Enel Green Power North America Inc., the U.S.-based renewables subsidiary of Enel S.p.A., has become a global partner and strategic advisor to Energy Excelerator, a Hawaii-based incubator for clean energy start-ups.
As a global partner, Enel will be part of Energy Excelerator’s strategic advisory board alongside the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), GE Ventures, Blackstone and power utilities from five different countries. The goal is to provide member start-ups with support to develop new clean energy solutions, explains Enel.
By joining Energy Excelerator, Enel says it will access the organization’s portfolio of start-ups, as well as advise in the selection of projects to be supported by the incubator.
“Hawaii is one of the most promising innovation testing grounds, which has a high penetration of renewable energy sources, and through this partnership, we aim to expand our network of innovators to open energy up to new uses, new technologies and new people,” comments Francesco Venturini, Enel’s head of global renewable energies.
The nonprofit initiative is funded by the U.S. Navy, the DOE and corporate partners. It operates as an international program of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research. To date, it has awarded more than $15 million to 53 companies whose fields span energy, water, transportation, agriculture and cybersecurity.
