Amsterdam, February 2, 2023: Rockstart and Ørsted announce that the first startups for the Ørsted Propel acceleration program have been selected. The two organizations have teamed up and launched Ørsted Propel in 2022 to accelerate startups with the potential to revolutionize the energy sector as part of the new Ørsted Innovation Hub. The four-month open innovation program will further support growth for the selected startups, providing funding opportunities, resources to develop pilot projects, and other long-term engagements with Ørsted.
Utilizing Ørsted’s vast network and industry knowledge, Ørsted Propel is designed and implemented by Rockstart and focuses on solutions for electricity system integration as part of Ørsted’s new Open Innovation Hub in the Netherlands. The program starts in February 2023.
The first eight selected startups were chosen from a pool of more than 150 applications from 30+ countries and cover a wide range of energy solutions. Of the eight selected startups, several put forward solutions and strategies to optimize energy storage like Cactos, Geyser Batteries, phelas, suena, and RFC Power. Think RE focuses on strategies for decarbonization while Ocean Swell Energy develops floating power generator vessels. Real Carbon Tech offers C02 conversion for industrial sites and beyond.
‘The Ørsted Propel program is a unique program in which we combine the potential of startups and Ørsted’s experience in the renewable energy market. It is through corporations like this that we can work towards a more integrated energy system. By supporting innovations and testing technologies, Ørsted aims to create a world running entirely on green energy. I want to congratulate the eight participants and look forward to our future cooperation’Ruben Dijkstra, Managing Director Ørsted Benelux
We at Rockstart are excited to welcome the first eight startups selected to participate in Ørsted Propel. The innovative solutions put forward by their founders have the potential to significantly optimize our energy system during a time when cost and access to renewable energy are some of the most critical factors from a geopolitical and macroeconomic perspective. We are proud to collaborate with Ørsted to further push for a greener and more sustainable energy system.Rune Theill, CEO & Co-Founder, Rockstart
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Orsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen, green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. In the Netherlands, Ørsted has built and operates the Borssele 1&2 offshore wind farm.
Rockstart, a global early stage accelerator - VC, has a track record in the energy sector since 2014 and has also raised the Rockstart Energy fund from which it has invested in 21 startups from seven European countries since its launch in October 2020. Rockstart has run over 35 programs dedicated to startups innovating in tech, energy, and agrifood since its founding in 2012. To date, Rockstart has leveraged an international network of investors, mentors, experts, and corporate partners to support over 300 startups who have raised more than €200m in funding.
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. Moreover, Ørsted provides energy products to its customers. Ørsted is the only energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero emissions target as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and Ørsted aims to deliver a net-positive biodiversity impact from all new renewable energy projects its commissions from 2030 at the latest. Ørsted is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action.
Cactos is paving the way for greater energy independence. By upcycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the startup provides a smart energy storage system for the commercial and industrial sectors. They aim to set the standard, securing critical power supplies locally while streamlining the utilization of renewable energy globally.
Geyser Batteries believes that the future is electric. The team is planning for the full life-cycle of sustainable solutions, producing safe, high-cycling, cost-effective power batteries with minimal GHG emissions.
Ocean Swell Energy develops floating power generator vessels to pair with offshore wind generation or on a standalone basis. Ocean Swell Energy uses these vessels to generate renewable electricity for direct power applications, local grid electricity, and P2X ventures.
phelas ensures that solar and wind energy is always available, regardless of the weather. Aurora, their innovative solution for large-scale energy storage, uses a thermodynamic process to harness energy in liquid air offering a path towards a 24/7 renewable energy supply worldwide.
Real Carbon Tech offers high-performance C02 conversion for industrial sites and beyond. Their groundbreaking solution provides a faster and cheaper means of converting CO2 and Hydrogen to marketable methanol-based products.
RFC Power is on a mission: develop the cheapest form of long-duration energy storage to enable the transition to 100% renewable energy. Using a patented hybrid flow battery based on manganese and clean green hydrogen, RFC Power is developing long-duration energy storage with high efficiency, a long life-cycle, and low capital cost.
suena’s software “suena Autopilot” enables the innovative near-real-time operation optimization of energy storage systems and promotes the trading of energy storage through automatic communication with both the energy plants as well as the electricity trade.
About Rockstart
Rockstart is an early stage investor that empowers purpose-driven founders across three domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies.
Rockstart invests in early-stage startups from each of the three funds and provides access to capital, market, and expertise by connecting founders with co-investors, mentors, partners, corporates, and the wider Rockstart network.
Rockstart has invested in more than 350 startups and its alumni value to date is more than €1.6bn. Rockstart is an international team of 45+ professionals dedicated to empowering purpose-driven founders to become scalable and drive positive change on a global scale. Rockstart has notable exits such asWercker, Dan.com, Hubs.Com, Bouw7, iClinic, and s and Brincr. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogota.
Contact details
Related topics
Related news
Ørsted Propel partners with four energy storage startups
Rockstart annouces that Ørsted will partner with four ventures of the Ørsted Propel acceleration program. Ørsted and Rockstart have teamed up and launched Ørsted Propel to accelerate startups with...
Rockstart, AMS Institute and the City of Amsterdam launch the Amsterdam Circular investor readiness program
Amsterdam Circular investor readiness program is designed to support early stage circular startups developing solutions in food, energy, mobility, digitization, biobased and circular construction, ...
The Ørsted Propel program is now open for applications
Rockstart announces that the Ørsted Propel program is now open for applications. With a tailor-made program designed by Rockstart, the Propel program seeks to accelerate up to ten startups.
Rockstart and Ørsted partner to accelerate renewable energy startups as part of new Innovation Hub
Rockstart and Ørsted will collaborate to identify innovations for a future powered by renewable energy. The two companies will launch an accelerator program focused on energy system integration as ...