Increase power consumption while minimizing energy use
Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Germany - The final pitch event of the "Accelerate Power" program took place on July 15, 2025, at the Innovation Center of Rhein-Kreis Neuss. This energy startup accelerator, launched by RWE Power and Rhein-Kreis Neuss, aims to support and promote innovative energy startups, providing them with funding and development opportunities to advance new energy technologies and solutions.
Robert Abts, head of economic development for Rhein-Kreis Neuss, opened the event, welcoming the participating startups and the audience. The finalists showcased their projects to an eager audience and potential investors, demonstrating the immense innovation potential in the energy sector.
One of the standout startups was Minimum Energy, which impressed with a smart combination of technology use and practicality, as mentioned by Tilman Bechthold, head of research and development at RWE Power. Other startups included Solid Plant, showcasing bio-based industrial materials from hemp plants, CerBaTech with ceramic sodium solid-state batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion, and HeatbrAIn, presenting data processing for projects accelerating the heat transition.
The startups had participated in workshops and individual coaching sessions for three months, focusing on business models, prototypes, and market access. The experts and mentors guiding the startups were from both business and science.
Tilman Bechthold expressed his admiration for the level of the finalists, praising their dedication and innovative ideas. The winners of the competition will receive a €5,000 prize, a 12-month stint in the Kreis' Innovation Center, and the opportunity to join the Kreis' economic development and RWE at the "Future Tech" festival on September 11th.
The "Accelerate Power" program is a thematic extension of the "accelerate_rkn" program, aiming to provide a framework for ideas related to the energy sector to grow, with a regional anchor and broader impact. Its goal is to strengthen energy-focused startups in the Rhine region and bring innovative business models to market maturity, contributing to maintaining Rhein-Kreis Neuss's strong energy industry and energy-intensive businesses.
While the search results confirm the existence of the final pitch event and that five innovative energy startups received funding, they do not list all participating startups by name. This suggests multiple startup programs run by Rhein-Kreis Neusss, but detailed names of the energy startups in the "Accelerate Power" final event were not specified in the available search results.
Chargeunity also introduced a crowdfunding platform for end-users of public charging stations at the event, further demonstrating the commitment of Rhein-Kreis Neuss and RWE Power to fostering innovation in the energy sector.
- Economic and social policy: In an effort to maintain Rhein-Kreis Neuss's strong energy industry and energy-intensive businesses, the "Accelerate Power" program aims to strengthen energy-focused startups, providing them with a 12-month stint in the Kreis' Innovation Center and the opportunity to join economic development efforts.
- Technology and education-and-self-development: The finalists of the "Accelerate Power" program showcased their innovative projects, exhibiting a mix of technology use and practicality, backed by three months of workshops and individual coaching sessions focusing on business models, prototypes, and market access.
