Submit Applications for Free Electrons 2026 Program

Focus Areas: Free Electrons aims to address specific key challenges in the energy sector through the following program categories: Next Generation Renewables including offshore and onshore wind enabling technologies, distributed wind solutions, solar distributed generation, floating solar, novel solar cell types, modular solar systems, geothermal technologies, and novel hydro systems; Energy Management/Data including digital trust and cybersecurity, planning, simulation and forecasting tools, cloud and edge computing, datacentre optimisation, generative AI for business operations and LLMs, demand response and VPP platforms, trading tools, and advanced connectivity solutions such as the Internet of Energy; Asset Optimisation including drones, robots and sensors for monitoring and maintenance, condition monitoring, control or optimisation, lifetime extension technologies, digital twins, and image analytics; Thermal Solutions including heat pumps and novel hot water systems, decentralised geothermal systems, thermal energy storage, process heat alternatives, industry electrification, and district heating; Grid Planning, Optimisation and Stability including accelerating T&D roll-out, tools for planning optimisation, integrating renewables and storage in the grid, ancillary services enablers and flexibility services, low voltage network adequacy and stability, micro grids including community batteries, network modelling and field service management, and satellite applications in grid management; Energy Storage including long duration solutions such as pumped hydro, lithium-ion battery alternative chemistries, supply chain efficiencies and ethical sourcing of materials, lifetime extension and second life options, and residential solutions; Connected & Engaged Customers (B2B and B2C) including customer engagement solutions, metering and disaggregation technologies, non-energy home services such as water, internet, and banking, residential demand response and orchestration, heating and cooling solutions, and energy efficiency solutions; Mobility & Transport Electrification including novel charging solutions with route and bill optimisation, integration solutions including vehicle-to-grid, fleet management solutions, and advanced mobility technologies; and Other focus areas including carbon capture and storage solutions, climate engineering and carbon management and accounting, Power to X technologies including sustainable fuels, materials and bioenergy, hydrogen generation and electrolyzer technology, novel funding models, soaking excess renewables, energy access and addressing energy poverty, and solutions to enhance electric work safety.

Free Electrons is the world’s largest open innovation program designed to bring disruptive energy solutions to market. The 2026 program offers an opportunity for startups to collaborate directly with some of the world’s leading energy utilities, working together to advance technologies and business models that will define the future of clean energy.

Selected startups will participate in an accelerated, multi-stage journey that combines in-person and virtual modules across global locations. Through this process, participants gain unique access to resources, industry expertise, and direct engagement with utility partners to test, pilot, and scale their innovations. The collaborative environment is structured to drive tangible results, enabling startups to validate their solutions in real-world settings and explore investment or commercialisation opportunities.

The program is designed to foster innovation across all aspects of the energy value chain—from renewables and storage to digital management and mobility. By combining the agility of startups with the global reach of utilities, Free Electrons aims to create impactful partnerships that contribute to the clean energy transition and a more sustainable energy future.

For more information, visit Free Electrons.