Terna’s Innovation Zone Forum in San Francisco Unites Energy Innovators for Sustainable Transition

Terna’s Innovation Zone Forum in San Francisco Unites Energy Innovators for Sustainable Transition

(IN BRIEF) Terna, the Italian transmission system operator, hosted the Innovation Zone Forum in San Francisco, aimed at fostering collaboration in the energy sector. The two-day event gathered startups, investors, and energy leaders to discuss challenges and innovative technologies for the future electric grid. Terna’s CEO, Giuseppina Di Foggia, emphasized the company’s commitment to facilitating a sustainable energy transition and promoting Italian innovation globally. The forum featured the Italian Energy Showcase, where startups presented energy technologies, and the Energy Industry Innovation Talk, which focused on identifying shared challenges and solutions for grid management.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROME, 31-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Terna, the Italian transmission system operator, has convened the Innovation Zone Forum in San Francisco, a pivotal event aimed at bolstering partnerships with startups and discussing innovative technologies in the energy sector. This two-day forum served as a platform to unite international industry leaders and investors to address the challenges of the future electric grid and explore solutions that support a sustainable and digital transition.

As the energy landscape evolves toward increased sustainability and efficiency, Terna faces the complex task of managing a transmission grid powered by intermittent renewable sources. The company is dedicated to shaping the electric system of tomorrow and enabling a seamless transition to a reliable, accessible energy future.

The Innovation Zone Forum marked Terna’s inaugural initiative in tackling these global challenges, bringing together key players from the energy and innovation sectors under an open innovation framework. Collaborating with the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub (INNOVIT) and Mind the Bridge, the forum attracted clean tech investors from Silicon Valley, European and American energy companies, startups, and research representatives.

Leading the Terna delegation, Giuseppina Di Foggia, CEO and General Manager, stated, “We are positioning Terna as a leader in technological innovation, committed to facilitating a just energy and digital transition. The Innovation Zone Forum has strengthened our role as an aggregator of international innovation, especially in the energy sector.” She emphasized the significance of San Francisco as an ideal location to address the technological hurdles of this transition.

Di Foggia further noted, “As a strategic company for Italy, we have a responsibility to promote Italian innovation on the global stage. Our mission involves nurturing startups by guiding them as they prepare for the U.S. market, connecting them with new contacts and potential investors in the Bay Area.”

The first day of the forum, October 28, featured the Italian Energy Showcase at INNOVIT’s headquarters, where five Italian startups presented their energy technologies to Silicon Valley’s innovation community. These startups, which included members from Terna Forward, the Group’s Corporate Venture Capital firm, showcased solutions in areas such as electric infrastructure maintenance and network resilience. Throughout the event, these startups engaged in business meetings with investment funds and international firms facilitated by Terna’s Bay Area network.

The following day, October 29, hosted the Energy Industry Innovation Talk at Mind the Bridge, focusing on grid management. This session provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue among Terna, European and U.S. energy companies, and leading clean tech investment funds. Discussions centered on identifying shared challenges and technological solutions necessary for managing the future power grid, prioritizing their development on a global innovation agenda. One notable presentation included a collaborative project by a startup and the Spanish grid operator, showcasing an AI-driven asset management solution that enhances infrastructure monitoring and fault detection.

The Innovation Zone Forum in San Francisco represents a significant step for Terna as it strengthens its commitment to innovation and collaboration within the energy sector.

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SOURCE: TERNA S.p.A.