#TSEP 242 Start-Ups as Drivers of Innovation and Change to Expand and Optimise the Grid

Today, we dive into one of the most exciting areas of the energy
transition: the expansion and optimisation of our power grids and
the role that startups play in this. There's no question that the
big players in the energy industry are important. But more and
more often, it's the young, courageous companies that are driving
change in the system with fresh ideas, new technologies, and
unusual business models.


However they need tackle quite a few hurdles on their way. How do
start-ups manage to assert themselves in a highly regulated and
technically demanding industry? How do they work with grid
operators, municipal utilities, or energy suppliers, and where do
they encounter resistance?


We talk about this with Johan Söderbom, Thematic Leader for Smart
Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy.


About Johan Söderbom


Between 1995 and 2014, Johan worked at the northern European
Utility Vattenfall AB in various positions in R&D. From 2014
to 2019, Johan was heading a section at RISE (Research Institutes
of Sweden) responsible for electrical and optical measurement
technology, and he now holds the position of thematic leader for
Smart Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy.



About INNOENERGY


InnoEnergy is industrialising clean tech innovation to enable and
grow a global net-zero economy. Active in Europe and the US, the
company invests in early-stage start-ups and in the current and
future workforce, building resilient clean-tech value chains that
drive sustainable economic growth. Through its ecosystem – with
1,400 partners including 39 shareholders spanning industry,
finance, public policy, and academia – the company scales the
energy transition at speed.


Since 2010, InnoEnergy has supported 540+ companies, helping 4 of
them grow into industrial unicorns. These companies have raised
more than €34 billion to date, created over 47,000 jobs, and are
on track to generate €110 billion in revenue and reduce 2.3
gigatons of CO2e by 2030. Currently, InnoEnergy is invested in
160+ start-ups and scale-ups.


In support of the EU’s climate and industrial goals, InnoEnergy
leads industrial alliances in batteries and solar, and
accelerates the uptake of green hydrogen. Pinpointing market
gaps, InnoEnergy launches new industrial champions in sectors
including batteries, steel, and fertilisers. InnoEnergy was
established in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and
Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as one of its
first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC). In 2025, the
EIT and InnoEnergy entered into a new partnership, continuing
their collaboration on specific projects.