eleXsys Energy (operating in Australia as Planet Ark Power, a partner of Planet Ark) has taken home the prize in the renewable energy category at the highly regarded Davos Energy Week Startup Pitch Competition. The winning technology enables electricity grids across the globe to accept more clean energy from solar and wind without requiring installation of new poles and wires.
The IKEA eleXsys Microgrid in Adelaide was used in the pitch as an example of the technology’s potential. IKEA Australia is combining large-scale rooftop solar and batteries with the eleXsys energy management system to turn its Adelaide store into a clean energy power station. When finished, the store will be powered by 100% renewable energy and send excess energy into the electricity grid to be shared with the community. Rooftop solar systems on average experience an increase of 20-30% in energy export capacity when paired with eleXsys.
The Davos Energy Week Awards is a worldwide online event that provides a platform for startups in the energy sector to pitch their ideas to a global audience. To be eligible, the product must provide a unique solution to boost energy-related industries and be market-ready. eleXsys Energy’s Executive Director, Richard Romanowski, pitched the technology to energy professionals and specialised venture capitalists, including Microsoft for Startups.
Mr Romanowski was pleased to be able to use the event to share news of the IKEA eleXsys Microgrid with industry professionals around the world. He said:
Supported by the South Australian Government, this unique project showcases the multiple functions of the eleXsys technology that enable the export of distributed renewable energy into energy grids while keeping voltages within statutory limits, thereby avoiding the need for expensive electricity network infrastructure upgrades.
eleXsys Energy representatives were also invited to participate in presentations and discussions at Davos Energy Week, a three-day event drawing the attention of business leaders and government representatives to key issues and challenges in the global energy industry.
This is the second time eleXsys has been recognised on the global stage after winning in the category for 'Intelligent Grids, Platforms and Cyber Security' at the Startup Energy Transition (SET) Awards in 2019, hosted by the World Energy Congress and the German Energy Agency (Dena).