Energy innovation in Europe is increasingly driven by advancements in software and artificial intelligence, which are playing a crucial role in transforming the continent’s energy systems. As Europe targets climate neutrality by 2050, modernising the electricity grid to incorporate renewable energy sources and manage decentralised energy production is essential. Generative AI and software lead this transformation, optimising renewable energy integration and enhancing grid management advancing both EU climate goals and competitiveness.
AI is helping tackle the complexities of energy management, such as predicting consumption and production patterns, which is essential for maintaining a stable grid. As Europe shifts from a few large power plants to a diverse network of renewable sources, including wind farms or solar systems, AI is enabling grid operators to process large amounts of data, make informed decisions, and avoid bottlenecks and blackouts.
Overall, software and AI are central to Europe’s energy innovations, offering solutions that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support ambitious sustainability targets. In light of these developments, we’ve curated a list with 10 of the most promising European startups leading energy innovation. Founded between 2020 and 2024, these companies are pioneering new approaches that will reshape how energy is produced, managed, and consumed across the continent.
ACCURE: This battery analytics company founded in 2020 and based in Aachen, leverages software and AI to optimize battery performance and longevity. Their innovatiplatform continuously monitors battery health, detects issues early, and enhances performance, minimizing downtime and preventing failures. By analyzing data from battery management systems, ACCURE identifies faults, predicts maintenance needs, and extends battery life. Their solutions are particularly beneficial for industries such as automotive, energy storage, and public transport. The company has successfully raised €17 million to support its mission.
Cleanwatts: Combining the benefits of real-time energy efficiency with the activation of a wide range of local assets (any equipment that generates, consumes, or stores energy) this Coimbra startup maximises the value of energy produced, consumed, and stored within a community, delivering clean energy at a lower cost than conventional electricity. Founded in 2020, it has raised €16 million to create a revolutionary software that includes a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), allowing users to aggregate diverse energy loads and enable market balancing services in support of local grid operators.
Climatiq: Based in Berlin, this startup offers a powerful carbon calculation engine that helps product teams seamlessly integrate emission metrics into their software. With an easy-to-use API, it allows businesses to automate complex CO2e calculations and gain clear insights into the carbon footprint associated with activities like cloud computing, energy consumption, travel, manufacturing, and waste. By leveraging the world’s largest database of scientifically verified emission factors, which covers 300 regions and all sectors of the economy, Climatiq makes sustainability insights more accessible. Founded in 2021, the company has already raised €7.3 million to further its mission.
Emulate Energy: Offering a SaaS platform for mid-sized electricity utilities, this groundbreaking company enables to provide behind-the-meter services that offer end customers demand flexibility. Based in Lund and founded in 2020, it has raised €5 million to develop virtual battery technology. This innovation allows utilities to control the entire value chain, helping customers reduce energy bills and integrate distributed energy resources into energy markets, thereby enhancing grid efficiency and sustainability.
Ogre AI: With headquarters in London and Bucharest, Ogre AI is a developer of an artificial intelligence platform for energy management that supports financial and operational decision-making through machine learning. Founded in 2021, this pioneering company has raised €5.6 million to provide insights on consumption, network/grid technical aspects, commercial losses, and anomalies, enabling customers to make accurate market forecasts and set benchmarks for operational and forecasting tools.
ProptechCore: Located in Stockholm and founded in 2020, ProptechCore developed DecarbAI to accelerate building decarbonisation and energy optimisation using open data and AI. Their AI-driven platform integrates energy systems, optimising building performance and turning them into thermal batteries to reduce energy costs and consumption. DecarbAI adapts to fluctuations in grid demand, prices, and carbon intensity, collaborating with telcos and energy providers to manage energy efficiently. With €2 million raised since its foundation in 2020, ProptechCore thrives on creating adaptable, energy-efficient buildings for a net-zero future.
QUIXOTIC: Offering a SaaS solution for billing and invoicing, this cutting-edge system is specifically tailored for utilities and renewable energy communities. With location in Madrid, it features automation, regulatory compliance, triggers and alerts, and industry-specific integrations. By streamlining business processes and integrating various platforms, the solution helps customers optimise operations while unlocking new revenue streams. Founded in 2021, the company has raised €2 million to date.
Reonic: This groundbreaking climate-tech software company based in Augsburg, specialising in innovative renewable energy solutions. Its core focus is on developing an innovative software that integrates diverse renewable energy technologies, including photovoltaic systems, EV chargers, heat pumps, and battery storage. Reonic’s flagship platform streamlines the sales, planning, and management of these systems, providing seamless, sector-integrated energy solutions. Founded in 2021, the company has successfully raised €13 million to accelerate its mission in the renewable energy sector.
Suena: This Hamburg stratup founded in 2021, is a market provider specialising in optimisation and energy trading services for large-scale energy storage. Its innovative platform, Autopilot, maximises the monetisation of energy storage by using a multi-market approach that incorporates various revenue streams from electricity and balancing markets. By analysing forecasts, real-time market data, and battery ageing models, Autopilot determines the optimal trading schedule. Suena aims to enhance the adoption of energy storage and facilitate the energy transition, having raised €4.2 million to date.
Vind AI: Dedicated to streamlining project development for offshore wind projects, this company focuses on the screening, conceptual, and pre-FEED design phases to reduce risk and enhance sustainability. Founded in 2022 in Oslo, its disruptive software minimises wake losses while maximising energy production and efficiency, providing essential tools for modern wind energy development. The company has successfully raised €3 million to support its mission.
