Oil Giant Shell Invests in Startup That Uses Blockchain Tech for Energy Tracking
A blockchain startup that says it's working to give energy consumers more choice has raised an undisclosed sum from Shell and Sumitomo Group.
A U.S.-based blockchain startup working to "democratize the energy industry" has raised an undisclosed sum from oil multinational Shell and Japanese business giant Sumitomo Corporation Group.
In an announcement published on Wednesday, LO3 Energy said it has developed a "transactive energy platform" to address the challenge of tracking energy from different sources across supply networks.
“As we move into a less carbonized future, Shell aims to invest in innovative companies that will help enable the energy transition. LO3 Energy fits right in that space,” said Kirk Coburn, investment director at Shell Ventures.
With LO3's system, a mobile app enables users to choose from different local energy resources and further allows them to select a specific supplier.
While the electricity passes through the power grid as normal, a "private, permissioned blockchain" tracks the details of the energy source and the purchase agreement.
The company said its product could power a range of business use cases, including "peer-to-peer energy trading, energy hedging for businesses, virtual power plants, dynamic electric vehicle charging and demand response."
The startup's CEO Lawrence Orsini said:
LO3 has previously garnered investments from Braemar Energy Ventures, Centrica, and tech giant Siemens.
Shell image via Shutterstock