Power Electronics Challenge

Iberdrola is no stranger to collaborating with startups. The group actively seeks to generate mutually beneficial partnerships and to facilitate the implementation of the best ideas.

Additionally, Iberdrola has more than 1.1 million km of electric transmission and distribution power lines, distributed in the United States, Brazil, the UK and Spain. As part of this network there are more than 4.400 high to medium voltage substations and more than 1.5 million medium to low voltage distribution transformers, all built and operated to provide a high quality and reliable service to a total of 31 million electricity supply points.

Furthermore, Iberdrola is a pioneer in the digitization of its networks through the deployment of Smart Grids, the integration of storage solutions and the roll-out of electric vehicle charging stations.

All this work is carried out in parallel to a great effort to minimize the environmental impact of these facilities.

This time, Iberdrola's Challenge is looking for new innovative power electronics solutions that allow medium and low voltage networks optimization, improving their flexibility under different load scenarios.

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

• Solutions to improve the efficiency of power electronic devices and improve their reliability.
• Power electronic devices that are economically competitive in the market.
• Possible integration of these power electronic devices as part of new solutions/services to support a net zero energy network.
• Solutions that can effectively improve the power quality of distribution networks.
• Solutions to ensure the control & communications associated to avoid and defer conventional reinforcement, to ultimately achieve tangible savings for the network business.

When you win the Challenge, the main prize will consist of you signing a collaboration and proof of concept agreement with Iberdrola/PERSEO.

For the collaboration of the pilot project, Iberdrola will:
• assume the costs of the collaboration and the proof of concept
• provide you with the necessary technical support to test the solution proposed
• give you 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

Additional benefits include:
• scaling your solution by means of commercial agreements directly or indirectly through another Iberdrola group company
• a possibility for investment in your company through PERSEO
• adding your solution to Iberdrola's service territory if the pilot succeeds

The winner of the challenge will sign a partnership contract with Iberdrola and be able to test their solution in a real environment.

For the collaboration of the pilot project, Iberdrola will:
• assume the costs of the collaboration and the proof of concept
• provide the necessary technical support to test the solution proposed
• give access to equipment, appliances, infrastructure, high technology sites and joint work areas
• provide a real environment and real data to test the solution

The pilot project will be implemented in collaboration with specialist technicians from Iberdrola's network area.

You are welcome to submit more than one proposal, just make sure to submit a separate application form for each.

The application period for this challenge ends on 31 December 2020.

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

The analysis of the offers will be carried out by experts in the network business of Iberdrola's group.