EIT InnoEnergy launches impact report at The Business Booster
Impact report hails innovation engine’s pivotal role in Europe’s clean energy transition
The impact report shows that EIT InnoEnergy’s work supporting energy start-ups is having a direct impact on Europe’s clean energy transition, with its start-ups having created 1 741 jobs across Europe and brought energy access to 56 000 people in developing countries since 2011.
Other key findings revealed in the report include that EIT InnoEnergy´s assets will generate 1,147 GWh of power from clean energy sources, save EUR 809,5 million in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by a total of 5,5 million tons over 25 years, the equivalent to removing 47 000 cars from the road.
Elena Bou, Innovation Director at EIT InnoEnergy, said: 'It is amazing to see the impact we are achieving together and to cement our position as the trusted innovation partner – guiding businesses on their journeys. Our 200 start-ups have brought innovative technologies to life that are meeting the energy challenges of our changing society. Whether it is by reducing greenhouse emissions or creating jobs, these companies are creating a noticeable impact on the way Europe thinks about, develops and uses sustainable energy.'
Recent start-up success stories from the report include the Swedish wave power technology company CorPower Ocean, which has developed and tested a technology to turn waves into electricity with the aid of buoys.
Patrik Möller, CEO of CorPower, said: 'Wave energy is a huge opportunity for Europe to establish a new industry, with significant job creation and export business potential. In our recent deployment in Orkney, Scotland, we have just demonstrated fundamental improvements in survivability and efficiency.' CorPower is planning to build its first pilot arrays from 2021 to 2023 and pre-commercial farms from 2023.
Pro-Drone, the leading developer of automated drones for wind turbine blade inspections, on the other hand, is reducing the costs for onshore wind turbine services by EUR 1 000 per inspection.
André Moura, Founder & CEO of Pro-Drone, said: 'We have already carried out over 2,300 blade inspections in Europe and South America in our first year of commercial operation. We are proud to be delivering robust, high quality and safe inspections to over 15 clients with ambitious plans to grow globally in 2019.' Pro-Drone´s latest feature is an automatic damage identification tool that is helping inspectors to reduce their assessment time while improving their accuracy and robustness.
Lars Aagaard, CEO of the Danish Energy Association, added: 'Denmark has a strong history of green energy and innovation. The first modern windmill was born in Denmark and we also built the first offshore wind farms. These green milestones have only been possible because of a partnership between industry and government creating a stable framework for investors in the green solutions of tomorrow.'
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