A startup company from the state of Santa Catarina has created an artificially intelligent electric energy consumption monitoring system that can help companies save up to 40% on their power bills. The novel device, called the Virtual Disaggregator, is one of four ideas selected in 2019 for the Engie Challenge – Let’s GO Beyond Energy, which has an open call for projects until February 11.

The Virtual Disaggregator was developed by ShiftOne last year. Based on consumption behavior, it determines what pieces of equipment at a company are spending more than they should. Founding partner Marlon Henrique Teixeira explains that the system relies on neural networks trained to find out how much each piece of equipment consumes relative to the unit’s total.

Opportunity – Like ShiftOne, other Brazilian startups with innovative ideas that will assist the energy transition may try for financial support through the ENGIE Challenge – Let’s Go Beyond Energy and develop their projects over the course of this year. The initiative, a partnership with SENAI, will provide up to BRL 2 million in funding for startups willing to develop solutions for a carbon-neutral economy.

Proposals must be submitted by February 11 in response to challenges associated with five areas: operational excellence, loss control, career and succession, dam safety stability analysis, and environmental impact mitigation.

Startups and other tech companies may participate. Eight companies will be selected in two stages. The projects must have a maximum duration of two years and budgets between BRL 250 thousand and BRL 400 thousand.

Applications must be made through the Inovação para a Indústria platform at http://plataforma.editaldeinovacao.com.br/. The call for projects announcement with additional information is also available from the portal.

“The project is another ENGIE action to promote innovation and foster enterprise in the technology area. As the largest private-sector energy company in Brazil, the challenge is aligned with our purpose to take action to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral society through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions,” said Raphael Barreau, ENGIE’s Strategy, Business Development and Innovation Officer.

The entrepreneurs selected under the 2019 challenge emphasize that the partnership with ENGIE was key to their businesses. This kind of partnership is vital to us. Besides, the exchange of experiences with ENGIE has been a huge learning opportunity,” Marlon Henrique Teixeira pointed out.

For ENGIE, the results from the projects selected under the previous call for were great. “They provided gains far beyond the products developed. The experience of having our company work with startups creates a collaborative and innovative environment,” Barreau concluded.

SCHEDULE

Startup submission period December/2020 – February/2021
First selection stage: February 2021
Second Selection Stage: March 2021
Announcement of selected applicants: April 2021