola Startup Challenge & submit your applications by 31.12.2020!

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