AWS launches new cohort of CEA to find the next wave of clean energy innovators

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is inviting entrepreneurs and startups that are developing solutions in generative AI for energy and climate solutions to apply for the next cohort of its Clean Energy Accelerator (CEA).

The company said on Monday it was inviting the next wave of entrepreneurs — startups developing solutions in Generative AI for Energy and Climate, and other solutions in Grid Security and Modernisation, Energy Storage, Alternative Fuels, Water Technologies and clean energy relevant areas — to apply by April 22, 2024.

Connecting fast moving startups with large enterprises

Since its inception in 2021, the CEA has been focused on bridging fast moving startups with large enterprises with the resources to test and grow emerging technology. It has already engaged with 1,200+ startups, helping accelerate over 70 organisations through deeper dive programmes, and has influenced more than 30 pilot and partnership kickoffs to date, with more than 60 proof-of-concept (POC) proposals in 2023 alone.

“We’re excited to launch the Clean Energy Accelerator to catalyze the deployment of emerging technology at the intersection of clean energy and AI to increase the speed at which we can collectively address global energy and climate challenges,” the company said in a statement.

Accelerating decarbonisation

“Enterprises commit to working with entrepreneurs, with the support of Amazon experts, VCs, government and industry organisations in intensive, high-pace proof-of-concept design and mentorship immersions that promote partnerships and business acceleration — while AWS supports them to automate and experiment in the cloud and hone their Generative AI skills. Centered on the needs of decarbonising large enterprises as well as startups, the programme is designed at its core to spur co-innovation and acceleration,” it said.

Multinational energy companies like Enel, EDP, Siemens Energy and others have worked with previous cohorts, and a broader set of organisations and supporting partners will follow suit in this edition to accelerate pilot projects, AWS said.

The chosen finalists will receive technical and business support from AWS, and up to $100,000 each in AWS Credit through AWS Activate to kick-start their data and operations transformation in the cloud. The finalists will also receive visibility and overall guidance from supporting partners such as The Climate Pledge Fund, the company said.

The selected startups will also gain access to executive exposure in key in-person immersion events around the world. Last year’s Clean Energy Accelerator cohort had the opportunity to participate in COP28, to contribute at the core of the clean energy and climate dialogue and showcase their progress and partnerships on the world stage.

Help Amazon reach its Net-Zero by 2040 Goal

Additionally, the Clean Energy Accelerator is excited to partner with Amazon’s Operations Sustainability in 2024 to bring its acceleration network and infrastructure to help Amazon assess emerging decarbonisation technologies and applications. Entrepreneurs looking to support the world's leading innovator in driving sustainability in operations from data centers to mobility, storage and more, can avail the opportunity to move the needle at scale.

Supporting global impact at scale

Over the course of previous cohorts, the Clean Energy Accelerator has engaged with over 1,200 startups and scaleups from 65 countries, helped accelerate over 70 organizations through deeper dive programs and influenced more than 30 pilot and partnership kickoffs to date, with over 60 POC proposals in 2023 alone. It has influenced either directly or indirectly over $420 million in seed funding.