How is the Powered program going so far?

10 June 2024

At the time of writing, we are in the sixth week of Powered; so just a little over halfway through the ten-week corporate startup collaboration program. We sat down and spoke with Bob Lucassen (Senior Consultant System Operations), Robert van der Hidde (Portfolio Business Developer) and Tim van Gemert (Innovation Accelerator) as well as all the startup founders about the progress being made in each of the three domains. Here's a closer look at the current state of affairs and the promising developments they’ve observed so far.

Domain one – Dynamic customer demand forecasting

In domain one, ‘Dynamic customer demand forecasting’, we are looking for solutions that can help us to accurately predict the grid usage of our individual customers and/or facilitate our customers to make and share these predictions themselves. From the scouting process, we selected three startups for this domain; Nectaware, TILT and Ogre and we have three completely different approaches from each of them which makes it very interesting.

The program has already witnessed significant progress, with the startups delivering initial results. Ongoing iterations based on feedback aim to refine these results further, culminating in a powerful demonstration on Demo Day.

The level of customized work undertaken by startups has exceeded initial expectations. This tailored approach to address Alliander’s specific needs underscores the Powered program’s significance and the responsibility associated with ensuring its success.

“The startups are doing really significant work in this ten-week period to help tackle the challenges we face at Alliander.” – Bob Lucassen, Senior Consultant System Operations

“The program is significantly accelerating the development and refinement of our Proof of Concept (PoC). With direct access to Alliander’s technical expertise and strategic guidance, we have been able to iterate our solutions more effectively and align them with real-world needs and challenges. This hands-on collaboration has enabled us to identify and address potential roadblocks early, improving our solution’s robustness and market readiness.” – Otilia Bajdiu, Ogre

Domain two – Energy Hubs

Let’s explore what’s been happening in domain two, focusing on ‘Energy Hubs’. Here, we’re seeking solutions to support the formation and organization of energy hubs and Local Energy System communities. Our collaboration with three startups – Advanced Infrastructure, Civitas, and Skoon – aims to drive this transition towards more efficient energy management.

We’ve seen good progress in domain two, but a key challenge is the difference in speed between Alliander and the startups. While we aim for significant results in the ten-week period, the slow pace of data delivery holds us back. Speeding up this process could unlock more potential for collaboration and success.

Domain two is all about looking to the future, focusing on horizon two and three innovation. Although the solutions being developed may not have immediate impacts, they’re incredibly inspiring. The work in this domain also sparks ideas for other domains in the program. This opens up possibilities for collaboration across domains, helping us tackle challenges and shape the future energy landscape of the Netherlands.

“Our experience with the Powered program is very good, by participating in this program we are finding out even better where the bottlenecks of the grid operators are and what direction the power supply of the future is going.” – Stan Demarteau, Civitas

Domain three – Real-time grid monitoring

In Domain 3, our focus is on real-time grid monitoring. We’re seeking solutions to help us assess the condition and load capacity of critical components like cables, transformers, and switchgear. This is crucial for dynamic grid management, condition-based maintenance, and optimizing our assets. During the scouting phase, we handpicked four ambitious startups for this domain: PhotonPath, Zaphiro Technologies, Gridhound GmbH, and Energiot.

The program is off to a great start, with a palpable sense of energy and excitement among colleagues regarding the initiatives and PoCs. The four startups are working incredibly hard to deliver great results for Demo Day. What’s particularly interesting is that three out of the four startups feature a hardware component focused specifically on sensors. These sensors serve diverse functions, including batteryless IoT applications, performance simulations, and measuring temperatures in harsh environments where traditional sensors are ineffective.

Open innovation plays a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. It allows us to generate innovative solutions to problems that were previously considered impossible. By collaborating with startups, we can learn more and work more efficiently, boosting our output and agility. However, our current speed and rigidity hinder this process. Shifting our mindset is crucial to providing startups with a fair chance to develop potential solutions for our challenges. It’s about embracing change and adapting to a more dynamic approach

“We have received tremendous support from both Alliander and the Startupbootcamp teams. Being part of such an innovative program has been an incredibly positive experience. Utilities, by nature, can be slow-moving entities; however, Alliander’s approach to reaching out and supporting startup companies to address their challenges is both open-minded and smart. We are delighted to be a part of it. The resources provided by the Startupbootcamp have been amazing as well. It’s invaluable to talk to mentors who have been in similar situations and have successfully navigated the problems we are facing.” – Maeve Casey, Energiot