Shantel
Key Takeaways:
- Greentown Labs, the largest climatetech incubator in North America, and Vineyard Wind, the developer of the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, announce the selection of five startup participants for Greentown Go Energize 2023.
- Supported by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), this program aims to advance technologies for responsible offshore wind development, a sector poised for significant growth with the anticipated addition of 40 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in the United States in the next decade.
- The selected startups will work closely with Vineyard Wind and MassCEC over six months, receiving mentorship, networking opportunities, educational workshops, and partnership-focused programming to prepare for partnerships and commercialization in the offshore wind industry.
- The startup cohort will focus on solutions for offshore turbine monitoring, ecological data collection, digital tools to enhance turbine efficiency, and longevity.
Greentown Labs, in collaboration with Vineyard Wind and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), announces the participation of five innovative startups in Greentown Go Energize 2023. This program aims to advance technologies for responsible offshore wind development, leveraging the expertise of Vineyard Wind, the pioneer of utility-scale offshore wind projects in the United States.
Expanding Offshore Wind Capacity with Innovation
The United States is poised for a significant increase in offshore wind capacity, with 40 gigawatts expected to be added in the next decade. This growth will enhance grid reliability, diversify energy sources, and contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the complexity of the offshore wind industry poses unique challenges for startups seeking to enter this space.
The Greentown Go Energize 2023 program aims to address these challenges and foster the commercialization of innovative technologies within the offshore wind industry. By providing education, fostering robust relationships, and facilitating networking opportunities, the program aims to remove barriers hindering the adoption of innovative solutions.
Selecting the Cutting-Edge Startup Cohort
Greentown Labs sought startups with solutions in offshore turbine monitoring, ecological data collection, and digital tools to enhance turbine efficiency and longevity. After a rigorous selection process, the following five startups were chosen for their cutting-edge solutions:
- Blue Atlas Robotics (Odense, Denmark): Blue Atlas Robotics has developed a robot platform that addresses the limitations of current underwater inspection methods, enabling more efficient and accurate inspections.
- FutureOn (Oslo, Norway): FutureOn’s FieldTwin creates a dynamic and 3D geospatial common data environment across surface, subsea, and subsurface domains, facilitating seamless collaboration and integration with existing customer workflows.
- HyperKelp (Encinitas, Calif., United States): HyperKelp’s Kelp Smart Buoy is a hosted payload platform capable of collecting and transmitting marine-level data using hundreds of sensors, providing valuable insights for wind farmers, climate scientists, and military intelligence officials.
- Lobster Robotics (Delft, Netherlands): Lobster Robotics develops lightweight, low-cost, and fast robots for visual surveying, offering a cost-effective solution to surveying offshore wind farms.
- SeaDeep (Malden, Mass., United States): SeaDeep utilizes AI-powered subsea vision to revolutionize underwater assessments, providing real-time, high-fidelity inspections of marine environments and substructures using affordable, off-the-shelf cameras.
Nurturing Partnerships and Commercialization
The selected startup cohort will work closely with Vineyard Wind and MassCEC over a six-month period, benefitting from mentorship, networking opportunities, educational workshops, and partnership-focused programming. Through these collaborations, the startups will gain insights from key players in the offshore wind industry, NGOs, and scientists, enabling them to refine their solutions and prepare for partnerships and commercialization.
Furthermore, the startups will be granted desk space and membership at Greentown Labs for the duration of the accelerator program. Each startup will also receive $70,000 in non-dilutive stipend funding, supporting their development and growth.
Paving the Way for Responsible Offshore Wind Development
Vineyard Wind, as the developer of the first large-scale offshore wind project in the United States, recognizes the importance of innovation in the sector. The collaboration with Greentown Labs provides an opportunity to elevate what is currently possible in terms of data collection and turbine monitoring. Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus S. Moeller expressed excitement about the potential of the selected startups, stating, “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Greentown Labs and look forward to seeing the progress of the participants in the coming months.”
The growth and operation of the offshore wind sector depend on technology and process innovation to ensure environmentally responsible development while delivering clean and economical electricity. Massachusetts, a leader in offshore wind, is committed to accelerating the adoption of enabling technologies that will contribute to the long-term success of the sector.
Accelerating the Energy Transition through Collaboration
Greentown Labs, as the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, is dedicated to supporting startups in designing a more sustainable world. Through their Greentown Go programs, they challenge the status quo and accelerate partnerships between industry giants and innovators across various sectors. The Go Energize 2023 program focuses on energy and electricity, with a specific emphasis on offshore wind innovation.
The Go Energize 2023 cohort will participate in continuous mentoring and three workshops with Vineyard Wind and MassCEC. The program will culminate in a showcase event on November 16, 2023, at Greentown’s Boston location.
To learn more about the Greentown Go Energize 2023 program and the participating startups, please visit the program’s official website.
About Greentown Labs
Greentown Labs is a community of climate action pioneers working towards a more sustainable world. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown Labs brings together startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders to scale climate solutions. Through its comprehensive resources, including lab space, shared office space, and a network of corporate customers and investors, Greentown Labs has supported over 500 startups since its founding in 2011.
About Vineyard Wind
Vineyard Wind LLC is a leading offshore wind development company aiming to build the first large-scale offshore wind energy project in the United States. Located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, the project is expected to eliminate 1.68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to taking 325,000 cars off the road annually.
About MassCEC
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy sector across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MassCEC works towards job creation, environmental benefits, and long-term economic growth through the adoption of clean energy technologies and practices.
