More than 500 start-ups from 58 countries have entered the first international ‘Start Up Energy Transition Award’, presented by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency. The competition supports start-ups who have ideas and visions for global climate protection and the energy transition. It forms the foundation for building an international community focused on innovations in the global energy transition. Divided into six categories, the award will be presented on 20 March as part of the evening event of the ‘Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue’ (BETD) energy transition summit.

A top-class international jury will announce the winners at the Tech Festival in Berlin. Before this, the three nominees in each category will give a presentation on their business models before an audience of investors, business representatives and start-ups from across the world. At the Tech Festival, participants will thrash out actual chal-lenges of the energy transition in workshops with business partners. This also gives start-ups a chance to meet potential customers and investors. Meanwhile, international guests at the BETD, which is being held at the same time, will have the unique chance to learn about the business models of the energy transition’s future architects at the Tech Festival. An exhibition will showcase successful start-up founders whose innovative activities are contributing to climate protection. Prominent keynote speakers and panels complete the programme.

On the same day, more than 1,000 prestigious participants from 70 countries are expected at the BETD. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Foreign Office are organising this annual conference as a way of bringing together experts from the fields of politics, science, industry and civil society. In this way, they hope to foster international cooperation in climate protection, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. It means that, around 20-21 March, Berlin will become the centre of international debate on the future of the global energy transition.

Six categories at ‘Start Up Energy Transition’ competition

The ‘Start Up Energy Transition Award’ prizes will be presented in six categories: for contributions to digitalised and sustainable cities; for technologies aiming at a cross-sectoral reduction of greenhouse emissions; for digital solutions in industry; for sustainable mobility concepts; and for setting up platforms. A special award will go to companies whose projects contribute to the seventh sustainable development goal (SDG 7) of the United Nations: affordable and clean energy for all.

For more information on the Start Up Energy Transition Award, its numerous partners, and the Tech Festival, visit www.startup-energy-transition.com.

More information on the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue can be found at www.energiewende2017.com.

International support for the initiative

Over 100 collaborative partners from more than 25 countries support the initiative. They include the International Energy Agency (IEA); the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); the internationally-renowned Allianz Rocky Mountain Institute/Carbon War Room; the European Climate Foundation (ECF); the international incubator Hub:raum; Climate-KIC; KIC Inno Energy; and a number of key industry associations from Germany. Key initiative partners include the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ); the foreign trade agency GTAI; the Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability; the German Chambers of Commerce; the KfW Group; Deutsche Welle; and the consultancy DWR eco.

International ambassadors of the ‘Start Up Energy Transition Award’ include Patricia Espinosa, General Secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK); Philipp Schröder, Managing Director at sonnen GmbH; Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) and JumpStarter; and Dr Jeremy Leggett, founding director of Solarcentury and founder/Chief Executive of SolarAid.

Corporate partners include the Chinese energy company Envision Energy; the innogy Innovation Hub company; the French electric power provider Enedis; Vattenfall Germany; the French electric power company EDF; the E.ON innovation support programme; agile accelerator; the wilo company; and the Austrian Association of Energy Providers.

Press contact:
Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – German Energy Agency, Stella Matsoukas, Chausseestrasse 128 a, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)30 72 61 65 657; fax: +49 (0)30 72 61 65 699; e-mail: presse@dena.de; website: www.dena.de

DWR eco GmbH, Doreen Rietentiet, Albrechtstrasse 22, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 609819 500; fax: +49 30 609819 509; e-mail: rietentiet@dwr-eco.com; website: www.dwr-eco.com