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Based in Coimbra, Portugal, Cleanwatts is a clean energy as a service company that develops and manages renewable energy communities with zero upfront capital investment for local users. The organization utilizes its proprietary Cleanwatts OS software platform to optimize energy loads, market exchanges, and financial transactions across distributed energy assets. Operating globally, the company manages 1.5 terawatt hours of energy annually across nearly 35,000 connected Internet of Things devices and serves more than 85 clients across four continents. Cleanwatts currently oversees approximately 70 local energy communities and has secured dedicated financing facilities from institutional investors including Tejo Ventures, Celtis Venture Partners, and Verdane. Following a recent management buyout that established its digital arm as an independent corporate entity, the enterprise continues to expand its infrastructure under the leadership of cofounders Michael Pinto, José Basílio Simões, and Jorge Landeck.
Cleanwatts has raised $17.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Cleanwatts has raised $17.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Cleanwatts has raised $17.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $16.0M Series A in June 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2022 | $16M Series A | — | Portugal Ventures, Verdane | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2021 | $1M Seed | — | Portugal Ventures, Verdane | Announced |
Cleanwatts has raised $17.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Cleanwatts's investors include Portugal Ventures, Verdane Capital.
Cleanwatts is a Portugal-based climate tech company that builds proprietary software platforms to decentralize, digitalize, and democratize access to clean energy, focusing on smart energy efficiency and affordable clean energy delivered as a service.[1][3][6] It serves businesses, industries, international airports, local communities, and governments across four continents, managing over 2TWh of energy in more than 2,000 locations through AI-powered tools that optimize energy procurement, consumption, generation, storage, balancing, and trading.[1][2] The company solves the energy trilemma—decarbonizing grids, enhancing security, and reducing costs—by enabling Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) with zero upfront investment, evidenced by contracts like solar PV installations for São Tomé and Príncipe's government and managing 1.5TWh via 35,000 IoT devices last year.[1][2][4] With 107 employees and $5.9 million in revenue, Cleanwatts shows strong growth through global expansion and a recent management buyout spinning out Cleanwatts Digital as an independent entity.[1][2]
Cleanwatts was founded in 2020 in Coimbra (Antanhol), Portugal, through the incorporation of Virtual Power Solutions (VPS) and several startups specializing in digitalized energy management.[1][3] This merger combined expertise in energy software and hardware to address rising demand for local renewables amid barriers like resource shortages and complexity.[4] Early traction came from deploying platforms like FlexUnity for AI-driven virtual power plants (VPPs), blockchain-based flexibility, and tools for residential optimization, quickly scaling to manage energy across Europe, America, Africa, and Asia.[1][2][4] Pivotal moments include partnerships for RECs, international projects, and the 2025 launch of Cleanwatts Digital following a management buyout backed by Celtis, solidifying its focus on AI energy OS amid grid challenges like the Portugal-Spain blackout.[2]
Cleanwatts rides the global energy transition trend toward decentralized renewables, driven by decarbonization mandates, grid instability (e.g., 2025 Portugal-Spain blackout), and battery storage viability.[2][3] Timing aligns with surging demand for local clean energy amid high costs and security needs, positioning it to bridge behind/front-of-meter gaps via digital twins and AI.[1][4] Market forces like EU flexibility markets, rising EV/RES integration, and emerging economies' solar needs favor its model, as seen in African government deals.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering RECs, enhancing grid resilience, and enabling prosumers/retailers—accelerating adoption in underserved regions while partnering with investors like Verdane (since 2022).[3]
Cleanwatts Digital's independence post-buyout positions it for aggressive scaling in AI-battery-flexibility markets, targeting more VPPs, international RECs, and grid-edge AI amid renewables boom.[2] Trends like AI-optimized storage, blockchain P2P trading, and policy-driven decarbonization will propel growth, potentially doubling managed energy volumes as grids decentralize.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from regional pioneer to global enabler, powering local transitions and redefining energy access—starting from Portugal's hub to worldwide communities.[3][6]
