Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch and call for applications for the Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0, a high-pace, non-equity dilutive accelerator designed to facilitate partnerships with mature startups developing breakthrough clean energy technologies.
Kara Hurst, vice president of worldwide sustainability at Amazon, made the announcement during a session at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
“The path to rapid decarbonization is not simple or straightforward, and we need to partner with and highlight companies advancing the development of clean energy technology. Startups are at the forefront of much of the innovation that can help accelerate the energy transition. With the support of the Clean Energy Accelerator, this year’s cohort will be able to move faster to tackle the toughest challenges and create a cleaner, healthier planet,” Hurst said.
The International Energy Agency notes that 40% of the CO2 reductions required to transition the world to net-zero emissions by 2050 rely on technologies that are not yet commercially implemented on a large scale, especially in light of crucial climate goals such as the UAE Net Zero by 2050. Despite making strides in developing clean energy technologies, the energy sector is lagging when it comes to meeting decarbonization objectives. The AWS Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 focuses on the requirements of mature entrepreneurs from across the world and aims to stimulate co-innovation through energy collaborations.
The program will pack 12 weeks of virtual and in-person training, beginning in Seattle in the second quarter of 2023. It also plans for an extension with two additional cohorts and international exchange sprints to create tech innovation centers throughout the world, including one in the UAE in collaboration with Masdar City. An MoU to stage an International Exchange Sprint (IES) in the UAE as part of the AWS Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 between AWS and Masdar city has been signed. Kara Hurst and Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, executive director for brand and strategic initiatives at Masdar signed the MoU.
Energy, digital competencies, investment, public policy, innovation and cutting-edge research are among the themes that will be covered by industry and thought leaders as they guide companies through the program. While AWS will offer direction on how to speed up experimentation, broaden automation and give in-depth insights by using the cloud, leading energy corporations will collaborate with chosen startups to solve sustainable energy and decarbonization problems.
The selected finalists will get technical, business and go-to-market mentoring from AWS, as well as up to $100,000 in AWS credit through AWS Activate to jumpstart their cloud-based data and operations transformation.
AWS will provide assistance to the selected businesses through its Culture of Innovation and Working Backwards approach to establish solution alignment and speed trials. Supporting partners will also provide exposure and general help to the finalists. The program will finish with an Innovation Showcase during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai in November 2023.
