The Energisa Group announced the launch of an innovation platform focused on developing solutions for the flexibility of the electricity grid, one of the main current challenges in the electricity sector.
Dubbed FlexLab, the initiative envisions selecting partners such as industries, startups, and universities to create projects focused on this new network operating model.
In a statement, the company informed that the call for bids will be published in January and that the platform aims to promote solutions such as the use of artificial intelligence for demand response, intelligent load management, and energy control and storage.
"With each public call for proposals, the company expects to approve five to ten projects. The products will be developed or tested in a real-world environment and may serve as the basis for new business models. Funding may consist of the company's own resources and research and development funds from [the company/organization]. ANEEL”, highlighted the company.
According to the statement, Energisa affirms that the idea behind FlexLab is to create conditions for the development and validation of solutions capable of increasing network capacity, reducing system costs, and supporting the transition to a more digital and distributed system.
“To create this market and find new ideas and solutions, open innovation is the best option. Instead of conducting this search only with our internal team, by opening the call and facilitating collaboration, we increase the chances of finding solutions to specific challenges,” explained Letícia Dantas, innovation director of the Energisa Group.
How will the partner selection process work?
The selection of FlexLab partners will follow the guidelines of the call for proposals. According to the company, the model adopted is thematic and non-prescriptive, meaning there is no prior definition of which solution should be developed.
“Generally, companies make calls for specific projects with pre-determined deliverables. At FlexLab, we work with the theme of flexibility. The deliverable can be a product, a service, a new pricing method, or even a business model. The results can range from a patent to a new business model,” says Letícia.
The selected projects will be able to use Energisa's infrastructure, which maintains two testing laboratories: one in Uberlândia (MG) and the other in Palmas (TO).
Partners will not need to be physically present at these units full-time, but they will have access to the spaces for the development and validation of solutions. The initiatives will be executed in annual cycles, with defined start and end dates.
The final selection criteria are still being developed, but two points will be decisive: impact on the business and capacity to generate regulation. The budget will depend on the demand presented by the applicants and, as this is an innovation initiative, the selection will follow the pitch model adopted by startups.
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