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Welcome to Incubatenergy® Labs

Incubatenergy Labs is built for startups to engage EPRI and electric power energy providers in paid demonstration projects. An energy providers summit and collaborative demonstrations program in one, the program links startup companies leading the advancement of electrification, decarbonization and grid modernization with energy providers from around the world that have the capacity and desire to demonstrate and scale those innovations. We structured the program to give you maximum exposure to energy providers and ensure that the results of a successful demonstration with one energy provider turns into opportunities with many. 

Our 2024 applicants will be pitching
live at Electrification 2024.

Click here for a registration link.
Our 2024 finalists will be pitching live at Electrification 2024.Click here to register.
SME Database Registration

Join us for Electrification 2024!

Join us for Electrification 2024 International Conference & Exposition in Savannah, GA on March 12-14, 2024. For more information pleease visit  www.electrification2024.com

Register Here!

Join EPRI’s Incubatenergy Labs at VERGE 23 (October 24-26, San Jose, CA), a climate tech event accelerating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. Bringing together leaders from business, government, solution providers, this event will bring the climate community together to work on addressing the climate crisis across six key programs comprising the event: Buildings, Carbon, Energy, Food, Startups, and Transport. Learn more and use code V23EPRI at registration for 20% off the All-Access Pass:

Learn more and use code V23EPRI at registration for 20% off the All-Access Pass



key dates

Incubatenergy Labs Process

Incubatenergy® Labs seeks technologies for 2024’s cohort in the following innovation challenge categories:

  • September 11, 2023

    IDENTIFY

    New Challenge Definition
    for Utility Participants

  • December 1, 2023

    DISCOVER

    Application Open/Scouting
    Startup Evaluation/Down-select

  • Mar, 2024

    ENGAGE

    Pitch Day
    2024 Pitch Days will be held at
    Electrification 2024, March 12-13.
    Host Selection

  • Apr-May, 2024

    ACTIVATE

    Demo Scoping/Contracting
    Demo Execution

  • Sep, 2024

    SCALE

    Demo Execution
    Demo Day Showcase

WHY

Why incubatenergy labs?

  • Utility Exposure: Present and showcase to utilities and R&D experts from across the U.S.
  • Paid Demonstrations: Compete for paid demonstrations with leading utilities in North & South America and Europe
  • Rapid Execution: Scope demonstrations in 6 weeks, execute in 16
  • Demostrate with one, get traction with many: While companies generally engage a single utility in a demonstration, all participating utilities are involved in the demonstration scope, progress, and results.

Successful candidates will access data, gather insights, scope demonstration trials, and test their products/services in live customer environments.

WHAT

What we offer?

Direct engagement with major utility business leaders and subject matter experts

Demonstration of your tech on-site with some of the largest energy providers in North & South America and Europe

The opportunity to grow your catalog of contacts through EPRI’s Incubatenergy Network

Engage utility and industry investment groups

Time to develop a relevant use case with senior stakeholders prior to Pitch Day

Accelerated, paid demonstrations on-site between startups and utilities

CATEGORIES

Challenge categories

Incubatenergy® Labs seeks technologies for 2024’s cohort in the following innovation challenge categories:

Customer and community engagement

Customers and their satisfaction lie at the core of any business. As an industry, we

want to be more proactive to better serve our customers, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, provide more personalized communications and information, and offer services and solutions targeted to individual needs. Bring us your solutions that help us create grid-interactive smart communities, enable broad community benefit, and support economic development. These solutions help our customers become more proactive and informed participants in a cleaner, more integrated, and resilient energy system, and create new lines of business for our utilities.

  • Virtual Assistants, automated dispatch, rapid response and assistance for vulnerable customers
  • Seamless integration and management of connected energy devices
  • Price signaling or transactive energy platforms
  • Advanced customization/targeted customer engagement
  • Predictive behavioral and adoption analysis
  • Low-and-moderate-income (LMI) & disadvantaged communities (DAC) targeted programs

Decarbonization and Sustainability

The world is on a path to decarbonize and the electric power industry is leading the charge. Since 2005, the US reduced its

carbon footprint one gigaton, primarily by switching to cleaner fuels, expanding renewables, and driving efficiencies. To get the next gigaton, we need solutions to integrate and manage more low-carbon energy generation: from distributed to utility-scale solutions covering wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, and low-carbon fuels; to systems that help us optimize their output. Circularity in our operations and materials also are critical. As we deploy these solutions, controls, financing, accounting systems, and materials technology options will help society better track environmental impacts and support a shift to zero carbon. Our path to deep decarbonization also includes a focus on low-carbon hydrogen technologies.

  • Sector-coupling clean energy fuel programs and green hydrogen solutions
  • Circulator design and new or low -carbon materials (vegetation waste, plastics, concrete, SF6 replacement etc.
  • Hydrogen storage systems
  • Onshore & Offshore renewables integration
  • Low-carbon fuel generation, distribution & storage
  • CO2 value chain solutions
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting solutions
  • Wireless transmission technology
  • HVDC, hybrid, FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) solutions
  • Solutions in areas not interconnected

Electric mobility

Electrification is a key component of our decarbonization strategy, and transportation represents our biggest

emitter. To get a gigaton out of transportation, we need solutions to enable low-cost, ubiquitous, and manageable charging, comprehensive fleet-as-a-service solutions, and charging infrastructure wherever we drive and park. And as adoption scales, we need the ability to manage charging and to call on vehicles to switch from energy consumer to supplier and back depending on the need.

  • Charging balance-of-system cost reduction
  • Low-cost charging for multi-family, underground and public parking
  • Reduced grid impact for home and fast charging
  • EV charger detection, grid planning and charge management
  • EV fleet and fleet-as-a-service
  • V2G and V2X

Electrification

Building systems and commercial/industrial processes represent significant opportunities for decarbonization.

 Utilities have long been active in innovations around building envelopes, device efficiencies, and demand response programs. As we add intelligence, load disaggregation and flexible load solutions, we help match energy consumption to grid availability without sacrificing comfort or performance. As these solutions become more integrated and complex, there also is a need for comprehensive Electrification-as-a-Service solutions that guide customers through the design, deployment, and operation of solutions.

  • Advanced HVAC systems
  • Load disaggregation, monitoring, and control
  • Flexible load control solutions
  • VPP and virtual battery solutions
  • Standards and solutions for behind-the-meter interoperability
  • Comprehensive Electrification-as-a-Service
  • Industrial heat pumps
  • DER/DERM control, DERM network comms
  • Gas/electric hybrid energy systems, Gas heat pumps
  • Wireless transmission technology

Nuclear assists

Nuclear power will play a critical role in the decarbonization of the electric generation sector. 

Many models show the need for both existing nuclear power plants, as well as new advanced reactors, to meet climate goals. Innovative, ancillary technologies are needed to assist existing nuclear plants in operating more efficiently and help with the cost-effectiveness of advanced nuclear reactor designs.

  • Automated plant operations, digitization and modernization
  • Advanced radiation protection technologies
  • Nuclear fuel cycle
  • Digital twins, online monitoring, and automated analysis
  • Sensors and robotics for high temperatures

Predictive & Prescriptive operations

With the growth in renewables, distributed energy systems and electrification, modeling, and managing our grid is more

important than ever. Digital overlays and AI/ML are fundamentally transforming the electric power system, and we seek solutions that provide more intelligent and autonomous power plants. We also seek automated, data-driven, and optimized operations, maintenance, and planning technologies for building a safer, more efficient, equitable, decentralized, secure, and decarbonized grid that better serves our customers.

  • Predictive asset monitoring, maintenance, prognostics, planning and management
  • Dynamic degradation and failure prediction & control room of the future
  • Grid flexibility and automated management for distributed energy resources and baseload generation
  • Unmanned systems and digital imagery capture, photogrammetry/3D modeling to capture existing assets or to model new build assets
  • AI-enhanced IT/OT hardening and cyber threat mitigation (Cyber Security)
  • Drones
  • Grid planning & forecasting for both gas & electric
  • Land monitoring

Resilience and adaptation

Extreme weather, flooding, and other related events are becoming 

common. Preparing for such events and keeping customers and communities safe, informed, and with access to power through them is a top priority. Bring your solutions that help us better prepare, predict localized events, prevent outages where possible and, when they happen, communicate with our customers and restore power quickly.

  • Extreme weather events mitigation, risk analytics, and dynamic response systems
  • Anti-icing, anti-corrosion, self-healing, and undergrounding
  • Resilience planning, situational awareness, communications, and dispatch automation
  • Automated and responsive event and restoration effort information systems
  • Utility-scale, long-duration storage (LDS)
  • Off-grid, isolated energy solutions
  • "Plug-and-play" or "as-a-Service" customer energy storage systems, microgrids and energy management platforms
  • Distributed analytics and controls for balancing and operation of islanded microgrids
  • Wildfire preparedness and response, including drought detection and advanced atmospheric and weather modeling
  • Climate and water solutions for regions at risk for flooding, storm surges, etc.
  • Seismic/geological solutions for mitigating hazards in areas at risk for earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, and other geological events
  • Safety distance monitoring/safety on construction sites
  • Physical security of critical assets and protection of assets from attacks
  • Customized reliability & resiliency planning

Robotics

Technological advances have led to rapid growth of opportunities in the robotics

 industry. As utilities manage the aging of existing assets and develop new advanced power plants, industry will need robotic platforms and integrated data analysis tools to safely and reliably reduce the cost of operations, inspections, and maintenance of power generation assets. We expect the next generation of these platforms to operate autonomously in difficult land, sea, and air environments, while sharing space safely with human workers and high-value assets.

  • Solutions for operating in inaccessible areas, such as ladders and heavy doors
  • Operating robotic emergency response in difficult weather conditions
  • Collaborative robots ("cobots") for assisting human workers
  • Advanced sensor payloads for radiation, audio, visual, and chemical detection
  • Systems for monitoring equipment condition
  • Advanced submersibles for maintenance diving tasks
  • Field-based and construction automation

Waste-derived renewable fuels

Waste minimization and valorization play a critical role in a sustainable, net-zero

economy, but full realization requires significant scale. Among valorization pathways, waste-to-renewable fuels has the greatest potential for scale and growth. Furthermore, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), waste-based renewable fuels are expected to see disproportionately high demand growth relative to other biofuels. While the opportunity is large, production processes for waste-derived renewable fuels are in early stages of development. Significant innovation and focused development are necessary to achieve full commercial scale and become competitive versus conventional biofuels and incumbent fossil-based fuels.
Waste-to fuels pathways are those capable of converting waste and residue-based materials; such as cellulosic farm and forestry byproducts, organic landfill or municipal waste treatment plant solids, discarded plastics and recovered carbon dioxide; into direct-replacement hydrocarbon fuels, such as renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (kerosene), and oxygenates including methanol, ethanol, butanol, and dimethyl ether.

  • New conversion technologies and production processes
  • Technologies that improve or enhance yield and efficiency of existing production processes
  • Technologies for converting raw waste to bio-intermediates
  • Techniques, technologies, and applications that improve and promote integrated systems and systemic efficiencies
  • Modular solutions that enable distributed deployment at waste source

Workforce of the future

Technology can help our workers perform their jobs more safely, efficiently, and

 effectively. Wearables, augmented reality, the convergence of information and operational technologies, the internet of things (IoT), and big data solutions are being combined in creative new ways to help our workforce thrive. We’re looking for technology that drives smarter operations through asset monitoring tools, equipment, analytics, and AI to improve operational safety and customer experience.

  • Wearables for personnel and/or environmental monitoring safety
  • Robotics, exoskeletons, and unmanned systems for completion of hazardous tasks
  • XR for immersive, remote training, information accessibility, and task efficiency
  • Digital worker enhancements and remote, real-time assistance on complicated jobs
  • Advancement in telecom (low orbit satellites)

CRITERIA

Review criteria

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KEY DATES

Key dates

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  • September 12, 2023: Applications Open
  • December 01, 2023: Applications Close
  • March 12-13, 2024: Pitch Days @ Electrification
  • April-May 2024, Project Scoping
  • June 2024: Project Kickoff & Execution
  • October 2024: Demo Day, Final Reports & Videos

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce lectus enim, porta at mattis at, cursus semper nunc. Maecenas suscipit sagittis odio vel auctor. In lacus lectus, porttitor non massa eget, fringilla pulvinar enim. Morbi eget gravida sapien, et tincidunt nibh. Phasellus auctor condimentum augue, non ultrices diam. Maecenas a lectus nisi. Vivamus ornare pellentesque arcu ut euismod.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce lectus enim, porta at mattis at, cursus semper nunc. Maecenas suscipit sagittis odio vel auctor. In lacus lectus, porttitor non massa eget, fringilla pulvinar enim. Morbi eget gravida sapien, et tincidunt nibh. Phasellus auctor condimentum augue, non ultrices diam. Maecenas a lectus nisi. Vivamus ornare pellentesque arcu ut euismod.

NEED HELP?

FAQs

Find out all the frequently asked questions.

Incubatenergy Labs is a rapid scouting and pilot demonstration program, pairing startups from around the world with global energy companies and EPRI to execute proof-of-concept, 16-week paid demonstration projects addressing industry-prioritized use cases.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is a non-profit institute driving R&D for about 500 utilities worldwide. We have had many energy providers participate and each year may bring new partners.

We are seeking companies whose innovations have progressed beyond the cash prizes phase of development and are ready for real-world demonstration, nearing the point of market scale. While we don’t offer cash prizes, EPRI, and our member energy providers are eager to collaborate with you on paid demonstrations. After all, revenue is the best reward.

The Incubatenergy Labs process starts by confirming customer demand for your solutions. Participating energy providers and EPRI review our strategic innovation imperatives and identify common innovation challenge areas. This maximizes the value for both utilities seeking solutions and startups aiming to scale their offerings across a more extensive customer base.

Since its creation in 2019, IEL has engaged with thousands of startups, resulting in more than 50 innovation demonstrations executed in collaboration with EPRI and leading energy providers.

The application window for the upcoming 2024 cohort opens September 12, 2023, and closes December 1, 2023.

There’s no charge to apply and applications must be completed & submitted online.

No. We are actively looking for paid pilot demonstrations across several innovation areas. If you are currently in the process of raising funds, you'll also have the opportunity to connect with the venture arms of energy providers in our program, and other venture groups within our network. While we can facilitate these connections, we do not participate in the investment discussions themselves.

No. We are seeking paid pilot demonstrations in a number of innovation areas. However, if you are actively raising, you will have the opportunity to engage the venture arms of participating energy providers and other venture groups in our network. We facilitate connections but we don’t participate in the investment discussions.

In addition to the questions in the application, we’ll ask you to upload an overview deck of your company and innovation, information on third-party validation, market traction data, a simple video, and a one-page overview of a conceptual demonstration project.

During the application phase, we don’t enter into NDAs, and we don’t expect you to share information that would necessitate one. If you are selected to join us for Pitch Day, we’ll execute a Startup Participation Agreement outlining our privacy policy and the terms governing the sharing of confidential information between your company, the participating utilities, and EPRI.

Applications are reviewed by technology scouts and subject matter experts from EPRI and the participating energy providers. At least three experts will review each complete application. Your application materials will not be shared beyond that audience unless we seek your permission.

Applications are evaluated based on their alignment with the challenge areas, technical innovation, integration readiness, proposed demonstration scope, and fit with the current market needs of energy providers. The top applicants may be asked to participate in a follow-up interview.

While there’s no set number of finalist companies, we anticipate selecting 20 companies to present to the group of energy providers and R&D experts at Pitch Day in 2024. Pitch Day will be held in-person only and will take place at Electrification 2024 in Savannah, GA. Among the companies invited to Pitch Day, some or all may be chosen to engage in demonstration projects.

Please review our current innovation challenge topics, which are focused on grid modernization, decarbonization, and the electrification sectors of our economy, improving utility customer experience, and reducing O&M costs. Specific challenge topics may change in each cycle. Those listed for the current cycle represent areas in which the participating utilities are actively seeking solutions.

In general, we’re seeking demonstration-ready solutions, typically at TRL 6-8.

Definitely not! Great innovations come from all corners of the world. Previous years’ cohorts included Canadian, Australian, European, Latin American, and U.S. companies. If you’re selected for a demonstration, you’ll collaborate closely with EPRI and one or more energy providers to demonstrate your solution. Be prepared to visit the hosting energy provider if required or explore remote demonstration options.

No. We have laboratory facilities in various locations and if the project requires a lab, we will work with you to arrange that. Pitch Days and Demo Days will be in-person events.

  • December 1, 2023: Application Deadline
  • February, 2024: Finalists selected
  • March 12-13, 2024: Pitch Day
  • Apr / May, 2024: Demonstration Scoping and Contracting
  • June, 2024: Project Kickoff & Execution
  • October, 2024: Demo Day, Final Reports & Videos

Do you have more questions please don’t
hesitate to contact us!

Contact us