AI-powered utility management is transforming urban infrastructure by optimizing energy, water, and waste resources to build more sustainable and efficient smart cities.

Deep tech and digital ventures in this vertical are welcome to apply by 16 December 17 CET.

Traditional Challenges

Despite the growing urgency, cities and regions face significant barriers to adopting circular models:

Environmental Degradation: Urban areas are responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate change and straining ecosystems.

Resource Dependency: Cities rely heavily on non-renewable resources, which creates supply chain vulnerabilities and contributes to global tensions.

Waste Management Deficiencies: Inadequate systems for handling increasing waste volumes lead to overflowing landfills and low recycling rates.

Behavioral Challenges: Shifting consumer and industrial behaviors toward circular economy principles requires extensive public awareness and cultural acceptance.

Benefits of Deep-Tech Integration

Integrating AI-powered technology in utility management addresses many of these issues by automating and optimizing processes, helping cities make data-driven decisions and manage resources more sustainably:

Optimized Resource Allocation: AI enables efficient use of energy, water, and waste resources, significantly reducing environmental impact and improving sustainability metrics.

Enhanced Decision-Making: AI aggregates and analyzes data from multiple sources, creating actionable insights that help city managers make informed decisions in real-time.

Cost Reduction: Automating resource management and predictive maintenance cuts operational expenses, allowing cities to invest savings back into community and infrastructure development.

Data Sovereignty: AI technologies developed within Europe contribute to data security, aligning with the EU’s goals for technological independence.

A wide range of deep tech and digital innovations can be leveraged to address the challenges in utility management. These include, but are not restricted to:

• Actionable Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time data analytics to optimize utility operations
• Predictive Analytics for advanced algorithms that forecast demand and recommend efficient resource management strategies
• Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for comprehensive monitoring and control of utilities across the city
• Smart Grids driven by AI to dynamically manage electricity distribution, balancing supply and demand efficiently
• Blockchain for Energy Transactions: Secure and transparent tracking of energy usage and transactions, enabling peer-to-peer energy trading and efficient billing systems.
• Digital Twins as virtual models of city infrastructure to simulate and optimize utility management
• Autonomous Systems to automate the management of utilities, reducing human error and improving efficiency
• Edge Computing for localized data processing, ensuring real-time decision-making in utility management
• Smart Water Management Systems: AI and sensor-based systems to monitor and optimize water usage, detect leaks, and improve water quality management. 

Market Potential

The renewable energy market in Europe is rapidly expanding. In 2022, renewable energy contributed 23% of the EU’s energy consumption, with a target of reaching 42.5% by 2030. This shift is driven by ambitious policies like REPowerEU and the Renewable Energy Directive, which aim to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

As global leaders in renewables, Europe must strengthen its position by intensifying the development and adoption of innovative energy technologies. The global market for renewable energy is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, with vast opportunities in wind, solar, and emerging technologies like geothermal and tidal power.

Call for Innovation

Europe’s path to sustainability depends on the breakthroughs and contributions of deep-tech startups and stakeholders. D2XCEL invites ventures developing renewable energy technologies to apply to its pan-European scaling program. If your startup focuses on AI-powered energy management, alternative renewable energy production methods, or material innovations, now is the time to join.

Apply today and be part of Europe's green revolution!

A full description of this market opportunity can be found here.

D2XCEL invites investors, lead customers, mentors, and network partners to join the network and have access to top-performing ventures in this vertical.

This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement Nº101121100. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.