Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com, has announced the launch and call for applications for the Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0, a fast-paced, non-equity dilutive accelerator designed to facilitate collaborations with mature start-ups developing breakthrough clean energy technologies. Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability, made the statement during a session at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
According to the International Energy Agency, 40% of the CO2 reductions necessary to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 rely on technologies that have yet to be commercially adopted substantially. This is important to meet ambitious climate targets such as the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy. While the energy sector has made progress in creating sustainable energy solutions, the world still has a long way to go before it can achieve its decarbonization goals. The AWS Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 is designed to drive co-innovation through energy partnerships by focusing on the needs of mature businesses worldwide.
The program will begin in Seattle in the second quarter of 2023 with 12 weeks of virtual and in-person instruction. Its scope and breadth will be expanded by including two new cohorts and international exchange sprints to establish tech innovation hubs worldwide, including one in the UAE in conjunction with Masdar City.
Kara Hurst, Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon, says, “The path to rapid decarbonization is not simple or straightforward, and we need to partner with and highlight companies advancing clean energy technology development. Start-ups are at the forefront of much of the innovation that can help accelerate the energy transition. With the support of the Clean Energy Accelerator, this year’s cohort will be able to move faster to tackle the toughest challenges and create a cleaner, healthier planet.”
Some of the topics covered by industry and thought leaders as they assist firms through the curriculum include energy, digital competencies, investment, public policy, innovation, and cutting-edge research. While AWS will guide how to use the cloud to accelerate experimentation, widen automation, and provide in-depth analytics, prominent energy businesses will partner with selected start-ups to address sustainable energy and decarbonization concerns.
AWS will provide technical, business, and go-to-market coaching to the finalists and up to $100,000 in AWS Credit via AWS Activate to help them launch their cloud-based data and operations transformation.
The selected businesses will receive assistance using Amazon’s Culture of Innovation and Working Backwards approach to establish solution alignment and speed trials. Supporting partners will also provide exposure and general help to the finalists. The program will finish with an Innovation Showcase during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai in November 2023.