Spanish energy giant Iberdrola yesterday launched a new 'Start Up Challenge', a hunt for new ideas to help protect the UK's electricity grid from the impacts of more extreme weather.

Climate change threatens to heighten the frequency and intensity of extreme weather including storms, snow, ice, floods and extreme heat - all of which can fry the UK grid and cause lengthy power outages.

Iberdrola said it is looking for UK start-ups with ideas to keep the grid up and running during extreme weather events, or speed the recovery of the network after a storm has hit.

"Climate change poses many risks to society, and more frequent and more intense weather events are a real challenge for electricity network operators," said Armando Martinez, director of the networks business at Iberdrola Group. "Even equipment designed and engineered to the highest specifications can be completely destroyed by the fiercest of storms."

"Companies like Iberdrola are always innovating and improving processes, and we also studiously monitor and assess emerging technologies," he added. "However, we are sure that there will be concepts currently brewing in labs and on whiteboards that could end up being global game-changers."

Companies are invited to register for the competition until June 30. The winning firm will have the opportunity to pilot their idea and if it proves successful, Iberdrola said it will offer the firm a supplier contract and potentially become an investor.

"A great idea on paper can become a core part of day-to-day business operations quickly with the right support and guidance," said Agustin Delgado, chief innovation and sustainability officer at Iberdrola. "We will help to take successful ideas in to a pilot stage, and then onwards towards a full supplier agreement. Ultimately, a concept that improves our processes could end up being sought after by electricity network companies the world over."