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Tackle your project like an entrepreneur
PowerLab is a special format for you to validate and execute your projects successfully. We offer you the perfect setting to step into the driver’s seat and bring your project to success through validation, coaching, fast decision-making, and real customer feedback.
Applications for batch 4 are closed.
Work like an
entrepreneur
within TenneT
YOUR BENEFITS WITH POWERLAB
Join the fast lane to bring your project to success
Being part of the PowerLab gives you the opportunity to validate your project, to get management exposure and to learn more about innovative methodologies. Ultimately, the program is your fast lane to drive your Project to success and have an impact on topics that matter for the future of TenneT.
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Get the budget your project needs
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Benefit from fast decision-making
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Meet innovative, like-minded colleagues
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Get leadership attention
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Broaden your network within TenneT and beyond
WHAT TO EXPECT
We guide you through every step of your entrepreneurial journey
In this program you will follow the path in three phases: Explore, Develop and Establish. Depending on the maturity of your project, you can either start in Explore or in Develop phase.
Explore
June - October 2023
Validate the challenge your project tackles and prove that it is relevant for TenneT. Attend the PowerCamp – a workshop week which is designed to discover all open questions linked to your projects and to define a way how to answer them. Pitch your project at the end of the week to the jury to get the resources for the following months of Explore phase, in which you will validate the identified questions. Close the Explore phase with the Demo Day and convince the decision makers to further support your project with budget and resources.
Activities: Desk research, customer interviews, stakeholder mapping
Support: Business model coaching, networking and developing the intrapreneurial mindset
Events:
– PowerLab Week: Jun 19th – Jun 23rd
– Demo Day: Nov 7th
Develop
June - October 2023
Develop a prototype of your solution and test it with potential internal or external customers. Get feedback on your solution and improve it in an iterative way. Prove that you can solve the challenge with your project. Close the Develop phase with the Demo Day and convince the decision makers to further support your project with budget and resources.
Activities: Testing, Prototyping, Experiments
Support: Venture architect coaching, Technical experts, Networking
Events:
– PowerLab Week: Jun 19th – Jun 23rd
– Demo Day: Nov 7th
Establish
Project specific
Launch and establish or grow your project. Test all aspects of your business model in a small-scale pilot. Start growing your project.
Follow your project-specific path.
Activities: Testing, Prototyping, Experiments
Support: Venture architect coaching, Technical experts, Networking
THE PROCESS
This is how your journey will look like
Submit your project and join either Explore or Develop Phase. Pitch your project to the jury in the Demo Day and learn whether your project is moving on to Develop or Establish phase or needs another iteration in an Explore phase.
Submit
your project
Applications for batch 4 are closed.
Explore
June - October 2023
Develop
June - October 2023
Demo
Day
November 7th 2023
Next
Explore phase
Next
Develop phase
Establish phase
BE PART OF THE INNOVATIVE CROWD
Wondering if you can apply?
We welcome all employees who
want to boost their projects
Projects
Enter Explore or Develop phase, depending on the maturity of your project. No matter which stage your project is in, we give you just what you need to advance it to bring it to the fast lane.
Work on a
project that
matters
Not sure if your project or idea fits the format?
Simply reach out to us via the contact form below.
JOIN OUR PROGRAM
We are looking for projects and ideas that will enable TenneT to
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Provide a great and safe place to work for up to 10,000 employees and (sub) contractors
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Secure healthy asset base where customers can be connected within a set number of months
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Maintain the highest level in security of supply
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Realize at least 5 significant energy system innovations
JOIN OUR PROGRAM
Get inspired by our first edition projects and participants
Read More
Smart Joint
The modular smart joint enables the repair of HVAC submarine cables up to a voltage level of 155 kV regardless of the cable manufacturer or type. The Smart Joint is the logical next step from already existing components.
Read More
Offshore Subsea Converter
The hybrid offshore subsea converter is an invention-based asset design for offshore wind energy integration. It is improving the state-of-the-art technology towards a simple, modular, and scalable solution. Unlike the platform of today, most on the technical inventory can be exchanged and maintained at land.
Read More
Brain Connectors
Enabling our new people to do their job 30% faster and more comfortably. We identify the knowledge that new colleagues really need and impart it at the time it’s really needed. We also aim to make knowledge accessible and more independent from single experts.
Read More
Accelerate the Circular Economy
Reuse of (materials of) high voltage transformers to accelerate the circular economy within TenneT. With this solution we aim to stabilize the material prices and have better and faster availability of the transformers.
Read More
Lessons Learned
Relaunching ‚Lessons Learned‘, LPO‘s central knowledge management repository, with significantly improved usability for submitters and those seeking to benefit from past learnings, plus — most importantly — reviving the spirit of sharing across all LPO project teams.
Previous
Next
Read More
PowerLab really helped our team to make great progress with our project
Hi, I’m Annelie. Together with my colleagues Jakob and Christian we wanted to execute our initiative that focuses on improving the knowledge access for new employees. PowerLab showed us how to validate our project, which helped us to save time and generate valuable learnings with just one day per week on this topic.Annelie Grömer, Team Brain Connectors
Advisor Competence Management, Grid Field Operations Excellence, Strategy & Business Support
Test and validate if other people in the company face the challenge we’ve identified
Estimate the value that can be created if we improve the current way of knowledge sharing
Consolidate our idea into a project plan
Outline and connect with our potential stakeholders in different departments
Get sponsorship and approval for the project from the executive board
Execute the first demo of our project
and draw conclusions for improvements
I see the benefit of PowerLab two-fold:
On the one side, it helps us to further support and implement projects with high relevance and a great potential for success. And on the other side, as a TenneT employee you get to work with innovative methods and tools, execute your project like an entrepreneur, and ultimately, advance your career.
Christine Schneider
Head Board Office, TenneT
REACH OUT TO US
Still have questions?
We’ve got you covered!
Who is eligible to apply?
PowerLab is a company-wide format open for applications from all TenneT employees with an entrepreneurial mindset working on a project and wanting to speed it up and bring it to life.
Do I need to have a team to apply?
A team (of up to four people) is preferred but not mandatory. In a team, you can split up the project work and use the diverse skill sets for a joint goal. In case you believe you need more than four team members, please specify why. Applications by individuals are also welcomed. However, we encourage you to look for additional team members to join you on your entrepreneurial journey.
What do I need to bring to the table?
- A project or an idea for a project that will solve a challenge for TenneT. If this project is already known to and is in favour of a manager, this is a plus.
- Most importantly: passion for working in a start-up-like environment to bring your project to life, and motivation to learn new methods and approaches.
What types of projects can I apply with?
We are looking for all projects that address relevant problems and needs, either of our customers or our operations. Regardless of whether your project drastically improves our operations or explores new products, services, and business models, it should have the potential to be scaled across multiple divisions of our company. If you and your team have the curiosity and motivation to succeed, it does not matter whether you are still at an early stage or have already begun actively working on the realization of the project.
If you have any doubts or question if your project is a match for the program – don’t hesitate to get in touch with the PowerLab team at powerlab@tennet.eu.
If you have any doubts or question if your project is a match for the program – don’t hesitate to get in touch with the PowerLab team at powerlab@tennet.eu.
If you have any doubts or questions if your project is a match for the program – don’t hesitate to get in touch with the PowerLab team at powerlab@tennet.eu.
- Provide a great and safe place to work for up to 10,000 employees and (sub) contractors
- Secure healthy asset base where customers can be connected within a set number of months
- Achieve 99,99% of the supply security
- Realize at least 5 significant energy system innovations
If you have any doubts or questions if your idea is a match for the program – please reach out to us via the contact form.
In what language can I submit my application?
The language for the application is English. If you can only apply in another language or need language assistance, please get in touch with the PowerLab team at powerlab@tennet.eu.
How do projects get selected?
Once the application phase has ended, a committee of cross-divisional experts and the PowerLab core team will evaluate all projects and jointly decide which ones will be shortlisted. The shortlisted teams are then notified and invited to the first phase of PowerLab – either Explore or Develop, based on your project’s maturity.
What happens with my current position?
Your current position will not be affected by your participation in PowerLab. There will be no changes to your salary and other benefits. Your contract stays untouched.
Where can I get additional information about PowerLab?
Download the PowerLab pitch-deck for more information here. Feel free to share it with your colleagues as well as the link to this webpage. If some of your questions are still not covered, please reach out to the PowerLab team at powerlab@tennet.eu.
Hi, I’m Alex from TenneT PowerLab. Your question is still not answered? Fill in the form or call me directly at +31 (0)6 2577 4802.