InnoEnergy Start-Up Wins $100k At Ocean Exchange Final

At the finals of the prestigious USA Ocean Exchange competition, the WWL Orcelle award was granted to Turbulent, a sustainable energy start-up supported by InnoEnergy – the innovation engine for sustainable energy across Europe.

Held last week in Savannah, Georgia, the awards are part of Ocean Exchange’s annual Call for Solutions. 15 finalists, including four InnoEnergy-backed start-ups, competed for the Gulfstream Navigator and WWL Orcelle awards.

The WWL Orcelle award recognises technologies that make shipping and logistics more sustainable by advancing zero emissions. Turbulent, a Belgian developer of decentralised, small-scale hydropower plants, received one of the two $100,000 prizes for its technique to deliver affordable renewable energy.

We’re thrilled to be recognised at an international level for our contributions to advancing zero emission technologies

Jasper Verreydt, co-founder at Turbulent, says: “We’re thrilled to win this award and be recognised at an international level for our contributions to advancing zero emission technologies. Our plan is to use the $100,000 to further scale our business in Chile.”

Elena Bou, InnoEnergy’s Innovation Director, adds: “Turbulent’s solution really addresses the need for effective hydropower technologies and we’re delighted they’ve been recognised for this.

“The fact that over a quarter of this year’s finalists for the Ocean Exchange competition are start-ups we’ve supported, demonstrates not only the quality of our start-ups but the fact that we are addressing the needs of the global market, ensuring both the competitiveness and sustainability of our ventures.”

Based in the USA, Ocean Exchange is an international platform that works to accelerate the adoption by industry of innovations that positively impact environments, economies and health, while respecting cultures around the world.