The EDF Energy Pulse Innovation Awards accelerate innovation and the development of the future of energy. The Pulse innovation awards’ goal is to showcase, incubate and accelerate market entry for the start-ups that are making that future a reality.

Improving our customers’ lives through innovation

The EDF Energy Blue Lab’s Connected Home and Business Challenge, part of the Pulse Innovation Awards, explored the opportunities presented by the Connected Home and Business. Over 150 startups from all over the world applied, with products and services that change the way customers use Energy.
Following a pitch day in late 2016, 5 innovative international finalists joined the Blue Lab for a 100 days’ incubation period leading to the final Demo Day in February 2017.

Highlights from Pitch Day

The finalists

Howz

Founded by inventor Jonathan Burr, Howz is a new connected home system predominantly aimed at elderly people living alone, created to empower the individual to let their family know they are safe, warm and well.
The system has the ability to analyse people’s use of electricity, and combine it with information from sensors that detect door movement, temperature and light levels in a person’s home. Howz uses this information to determine patterns of daily activity and notify a person’s care network should it identify any unusual activity or trends.

Upside Energy

When the electricity grid runs dangerously short of capacity and needs to meet demand, it turns on its dirtiest and most expensive power stations. Upside Energy have found a greener, cheaper way for the electricity grid to meet demand during peak times.
Upside operates a cloud-based service that coordinates energy stored in uninterruptible power supplies, batteries attached to solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles, hot water tanks and heat pumps; eliminating the need for any additional hardware or investment. This creates a Virtual Energy Store, enabling them to sell a range of Demand Response services to grid and distribution network operators and energy suppliers.

Ipsum Energy

Ipsum places consumers at the heart of the energy chain by providing personalised insights into how to save energy and money, manage appliances and protect the planet. They compare the data they collect across communities and user types to make an analysis of how consumers are doing compared to their peers.
This information is then fed back through an app in a tailored, actionable and engaging form, providing consumers with the tools to save energy and be in control.

Momit

Momit is a Spanish founded company that designs, develops and builds smart devices for everyone. Learning from the user’s preferences and habits, their devices ensure their consumers’ comfort at any one time, whilst ensuring that no energy is wasted.
Momit allows customers to restrict their monthly energy bill and then advises the programming that most suits their consumption habits, delivering all the information through friendly apps with differentiated functionalities.

Futurehome

Futurehome is a Norwegian tech-startup that provides a one-stop-shop for sourcing smart home technology and related services. It enables customers to choose products and services that fit their specific needs from a selection of their favourite brands, making it easier for them to have a complete Smarthome service.
With their user-friendly app, customers can connect a growing list of smart devices within lighting, heating, alarms and electronic locks. These can then work together to give total control, comfort and security.

Other 2016 Pulse Innovation Awards categories

Inspiring young people into STEM – innovative products or services that will spark young people’s interests in STEM subjects

Data solutions for improving health and safety at work – focusing on our 2 coal-fired power stations – Cottam and West Burton A

Monitoring and inspection solutions for energy generation assets – focusing on our offshore windfarms and nuclear power plants

And the winner is…

The winner of the EDF Energy Blue Lab’s Connected Home and Business Challenge was announced at Friday’s event. But this post is all about celebrating the Challenge and the finalists. Forgive me if I leave you hanging a bit longer and leave the announcement for early next week.

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