New Energy Challenge
The New Energy Challenge (NEC) helps technology-focused startups and scaleups to develop innovative technologies that promote sustainability and shape the future of the energy sector.
Tomorrow’s energy system needs breakthrough ideas and new technologies, and passionate entrepreneurs with innovative approaches to take on the challenges of the energy transition.
What is the New Energy Challenge (NEC)?
The NEC is an annual open innovation competition that connects promising global startups and scaleups in the energy sector with stakeholders to accelerate the decarbonisation of energy systems.
Competition finalists gain access to investors and experts during the final phase of the challenge, unlocking the knowledge, contacts, and support needed to advance their companies and products.
Who organises the NEC?
The NEC is jointly organised by Rockstart, Shell, Unknown Group, and YES!Delft.
Who can take part in the challenge?
The challenge is open to entrepreneurs from around the world who are developing advanced technologies and disruptive solutions that could be vital to meeting future energy needs.
What is Shell’s role?
Shell believes in the power of collaboration in innovation. We work closely with a wide range of partners, including academic institutions, research institutes, start-ups, scale-ups, and a select portfolio of ventures we invest in.
The NEC enables Shell to identify technologies with the potential to significantly impact the future of energy, and support innovators and entrepreneurs to affordably prove the viability of their technologies.
Some of the participating startups may be selected by Shell to join the Shell GameChanger programme, receive investment from Shell Ventures, or collaborate directly with Shell businesses at a later stage, subject to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Shell’s internal policies.
Since its launch in 2016, the NEC has provided dozens of innovative entrepreneurs with expert coaching and guidance, helping them to take their ideas to the next level.
Read the transcript
Read the transcript
Title: New Energy Challenge
Duration: 2:55 minutes
Description:
{ An event organised around the New Energy Challenge finals. }
{Various start-up finalists and hosts of the New Energy Challenge speak about the competition and the ways in which the winners are contributing to the energy transition. It shows the people attending the event, focusing on the speeches of the judges and winners, social gatherings and meetings during the event.}
New Energy Challenge Transcript
[Background music plays]
Calm but bright and uplifting music throughout
[Animated sequence]
The video opens with a high-tech 3D animated background in grey/green with in white modern font:
[Text displays]
New Energy Challenge 10th edition logo
[Visuals]
After a cut-scene animation in white letters against a harbour background is written:
[Text displays]
Helsinki
New Energy Challenge 2025
[Text displays]
10th Edition
[Visuals]
Quick snapshots of Helsinki
People are gathered in a lounge, relaxing and drinking
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell GameChanger}
{Marlies Lukkes}
I know people have come from very far. I want to thank you all for coming here, showing us something from across the globe, and welcome again to Slush.
[Text displays]
Marlies Lukkes, Shell GameChanger
[Visuals]
People are gathered around Marlies Lukkes and listening to her. They are nodding approvingly.
[Text displays]
A glass door has the text ‘Meet Lounge’ on it.
[Visuals]
People are sitting around in a room and discussing something.
[Visuals]
Max ter Horst is standing outside.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Rockstart}
{Max ter Horst}
I think the New Energy Challenge really allows start-ups to tap into the commercial and technical knowledge of Shell.
[Text displays]
Max ter Horst, Rockstart
[Visuals]
Back to people sitting and discussing, cutting to Ras standing outside
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{YES!Delft}
{Ras Lalmy}
Basically, it's about months and months of very intensive preparation and engagement with experts from the field.
[Text displays]
Ras Lalmy, YES!Delft
[Visuals]
Back inside to people sitting and listening to a speaker
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Rockstart}
[Visuals]
Various cut scenes of people
{Max ter Horst}
That really helps, actually, start-ups to gain credibility. With credibility, you get investors, and you get customers. And scaling clean technology is what we want with the energy transition.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Lydian}
[Visuals]
Amanda Ritter standing outside followed by multiple cuts to people talking and meeting and different venues.
{Amanda Ritter}
It's been wonderful. It's been great to have a chance to connect with all of the other participants in the Shell team. I'm looking forward to meeting folks across the entire clean tech ecosystem and learning about their innovations in their corner of the world.
[Text displays]
Amanda Ritter, Lydian
[Visuals]
A flash of lightning followed by multiple cuts to people at various places of the Slush event.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{SunGreenH2}
{Tim Rockell}
First time at Slush. Really exciting. I've had a good walk around seeing all the international stands.
[Text displays]
Tim Rockell, SunGreenH2
[Visuals]
Once again cuts to people and places followed by James Burbridge.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Spiritus}
{James Burbridge}
I've had a lot of exposure to really great European investors, and that's really what we were looking for when we decided to come. And Shell and the New Energy Challenge has been a great vehicle for that.
[Text displays]
James Burbridge, Spiritus
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell GameChanger}
{Marlies Lukkes}
I think it exceeds expectations. We have a lot of people coming to our booth. The finals event will be pulling a lot of people, investors. We bring interesting start-ups, and they will benefit from that visibility.
[Visuals]
Cuts to people, places, speakers
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell}
{Milou Nijhof}
I would like to give a big round of applause because this is our 10th anniversary.
[Visuals]
Spectators clapping, cut to Jermaine Saaltink on stage.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell Ventures}
{Jermaine Saaltink}
The one company that we selected, we're very impressed with the technology. Join me in congratulating KC8.
[Visuals]
Cuts to people, places, speakers followed by Josh Chadwick holding a big sign with the award and the text: Winner (Scale-up). Gregory Ross of KC8 is standing next to him.
Close up of Josh Chadwick and Gregory Ross
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{KC8}
{Josh Chadwick}
Yeah, certainly winning this challenge with Shell, and the relationship with Shell is certainly going to assist with our scale-up over the next five years.
[Text displays]
Josh Chadwick, KC8
Gregory Ross, KC8
[Visuals]
Cut to Jermaine Saaltink standing outside
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell Ventures}
{Jermaine Saaltink}
KC8 is really useful for the hard-to-abate industries to curb their carbon emissions. Both from a technology perspective, but also from a commercial perspective, really proud of what we're seeing.
[Text displays]
Jermaine Saaltink, Shell Ventures
[Visuals]
Cuts to different people attending the event. Then a cut to Marlies Lukkes on stage.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell GameChanger}
{Marlies Lukkes}
The company was highly rated due to its differentiating technology. The winner is Ammobia.
[Visuals]
Cuts to different people attending the event. Then cut to a woman holding a big sign: Winner (Start-up) Followed by a cut to the speaker.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Ammobia}
{Karen Baert}
Within the next five years, we want to be producing hundreds of tons of ammonia to decarbonise the energy system, the fertiliser system, as well as the mobility system.
[Text displays]
Karen Baert, Ammobia
[Visuals]
Cuts to Jermaine outside.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell Ventures}
{Jermaine Saaltink}
I think Ammobia is a company that really is going to play a really an important role in a market that is both large but also very pollutive.
[Visuals]
Cuts to different people attending the event. Then cut to Harry Kettle on stage.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{Shell Ventures}
{Harry Kettle}
I’m really pleased to announce that WASE are the people's choice.
[Text displays]
Harry Kettle, Shell Ventures
[Visuals]
Cuts to different people attending the event. Then cut to Thomas Fudge and the sign People’s Choice Winner followed by a close-up of Thomas Fudge.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
{WASE}
{Thomas Fudge}
Great, great recognition of our scale up journey and the traction that we're gaining to really provide energy security.
[Text displays]
Thoman Fudge, WASE
[Visuals]
Cut to the three category winners holding up the big signs with their categories.
Short cuts of the NEC logo and people cheering on.
The video ends with the animated NEC logo it started with.
