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.
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.
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:
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.
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.