Munich Re and ERGO expand their commitment to climate protection

Two new projects are helping Munich Re and ERGO take their climate change efforts to the next level. These projects focus on fostering cleantech start-ups and on “solar E-HUBBs”, which enable the provision of off-grid and climate-friendly energy in remote areas.

Today, the impact of climate change can be felt around the world – which is why Munich Re and ERGO are pooling their resources to find answers to the challenges it presents. Munich Re and ERGO are concentrating their efforts on two projects.

Together with Climate-KIC, the European Union’s largest public-private climate initiative, cleantech start-ups with business models focused on climate change are being fostered in an accelerator programme. Three start-ups were selected in September 2017: Refurbed from Vienna, which operates an online marketplace for refurbished electronic devices; twingz (also from Vienna), offering an energy-saving software that can also be used for loss prevention; and NÜWIEL from Hamburg, a maker of intelligent bicycle trailers that can be used for CO₂-friendly goods deliveries. The accelerator phase began in October and will last until the end of March 2018.

The second project is a partnership with the company Solarkiosk, which provides a stand-alone electricity supply in remote areas of Kenya using E-HUBBs – container-sized kiosks equipped with solar panels. Inhabitants thus get internet access, power to charge their mobile phones, and light to do their homework by. The E-HUBBs can help reduce emissions of CO₂ and other pollutants by replacing diesel-powered generators and paraffin lamps. Munich Re and ERGO are financing several E-HUBBs which will soon be set up in Kenya.