You develop Sustainable Solutions for Substations or Very High Voltage Lines?

Thank you for your applications!

the startup challenge by

Iberdrola’s energy network comprises over 4,400 high- to medium-voltage substations and more than 1.5 million medium- to low-voltage distribution transformers – built to provide high-quality and reliable electricity to a total of 31 million supply points.

Iberdrola continuously works to develop and implement solutions that will help the transition toward a more sustainable energy model, in its commitment to fight against climate change and promote sustainability globally.

The main goals of this challenge include:

  • Optimizing the cost of the materials and methods currently applied.
  • Reducing the environmental impact of constructing new assets in electricity grids, mainly substations, and very high voltage lines.
  • Optimizing the time and cost associated with civil works and assembly.
  • Increasing safety and risk prevention for assembly processes.

In this context, Iberdrola, through its International Startup Program – PERSEO, is looking for new materials and designs, as well as manufacturing and construction methods for electrical substations and very high voltage lines.

Solutions that optimize the use of project materials, for example, in metallic structures.

Solutions that replace the use of current materials with new, more sustainable materials.

Solutions that optimize civil works.

Solutions that optimize the removal of electricity plants.

Solutions that increase the safety of operations by reducing human intervention, for example, in operations at height.

However, the challenge is open to all proposals.

So, if the proposal does not fit this case study, it will also be analyzed, provided that the competitive advantages of the proposal for a specific type of site are clearly explained.

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 the technical specialists from Iberdrola Networks. Additionally, PERSEO covers the costs of the pilot activities and provides you with the necessary technical support, giving access to infrastructure and real data to test your solution.

Pilot Project

Sign a collaboration agreement with Iberdrola and/or PERSEO. The project costs are covered & you will get full technical support to test your solution.

New Clients

If the pilot project succeeds, Iberdrola and/or PERSEO will add your solutions to its service territory and relevant companies within the group.

Scaling

If the pilot succeeds, Iberdrola and/or PERSEO may offer you the opportunity to scale up your solution by means of commercial agreements.

Possible Investment

PERSEO, the risk capital vehicle of Iberdrola, might consider investing in the winner’s solution as well.

This challenge is also launched within the framework of the new Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, a worldwide smart grid benchmark built by Iberdrola through open collaboration and co-working between i-DE technicians, suppliers, startups, and different organizations from all around the world.

Timeline

19 May 2022
Applications Open

19 June 2022
Application Deadline

July 2022

Evaluation

2022

Pilot Project

Contact Iberdrola
IberdrolaChallenge@iberdrola.es

For more information, click here to check all of the Iberdrola Startup Challenges to find innovative solutions.

FAQs

See our responses to some of the most common questions or view our Terms & Conditions.

What is the background of this Challenge?

Iberdrola has over 1.1 million kilometres of electricity transmission and distribution lines in the United States, Brazil, the UK, and Spain. The network comprises over 4,400 high- to medium-voltage substations and more than 1.5 million medium- to low-voltage distribution transformers built and operated to provide a high-quality and reliable service to a total of 31 million electricity supply points.

In this context, Iberdrola, through its International Startup Program - PERSEO, is looking for new materials and designs, as well as manufacturing and construction methods for electrical substations and very high voltage lines.

The main goals of this challenge focused on the grids of the future are:

• Optimizing the cost of the materials and methods currently applied.
• Reducing the environmental impact of constructing new assets in electricity grids, mainly substations and very high voltage lines.
• Optimizing the cost and time associated with civil works and assembly.
• Increasing safety and risk prevention for assembly processes.

Why are Iberdrola and/or PERSEO the right partners for my company?

Iberdrola is no stranger to working with startups and emerging companies - over the last two years, the Group has launched over 17 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 the technical specialists from Iberdrola Networks.

Additionally, PERSEO covers the costs of the pilot activities and provides you with the necessary technical support, giving access to infrastructures and real data to test your solution.

Finally, PERSEO may consider investing in your solution!

What solutions are you looking for?

In the context of new designs and materials for networks, through its PERSEO Startup Program, and as part of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, Iberdrola is looking for:

• solutions that optimize the use of project materials, for example, in metallic structures.
• solutions that replace the use of current materials with new, more sustainable materials.
• solutions that optimize civil works.
• solutions that optimize the removal of electricity plants.
• solutions that increase the safety of operations by reducing human intervention, for example, in operations at height.

Iberdrola is continuously seeking to develop and implement solutions that will help the transition toward a more sustainable energy model.

In its commitment to fight against climate change and promote sustainability, Iberdrola aims to achieve clear results in relation to the climate crisis and their sustainability strategy.

What are the Challenge's key benefits for me?

Your benefits include:

• 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.

Your solution will also be included directly in the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hubs registration process. As a collaborator, you will benefit from the services, activities, and resources that the Hub makes available in future!

What do I need to know about the Pilot Project?

The winner of the challenge will sign a partnership contract with Iberdrola and/or PERSEO and will 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 project will be developed in collaboration with technical specialists from the Iberdrola Networks group.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

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

When is the application deadline?

The application period for this challenge ends on 12 June 2022.

UPDATE: The application period for this challenge is extended to 19 June 2022. Apply today!

How will the applications be evaluated?

The following value propositions will be considered, among others:

• The maturity, reliability, and durability of the solution.
• Ease of installation and maintenance.
• Investment and operational costs.
• Scalability of the solution for this and other applications in the electricity sector.

Your proposals will be analyzed by experts from Iberdrola's Networks group.