Out of over 13,000 innovators from over 90 countries, Skeleton Technologies secures a place in the 2019 Global Cleantech 100

Skeleton Technologies, the European market leader in ultracapacitors and energy storage systems for transportation and grid applications, was named by Cleantech Group in the prestigious 2019 Global Cleantech 100.

The Global Cleantech 100 is an annual guide to the leading companies and themes in sustainable innovation. It features the private, independent, for-profit companies best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges. This year marks the 10th edition of the list. “Skeleton significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities in 2018 and consolidated all manufacturing operations to Germany. There were two key factors behind choosing Germany as a central location: Firstly, automotive and chemical engineering capabilities coupled with manufacturing expertise. Secondly, closeness to key customers in the automotive, industrial and renewable energy sector, whose business has been partially been driven by Energiewende. Germany has all the building blocks in place in order to become a global CleanTech Hub but faces a risk of being overtaken by the US and East Asia then left out of the largest opportunities.

EnergieWende has presented manufacturing energy storage devices and batteries. While the German battery Gigafactories are still under discussion, Skeleton has already successfully shown that with the right technological advantage, the energy storage cell manufacturing can be done in Germany on a competitive cost level. In order to really become a global CleanTech Hub, Germany also needs to take the lead in cell manufacturing and have stronger public policies in place. Dresden is an excellent location. We have a strong infrastructure in place.

Skeleton has built up its manufacturing facility in a former PV plant close to Dresden. Academia here is strong and we have built up close collaboration with Dresden University and because of strong backgrounds in automotive and solar industry, we have attracted a number of top talents to take the engineering and quality to the next level. It is not by chance that some of the most successful European CleanTech start-up companies come out of Saxony.

Skeleton Technologies is the European market leader for ultracapacitors in transportation and grid applications. Skeleton ultracapacitors are high power energy storage devices, which unlike batteries can be charged in a few seconds and have one million life-cycles. In transportation last year we won a major contract with the legendary double-decker bus company Wrightbus, our graphene ultracapacitors now reduce CO2 emissions by 36%. In grids, we rolled out the first grid-scale solutions on the Isle of Eigg solving the power quality issues caused by renewables,” said Mr. Taavi Madiberk, Skeleton Technologies’ CEO.

The list combines Cleantech Group’s research data with qualitative judgements from nominations and insight from a global 87-member expert panel comprised of leading investors and experts from corporations and industrials active in technology and innovation scouting. From pioneers and veterans to new entrants, the expert panel broadly represents the global cleantech community and results in a list with a powerful base of respect and support from many important players within the cleantech innovation ecosystem.

The list is sponsored by Chubb. “Our tenth edition is dominated by innovations for the future of food and mobility, and a decentralized and digitized future not only for energy, but for the industrial world more generally,” said Richard Youngman, CEO, Cleantech Group. “This is a far cry from the dominance of hardware, solar and biofuels in the inaugural Global Cleantech 100 in 2009.” The complete list of 100 companies was revealed on 28 January at the 17th annual Cleantech Forum San Francisco.

• For detailed information on Skeleton Technologies’ outlook as an innovator, visit Cleantech Group’s market intelligence platform i3 and search for Skeleton Technologies.
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Cleantech Group provides research, consulting and events to catalyze opportunities for sustainable growth powered by innovation. At every stage from initial strategy to final deals, we bring corporate change makers, investors, governments and stakeholders from across the ecosystem the access and customized support they need to thrive in a more digitized, de-carbonized and resource-efficient future.

The company was established in 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco with a growing international presence in London. Our parent company, Enovation Partners, is based in Chicago.