ENTICE 3.0 Launches with $100,000 Grant to Accelerate Clean-Tech Innovation for India’s Energy Transition

The program offers clean-tech innovators technical assistance grants of up to $100,000, along with opportunities for real-world deployment in collaboration with BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited. It also provides access to investor engagement, mentorship from industry experts, and structured ecosystem support designed to convert promising technologies into deployable solutions within regulated energy systems.

ENTICE has evolved from a conventional innovation challenge into a systems-driven platform focused on enabling the translation of emerging technologies into practical applications for the energy sector. The inaugural edition in 2023–24 received more than 400 applications, engaged 20 investors, and established over 30 ecosystem partnerships. The second edition marked a strategic transition into ecosystem building, resulting in collaboration with two utility partners in Delhi and Jaipur, a memorandum of understanding with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, five agreements with venture capital partners, and pilot deployments with distribution companies in Delhi and Jaipur for four selected winners.

Building on this foundation, ENTICE 3.0 adopts a systems-level approach, focusing on two defined problem statements. The first addresses the development of non-lithium energy storage systems that can be deployed at the distribution transformer voltage level to manage local peak electricity demand. The second focuses on hyperlocal, artificial intelligence-driven forecasting platforms capable of enabling distribution companies to accurately predict net grid demand by integrating distributed renewable energy generation patterns with weather-sensitive consumption behavior.

These problem statements have been developed through extensive consultation with ecosystem stakeholders to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the clean energy sector. Selected winners will receive technical assistance funding of up to 0,000, pilot deployment opportunities with BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, potential investment consideration from partner organizations, and mentorship from leading sector specialists.

The evaluation process for ENTICE 3.0 will be conducted by a distinguished jury panel comprising Govind Iyer, Distinguished Patron for ENTICE 3.0, Independent Director at Infosys and Member of the Board of Trustees at The Rockefeller Foundation; Alok Kumar, Jury Chair and President of the All India Distribution Companies Association; Ashish Khanna, Jury Co-Chair and Director General of the International Solar Alliance; Abhishek Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited; along with senior representatives from Vena Energy, India Energy Storage Alliance, Transition Venture Capital, RMI Energy Solutions India Foundation, Green Marble, Networks for Humanity, Hero Future Energies, and Spectrum Impact.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Ashish Khanna stated that the energy transition depends on innovators who convert ideas into real-world solutions, emphasizing that ENTICE is designed to bridge innovation with practical energy systems while enabling scalable solutions that contribute to energy independence and global energy transition goals, particularly for emerging economies.

Seema Chaturvedi, Founder and Managing Partner of AWE Funds, emphasized that clean technology has become a critical investment frontier, stating that structured platforms such as ENTICE help reduce risk by integrating deep-tech solutions within real utility environments, thereby bridging the gap between conceptual innovation and investable enterprises.

Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, stated that the alliance is committed to accelerating renewable energy transition in emerging markets, with ENTICE 3.0 strengthening efforts to develop a smarter and more resilient electricity grid in India. He highlighted that sustainable solutions must be rooted in local knowledge, expertise, and ownership to ensure long-term impact and scalability.

Shortlisted applicants under ENTICE 3.0 will participate in a three-day immersive bootcamp featuring pitch refinement sessions, mentorship engagement, investor interactions, and real-time feedback workshops. The program is designed to equip startups with actionable insights, strategic networks, and pathways to scale their innovations into impactful energy solutions.

ENTICE 3.0 aims to strengthen the clean-tech innovation ecosystem in India by addressing real-world energy challenges and enabling scalable technologies that support a faster, more inclusive energy transition. The Global Energy Alliance continues to pursue its broader mission of expanding access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity while driving economic opportunity across multiple regions.