Shell and Sumitomo Corporation Invest in LO3 Energy to Develop Blockchain-based Community Energy Platform

July 10, 2019

For Immediate Release

Brooklyn, NY — June 10, 2019

  • US firm LO3 Energy secures major backing from two global energy firms to add to growing roster of corporate investors
  • LO3 Energy’s innovative technology enables integration of distributed renewable energy resources (DERs) into local energy networks
  • Funding round will support LO3 Energy’s drive towards commercialization of blockchain based community energy networks

LO3 Energy today announced major investments from corporate giants Shell Ventures and Sumitomo Corporation Group to support the global development of its blockchain-based community energy networks.

The US company, which was the first to enable peer-to-peer energy sharing, has developed a transactive energy platform to overcome the challenge of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into supply networks.

The system promises to democratize the energy industry, allowing people to both consume and produce electricity at their home and business. LO3 already has investment from Braemar Energy Ventures, Centrica, and Siemens.

“The investment from Shell and Sumitomo represents a landmark moment for LO3 Energy as we begin to scale our blockchain-based energy networks around the world,” said LO3 Energy CEO Lawrence Orsini.

“Energy is going through a revolution with renewable distributed energy resources increasingly picking up market share – but to integrate them efficiently we need to re-invent our energy networks.

“These investments will help us accelerate the roll-out of less carbon intensive microgrids, which help all stakeholders benefit through distributed, decentralized and decarbonized local energy transactions and demand response energy management on a building-by-building level.”

Kirk Coburn, Investment Director Shell Ventures said: “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.”

Pioneering technology

The way energy is produced and consumed is changing from the traditional model of large-scale power stations with long-distance transmission to one where more is produced at the ‘grid edge’ by distributed resources (DERs).

There is now an opportunity to develop a circular economy around energy, connecting these resources together in local energy markets to produce both financial and environmental benefits for all stakeholders involved.

LO3 Energy’s transactive energy platform was pioneered with the Brooklyn Microgrid and the company now runs projects with partners around the world, in the UK, Colombia, Japan, Australia and the USA.

Users set preferences on a dedicated mobile app, choosing how and when to use the local energy resources available to them and allowing them to select the specific sources they purchase it from.

The actual electrons flow through the normal grid transmission network, but the private, permissioned blockchain manages the definition of the energy source and the contract agreement to pay for it.

This enables a wide 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.

Global potential

Japanese-based Sumitomo Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, is one of the world’s top scale sōgō shōsha companies with a history of driving innovation through strategic investments in breakthrough research and technologies.

Mr. Norihiko Nonaka, Executive Officer of Sumitomo Corporation, said: “Under drastic change and innovation in the power sector, especially rapid penetration of decentralized renewable energy, we have the intention to expand our business in the new field created by LO3 Energy.

“We will work together and support LO3 Energy’s further growth, which can realize a clean, environmentally sound community.”

Orsini added: “Transactive energy is the key to unlocking the full potential of a cleaner, more distributed and more flexible grid. It also gives more choices to our consumers, allowing them to take a more active role in its energy choices.

“LO3 has developed and deployed its blockchain-based transactive energy platform across multiple markets, and we are delighted to partner with our new investors to further scale this platform globally.

“Our Local Energy Markets are already being deployed with energy retailers, utilities and distribution system operators alike and we are ready to take the product to the next level.”

About LO3 Energy

LO3 Energy, a Brooklyn, NY based company, is building a blockchain-based platform to enable decentralized business models and innovative technologies related to energy, cleantech and utility systems. The LO3 team has deep expertise in design, architecture, development, prototyping, and testing of cutting-edge distributed energy, computing and peer-to-peer distributed consensus networks. The company builds blockchain-based tools and projects to support and accelerate the proliferation of distributed energy, utilities and computation sharing economy of the future. For more information about blockchain for energy, visit www.lo3energy.com

For more information:

Follow us:

About Shell Ventures

Shell Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”). With major offices in Europe, the USA, and China, Shell Ventures invests in technology companies, innovative business models and growth plays to enhance the development of energy solutions and new technologies that have the potential to create substantial deployment value in Shell. Continuing Shell’s tradition in venture capital since 1998, Shell Venture’s investment focus includes oil & gas technologies, renewable energy technologies and digital technologies. Shell Ventures co-invests with other corporate investors, venture capital funds and angels and will invest in both early stage and late stage (growth capital) companies. For more information, visit Shell Ventures.

About Sumitomo Corporation

Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 11 locations in 66 countries, regions and 22 locations in Japan. The entire SC Group consists of more than 900 companies. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides related customers with various financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include Metal Products, Transportation and Construction Systems, Infrastructure, Media and Digital, Living Related and Real Estate, Mineral Resources, Energy, and Chemical and Electronics.

About Braemar Energy Ventures

Founded in 2003, Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in transformative energy-tech and related companies contributing to global sustainability and combating climate change. Using sector expertise and experience, Braemar aims to be an engaged partner with its portfolio companies to best help them navigate the path to creating significant global impact. For more information, visit braemarenergy.com.