Thanks To Our Faithful Partners !
Thanks To Our Faithful Partners !
Accelerating Storage Convergence for Intelligent Energy Systems #TogetherWeAreStronger
The 1st Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge
From Storage Technologies to Intelligent Energy Systems
AI • Multi-Storage • System Integration • Intelligent Infrastructure • Deployment at Scale
Produced by
Powered by
Strategic Partner
Award Presenting Partners
At a Glance
The 1st Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge
"From Storage Technologies to Intelligent Energy Systems"
Produced by: World CleanTech & AI Institute & CleanTech Business Club
Powered by: ACWA
Strategic Partner: SNEC
Award Presenting Partners:
Global StorageVersity & AI Grand Prix — Powered by ACWA
Storage & AI Innovation Award — Presented by GNEEC (Global New Energy Empowerment Center)
Breakthrough Startup Award — Presented by Cleanvestree
Commercial & Distributed Storage Award — Presented by Solar Juice
Supporting Organisations & Event Platforms:
NEIAAP • APVIA • GCMEN • ZESTAs • Dii Desert Energy • ZETA • GLHA • Hyvolution • REI • The Battery Show India • SNEC Smart Energy • World CleanTech & AI Leadership Forum
Global Activation: 22 October 2026
Global Submission Deadline: 30 January 2027
Submission Form: click here
Global Timeline
-
22 October 2026 — Global Activation at The Battery Show / REI Expo • Greater Noida, India
-
October 2026 – January 2027 — Global Submissions & Ecosystem Activation
-
30 January 2027 — Global Submission Deadline
-
February–March 2027 — Global Jury Evaluation • Shortlisting • Partner Engagement • Potential Pilot Discussions
-
April 2027 — 🏆 Global Awards Ceremony — Shanghai, China at the 1st World CleanTech & AI Leadership Forum
-
May 2027 — 🏆 Global Awards Ceremony — Sydney, Australia at the Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition
-
3rd Week of June 2027 — 🎓 WCAI Institute Executive Program Launch including the Winners & Innovation Masterclass
-
2027 onward — Global Promotion • Partnerships • Pilots • Demonstrations • Deployment
Why the 1st Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge?
The global energy transformation is entering a new phase.
The future of energy storage will not be defined by one technology alone, but by how intelligently we connect batteries, hydrogen, thermal, mechanical, long-duration and distributed storage with AI, infrastructure and real-world demand.
Today, these ecosystems still largely evolve independently.
The Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge has been created to bridge these gaps and accelerate:
Storage + AI + Infrastructure + Real Demand
from:
Technologies → Systems → Pilots → Deployment → Global Scale
A Global Innovation-to-Deployment Platform
StorageVersity & AI goes beyond a traditional innovation competition.
It connects breakthrough technologies, startups and integrated systems with:
Industry • Infrastructure • Research • Investors • Customers • Strategic Partners • Deployment Opportunities
Selected participants may gain access to:
Global Visibility • Strategic Partnerships • Investor Access • Pilots & Demonstrations • Co-Development • International Market & Deployment Opportunities
Challenge → Global Awards → Executive Learning → Partnerships → Pilots → Deployment at Scale
Supporting Organisations & Event Platforms
Featured Jury Board Members
Global Award Categories
Category A – Technology & Innovation Track
🏆 Storage & AI Innovation Award — Presented by GNEEC (Global New Energy Empowerment Center)
Breakthrough technologies, components, AI applications and digital solutions shaping intelligent storage ecosystems.
🏆 Breakthrough Startup Award — Presented by Cleanvestree
Startups, scaleups and university ventures with the potential to reshape energy storage and intelligent infrastructure.
Category B – Systems & Infrastructure Track
🏆 Integrated Energy Systems Award
Intelligent systems connecting multiple storage technologies, generation, infrastructure, digital intelligence and real demand.
🏆 Commercial & Distributed Storage Award — Presented by Solar Juice
Scalable residential, commercial, industrial and distributed-energy solutions.
🥇 Global StorageVersity & AI Grand Prix — Powered by ACWA
Recognising the overall outstanding solution based on:
Innovation • Deployment Potential • Scalability • Ecosystem Impact • Strategic Value
“Australia is showing how quickly storage is becoming a core part of the energy system. The next challenge is to make it smarter, more accessible and more valuable for homes, businesses and distributed-energy ecosystems.
I look forward to discovering innovations through the Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge that can move from great ideas to scalable solutions and real-world deployment.”
Rami Fedda, Co-Founder & Supply Director, Solar Juice
Co-Chair, Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge Jury Board — Downstream Ecosystem
Chair, CBC Australia & Oceania Chapter
What Are We Looking For?
Battery Storage • Hydrogen Storage • Thermal Storage • Mechanical Storage • Pumped Hydro • Long-Duration Storage • Distributed Storage • AI & Machine Learning • EMS • Digital Twins • Power Electronics • EV Charging & Mobility • Integrated Energy Systems
Applications are welcomed from:
Startups • Scaleups • Industry • Technology Providers • Manufacturers • Universities • Research Institutes • Utilities • Developers • EPCs • System Integrators • Infrastructure Operators • Innovation Teams & Consortiums
Challenge Guidelines — At a Glance
Evaluation
Submissions will be assessed against:
Innovation • Feasibility • Scalability • Disruption • IP Potential • Strategic & Ecosystem Value • Deployment Potential • Sustainability & Energy Impact
The applicant self-assessment included in the Submission Form is for reference. The Global Jury Board will conduct its own independent evaluation.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must complete the online Submission Form and provide a Pitch Deck / Presentation. Additional technical presentations, case studies, papers, videos and supporting materials may be submitted where relevant.
Intellectual Property & Confidentiality
Applicants retain ownership of their existing and background intellectual property. Submission to the Challenge does not transfer ownership of intellectual property to the Organisers or Partners.
Any future pilot, co-development, research, investment, licensing, procurement or commercial collaboration — including rights relating to newly created intellectual property — will be subject to a separate written agreement between the relevant parties.
Applicants should not submit trade secrets or highly confidential proprietary information during the initial application stage.
Participation Conditions
Participation, finalist selection or receipt of an Award does not guarantee investment, financing, procurement, pilot implementation, commercial partnership or deployment.
Technologies → Systems → Pilots → Deployment → Global Scale
Why Participate?
-
BE SEEN — Gain visibility within a global CleanTech, AI and energy ecosystem.
-
CONNECT — Meet industry, technology, infrastructure, research and investment partners.
-
VALIDATE — Benchmark your innovation with an international Jury Board.
-
DEPLOY — Explore potential pilots and real-world applications through ACWA and CBC ecosystem.
-
SCALE — Connect to international markets and deployment ecosystems.
-
LEARN & LEAD — Become part of the WCAI Institute knowledge and executive-learning ecosystem.
“The Challenge and its Awards are only the beginning. What matters most is what happens next.
Through ACWA, CBC and the WCAI Institute ecosystem, we want to connect outstanding innovations with knowledge, industry, capital, markets and real deployment opportunities — helping them move from recognition to strategic partnerships, pilots and scalable implementation. This is how innovation becomes transformation.”
Tomasz A. Slusarz, Founder & Action Streamliner at the CleanTech Business Club
Secretariat Leader, Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge
Founder, World CleanTech & AI Institute
Beyond the Awards
The Award Is Only the Beginning
Winning and selected innovations enter a broader CBC/WCAI Institute innovation ecosystem designed to connect recognition with knowledge, partnerships and implementation.
Global Promotion
Selected winners and finalists will be promoted across the CBC/WCAI Institute global network.
CBC & WCAI Institute Connect Points
Winning innovations will be showcased and promoted through CBC & WCAI Institute Connect Points at major international industry gatherings, including:
-
RenewX — Chennai, India
-
GITEX AI Asia — Singapore
-
Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition — Sydney, Australia
-
SNEC Smart Energy — Shanghai, China
-
The smarter E Europe — Munich, Germany
Partnerships & Pilots
Selected solutions may enter discussions around pilots, strategic partnerships, co-development, investment and international deployment.
Executive Learning
Winning innovations will also feed directly into the WCAI Institute Executive Program.
WCAI Institute Executive Program
StorageVersity & AI: Building the Intelligent Energy Storage Revolution
Launching in the 3rd Week of June 2027
The Executive Program will connect technologies and insights emerging from the Challenge with senior executives, industry leaders, infrastructure developers, investors, researchers and decision-makers.
AI × Energy Storage • Multi-Storage Architectures • Intelligent Energy Systems • Digital Infrastructure • Business Models • Investment & Bankability • System Integration • Deployment at Scale
Winners & Innovation Masterclass
A dedicated Winners & Innovation Masterclass will form part of the Executive Program.
Selected winners and finalists will share their technologies, real-world cases, business models, deployment experience and scale-up pathways — bringing real innovation directly into executive learning.
Global Timeline
22 October 2026
Global Activation
The Battery Show / REI Expo • Greater Noida, India
October 2026 – January 2027
Global Submissions & Ecosystem Activation
30 January 2027
Global Submission Deadline
February–March 2027
Global Jury Evaluation • Shortlisting • Partner Engagement • Potential Pilot Discussions
April 2027
🏆 Global Awards Ceremony — Shanghai, China at the 1st World CleanTech & AI Leadership Forum
May 2027
🏆 Global Awards Ceremony — Sydney, Australia at the Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition
3rd Week of June 2027
🎓 WCAI Institute Executive Program Launch
including the Winners & Innovation Masterclass
2027 onward
Global Promotion • Partnerships • Pilots • Demonstrations • Deployment
Ready to Shape the Future of Intelligent Energy Systems?
Whether you are developing a breakthrough storage technology, building an AI-enabled energy platform, creating a new business model or integrating complete intelligent energy systems — we want to hear from you.
Submit your innovation by 30 January 2027 by clicking here
#TogetherWeAreStronger, The Organising Committee & The Jury Board Members
CBC-ACWA-SNEC #TogetherWeAreStronger
“The future of energy storage will not be defined by one technology, but by how intelligently we connect different technologies, digital tools and real-world applications. Our joint StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge can help turn this convergence into scalable solutions for the energy transformation. We are pleased to join forces with CBC, SNEC and their ecosystems to connect innovation with industry, infrastructure and real deployment opportunities.”
Sharzi Mukhri, Innovation Initiatives Lead, ACWA
Secretariat Leader, Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge
Innovation Track Adviser, CBC CleanTech & AI Transformation Chapter
The Jury Board
An international Jury Board brings together leaders from:
Energy Storage • AI • CleanTech • Infrastructure • Industry • Investment • Research • Academia
Honorary Chair (CleanTech Ecosystem)
Prof. Eicke R. Weber
Vice-Chairman
European Solar Manufacturing Council
Former Director, Fraunhofer ISE, Freiburg; Professor Emeritus, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UC Berkeley
Co-Chair (Manufacturing Ecosystem)
Dr. Rashi Gupta "Batterywali"
Managing Director
Vision Mechatronics
Paul Van Son
President
Dii Desert Energy
Dr. Samir Rachidi
Director General
IRESEN - Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies
Dr. Winfried Hoffmann
Owner
Applied Solar Expertise - ASE
former CEO and MD of RWE Solar GmbH and RWE SCHOTT Solar GmbH; Former President EPIA: (European Photovoltaic Industry Association", today SolarPower Europe”)
Dr. Claas Helmke
Founder & CEO
newtrail.capital
Prof. Jaouad Boutahar
Director
École Hassania des Travaux Publics (EHTP)
Prof. Dr. Sener OKTİK
Board Member at Board of Directors
Birlesim Energy Group and Clean Energy Foundation
Honorary Chairman of Turkish Photovoltaic Industries (GENSED);Senior Lecturer at Maltepe University, Turkey; Seasoned Researcher at Middle East Technical University, Solar Energy Research and Application Centre
Dr. David Renné
Founder
Dave Renne Renewables
ISES Immediate Past President USA
Mark Mirza
Project Leader
Fraunhofer ISC
Dr. Alex Levran
CEO
EGM inc
Former Global Head of Solar Industry Initiative at ABB Group
Honorary Chair (AI Ecosystem)
Dr. Jose Miguel Zaldo
President and Founder
Unal 3000 Asociados
Honorary Consul of Morocco in the Basque Country, Spain
Co-Chair (Downstream Ecosystem)
Rami Fedda
Co-Founder & Supply Director
Solar Juice Pty
Ruggero Arico
CEO
RAMP Advisory
Former Head of International Institutional Affairs at Enel Group (CEO Office)
Madadh MacLine
Secretary-General
Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs)
Gloria Maldonado F.
Chairwoman
ENAP (National Petroleum Company of Chile)
Rajneesh Khattar
Senior Group Director
Informa Markets
"Father" of Renewable Energy India Expo
Prof. Dr. Ad van Wijk
Professor Emeritus of Future Energy Systems
TU Delft
Member of Dii Advisory Board
Sampath Kumar
CEO
FEST‑Group & Feston Solar
H.R.H Prince of Cambodia Narithipong Norodom
Business Expert & Advisor
Pierre Buchou
Manager Hyvolution
GL Events
The Chair
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President - Innovation & New Technology
ACWA
Co-Chair (Strategic Partner)
Mi Yue
Founder
SNEC
Director at NEIAPP (New Energy Industry Association for Asia and the Pacific), Board Member at the Global Solar Council
Justin Gu
General Manager
GF Hydrogen Europe
CTO at GFHA (Go For Hydrogen Africa)
Antonio Celso de Abreu Junior
Solar Pioneer in Brazil, Cleanvestree Expert
Former Director of the Department of Social Policies and Universalization of Access to Energy in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil
Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Senior Adviser
World Energy GH2
Former Member of the German Parliament and Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Alicia Eastman
Co-founder and Board Director
InterContinental Energy
Host of “Everything About Hydrogen”
Chibunna Ogbonna
Co-Founder
Kiru Energy Limited
Daniel Thielking
Head of Solar Division and Energy Solutions
KWenergy
Angela Grassi
Director
ETA Florence Renewable Energies
Anastasia (Sun Ru)
CEO
JIAO YANG NEW ENERGY
