Enel, through its US-based subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, has become partner of Energy Excelerator, an incubator for clean energy start-ups based in Hawaii.
As a global partner, Enel will be part of Energy Excelerator’s strategic advisory board, alongside the US Department of Energy, GE Ventures, Blackstone and power utilities for various countries.
Energy Excelerator is a non-profit organisation with the mission to “solve the world’s energy systems challenges through innovation” funded by the US Navy, US Department of Energy, and corporate partners, Enel said.
It operates as an international programme of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research focused on de-risking and commercialising early stage energy technologies, using Hawaii and the Asia Pacific as a test bed.
To date, it has awarded more than $15 million to 53 companies whose fields span energy, water, transportation, agriculture and cybersecurity.
“Hawaii is one of the most promising innovation testing grounds which has a high penetration of renewable energy sources, and through this partnership we aim to expand our network of innovators to open energy up to new uses, new technologies and new people” commented Francesco Venturini, Enel’s head of global renewable energies.