Grid Scale Storage Challenge

In a world where energy is produced in a decentralized way, and increasingly from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, etc.), the issue how to maintain constant equilibrium between production and consumption is becoming crucial. In the past, production was centralized and sized for peak periods, and so it wasn’t necessary to have ways of storing and then quickly taking advantage of stored energy.

One of the conditions for developing "fully 3D" (decentralized, decarbonized, digitized) energy is to have sufficient but not oversized storage capacity efficiently distributed across the network. It needs to be flexible and managed from within the broader network, as well as being compatible with centralized local energy generation, in order to properly adjust to meet consumer demand.

For years, storage technologies – especially for systems that combine photovoltaic panels and batteries – were expensive, cumbersome and difficult to install. Recent advances have made battery storage more economically accessible and technically reliable.

Electricity storage helps to relieve pressure on power grids, especially during periods of high demand. On the other hand, many regions of the world suffer from a chronic lack of electricity, which leads to recurring load shedding or even loss of power. While more than 84% of the world's population has access to electricity, in a number of countries this rate drops below 50%.

ENGIE is looking for innovative technologies that

• improve on existing storage facilities
• propose new energy storage models
• capacity management tools to optimize their cost (in the short and medium term),

and which can support or add to other areas of business that ENGIE wants to develop:

• electric mobility,
• energy communities,
• hydrogen,
• decentralized production,
• smart buildings.

Deadline for applications: 31/03/2017

Why participate?

• Thousands of executives, investors, academics and thought leaders from around the world will meet at Viva Technlology: it will be a unique opportunity to highlight your innovations and give them greater visibility.
• Promote your company among the ENGIE executives who will be involved in selecting the startups who participate
• Participation is free. The ENGIE Group will provide winning projects with exhibit space at its ENERGY Lab at Viva Technology as well as internet access and electricity.

Rewards and benefits if your project is selected:

• A booth in ENGIE’s space at Viva Technology on June 15-17 2017 (45,000 visitors in 2016)
• The opportunity to pitch your project for experts from ENGIE’s operational subsidiaries and/or ENGIE executives
• The possibility of collaborating on operational projects if a business unit accepts your proposal
• The possibility of being contacted by the ENGIE New Ventures investment fund

Eligibility and Selection criteria:

• Innovative nature of the proposed solution
• Feasibility
• Time to market
• Environmental bonus
• Ability to present your project as a model/ realization during Viva Technology

Eligibility and Selection criteria:

• Innovative nature of the proposed solution
• Feasibility
• Time to market
• Environmental bonus
• Ability to present your project as a model/ realization during Viva Technology

Provisional timetable:

• March 31st, 2017: Deadline for submitting applications
• May, 15th, 2017: Announcement of nominees
• June 15-17, 2017: Marketplace and meeting with ENGIE experts during Viva Technology

More about Viva Technology

Viva Technology is a hub for the world's innovators, tech-lovers and pioneers of the future. VivaTech wants to be the place where big companies and startups work together on innovations that can transform businesses. In 2016, the first edition saw 45,000 attendees from around the world, 5,000 startups and 600 speakers.
ENGIE will host a 400 square meter Energy Lab where around 30 startups will be invited to present their projects and pitch their solutions.

ENGIE puts responsible growth at the heart of its businesses (electricity, natural gas, energy services) to address the major challenges of energy transition to a low carbon economy. The Group supports these changes by putting innovation at the heart of its strategy. www.engie.com