By now, there are many virtual power plants, but DieEnergiekoppler’s “Flexibility Plant” primarily aims to aggregate small-scale energy systems and make it possible to market their flexibility. In this interview, CEO and co-founder Jens Werner tells us more about his company, which was launched in 2020.
Mr. Werner, can you tell us a little about your company “DieEnergiekoppler”?
DieEnergiekoppler was born in 2020 as a spin-off company of the TU Dresden. As a young start-up company, Tobias Hess, Irina Weis and I received funding from the Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS), a regional venture capital company for Saxony. There’s nearly ten years of research behind our product “Flexibility Plant”, which was first put in use by the company Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG. And they were delighted with the results!
Which products do you offer?
We offer the aggregator “Flexibility Plant” and are a service provider of direct and flexibility marketing, for example, in energy exchange, in energy communities and districts or for the use of flexibility to provide stability to the grid. Utility companies benefit from new business opportunities when systems are linked quickly and in a cost-effective manner, as do the operators of renewable power plants who can quickly carry out a change of direct marketer.
And how does your solution stand out from the rest?
The “Flexibility Plant” is made up of swarmBOXes. These are self-learning control boxes that are connected to energy plants. The customer is allocated a swarmHUB which acts as the central coordinator. We then integrate the systems into the “Flexibility Plant” as required and operate it. AI support and optimized management means it is possible to connect PV and wind power sites, heat pumps, fuel cells and battery storage systems in a cost-effective manner.
What do you hope to achieve next?
Our current challenge is to grow the business. It is important to us that we maintain the quality and high standard of our technology and build on it. Additionally, we are specifically looking for utility companies in the district supply and energy community sectors.
You participated in The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 in the start-up area. What did you make of it?
We had the opportunity to make our business known and put ourselves out there through a multitude of interesting conversations and promising contacts. It also provided us with inspiration on how to improve the way we present our business – that’s definitely something we took away from participating. And for that reason we will be there again in 2022.
You can get to know DieEnergiekoppler and many other innovative start-ups in the Start-up Area of The smarter E Europe 2022. The Start-up Stage, where newcomers present their innovations, and the Business Speed Dating, where start-ups and project partners or investors can meet, provide variety and exciting encounters.
Or maybe you are the owner of a young company and want to present your solutions at The smarter E Europe 2022? Then find out more about our offers for start-ups .