What’s up in 2019 for the Solar Impulse Foundation?

A year ago, we had just launched the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions, which counted only a few Members. A year later, we’ve gathered over 1600 innovators, investors and corporates dedicated to developing, investing in and scaling clean technologies to fast-track the transition to a sustainable economy.

In May, we launched the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label at the Clean Energy Ministers meeting for our Members to submit their solutions for a complete assessment by independent experts. We’ve received over 700 solutions to review and we’ve granted the label to over 70 of them which match our standards in technological feasibility, environmental impact and economic potential.

To achieve this, we’ve built a community of over 180 highly dedicated experts in a wide variety of areas, coming from corporates, universities and research labs.

We’ve also welcomed two new partners, the Michelin Corporate Foundation and Soprema, two companies with high sustainability challenges and a strong will to use technology to reduce their carbon footprint.

So… Now what? If 2018 has been the year in which we built the groundwork of our process, through a strong labelling process and a vibrant community, 2019 will be the year of scale.

Scaling the number of solutions

Labelling as many solutions as possible still is a strong focus for the Solar Impulse Foundation. 

While our current portfolio has a strong representation of disruptive and impactful innovations from small companies which still need scaling, we are now putting a focus on high impact solutions that are already scaled or in the process of scaling. Already, Somfy, Engie and Soprema have submitted solutions which have been labelled. We are therefore calling all corporates who have developed clean, efficient and profitable solutions to join our call for solutions. 

Scaling the deployment of solutions

Having gathered over 70 solutions from all over the world, we are ready to move on to the next step. We are now fully committed to deploying them.

The Solar Impulse Foundation will now start working with local, national and international representatives to speed up the implementation of solutions. We have partnered with states and regions with whom we aim to develop our unique methodology:

• Defining these territories’ needs, whether they are cities suffocating with pollution, mining regions trying to phase out from coal, islands eager to divert from diesel as the sole source of energy, or countries determined to meet their climate targets…
• Selecting relevant clean technologies who have developed solutions to these specific challenges, whether they are startups or larger companies.
• Working with all stakeholders to ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Why would public authorities need the Solar Impulse Foundation? 

Because we have developed a privileged relationship with a massive community of innovators around the world and have gathered invaluable knowledge on their challenges and their needs. Also because the Solar Impulse Foundation is a non-for-profit stakeholder: we have no interest in one or another solution, and therefore we can act as an entirely independent “solutions-broker”.

Four local and national governments have already placed their trust in us. And we are looking for more pioneering public authorities who are eager to deploy clean technologies in their territories to join us.

Want to join the fight against climate change?
Here’s how:

• You’re an innovator?
  Join the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions and submit your solution.
• You’re an expert? 
  Join the expert community and help us assess the solutions.
• You’re a public authority?
  Contact us (myriam.schwartz@solarimpulse.com) to implement cleantech solutions in your area.