Wells Fargo: Top 10 Firms Picked for New Cleantech Programme
Wells Fargo's Innovation Incubator (IN²) has unveiled its inaugural Scalable Tech Track programme, a US$50m initiative designed to speed up the adoption of clean technologies.
Ten companies have been chosen to participate, including well-known names like CBRE, Schneider Electric and Southern Company.
The programme, co-administered by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), aims to help organisations overcome barriers to implementing cleantech solutions.
Addressing climate challenges through collaboration
Sarah Derdowski, Programme Manager at NREL, highlights the growing pressure on organisations to decarbonise.
“Organisations are under increasing pressure to decarbonise, facing significant costs and reputational risks if they fail to act,” she says.
“Despite these pressures, many organisations still aren’t adopting clean technologies fast enough.
“The new Scalable Tech Track is designed to help organisations accelerate cleantech adoption and collaborate in an effort to address urgent climate challenges together.”
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator, launched in 2014, originally focused on reducing the energy impact of commercial buildings. Over time, it expanded to support sustainable agriculture and housing affordability.
John Moon, Senior Vice President and Sustainable Philanthropy Leader at Wells Fargo, expresses the company's commitment to advancing cleantech adoption.
He said: “Wells Fargo is proud to support the expansion of the IN² programme to advance cleantech adoption
“We’ve learned firsthand how valuable the types of pilot programmes that these organisations will undertake are by working with a number of start-ups in the IN² portfolio.
“The participating organisations will receive actionable steps and knowledge from the experts at NREL to support them as sustainability leaders in their respective industries.”
Programme details and industry impact
The Scalable Tech Track programme will involve workshops on implementing new technologies, focusing on digitisation and change management. Participants will have the opportunity to compete for up to US$250,000 to fund pilot projects with start-ups from IN².
These pilots are expected to provide actionable insights and help participants become leaders in sustainability within their industries.
The programme also aims to tackle demand-side market barriers, making it easier for organisations to adopt cleantech solutions on a larger scale. Companies participating in the programme will gain invaluable expertise from NREL, positioning themselves as pioneers in their respective fields.
The companies leading the charge
The 10 companies selected for the programme represent a diverse range of industries, each with a unique approach to sustainability:
- Avangrid: Focusing on innovation and technology scouting
- CBRE: Aims to simplify complexity and accelerate the decarbonisation of real estate portfolios
- Coconino County: Plans to implement a comprehensive decarbonisation plan for schools and districts in Arizona
- Digital Realty: Committed to reducing power consumption while expanding without increasing its carbon footprint
- Galvanize Climate Solutions: Investing in sustainable real estate to reduce carbon footprints and increase asset values
- Intermountain Health: Strives to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare with a focus on sustainability
- Prime Data Centers: Seeks to combine technology and sustainability
- Schneider Electric: A global leader in smart building and data centre technologies, focused on decarbonisation
- Southern Company: Aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
- University of Colorado Boulder: Committed to making its building footprint carbon neutral by 2050.
Sarah Martinez, Vice President for ESG at Prime Data Centers, expressed excitement about the collaboration: “It's exciting to work with these other organisations, committed to advancing technology for a better tomorrow.”
The Scalable Tech Track programme is set to be a pivotal moment in the journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, with these 10 companies leading the way.
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