A future-proof energy system that works for everyone. That's the mission of Groningen startup Powerchainger. In a nutshell, they’re developing software that can flatten total electricity consumption at a device level, also called load disaggregation. This gives consumers real-time insight into the consumption of electrical devices, allowing them to shift their use to much more favorable times of day. The software can also play an important role for energy suppliers in forecasting energy demand more accurately, allowing better balancing of energy supply and demand.
For a successful energy transition, a solid energy network is just as important as the amount of green power generated. But currently, we’re already running into the limits of our energy system. 'The cracks are already showing,' says Yang Soo Kloosterhof, founder and CEO of Powerchainger.'The current energy system is definitely not future-proof and we want to change that with our software. Structural changes are necessary to make the energy transition possible and smart algorithms will significantly contribute to that.'
Deep learning
So how does Powerchainger want to bring about those changes? 'With deep learning algorithms that use the smart meter data,' Kloosterhof explains. 'Many households have a smart meter, which gives you minute-by-minute insight into cumulative energy consumption. It's very useful, but it doesn't offer any insight into your appliances, like your household appliances or electric car. Our software makes it possible to provide real-time insight into the consumption of electrical appliances based on cumulative consumption.'
This has two major advantages, according to Kloosterhof: 'On the one hand, consumers can instantly see which household appliances use a lot of power and will be more inclined to use those appliances at times when power is cheaper. At the same time, this ensures a much more efficient power distribution on the energy network. The other advantage is that energy suppliers can predict the amount of power needed much better. This allows them to buy or generate power more efficiently, which means less waste and more favorable prices.
Vattenfall as a strategic partner
Yang Soo Kloosterhof and Marios Souroulla (CTO) have been developing their software since 2021. 'The Powerchainger concept came about during a hackathon,' says Kloosterhof. 'We participated in an energy challenge organized by Vattenfall and finished in second place. That gave us connections within Vattenfall and it evolved from an informal collaboration into a strategic partnership. We're currently working together on the first pilot and, based on the feedback and results, we want to get to a product that not only works very well technically, but also suits market needs really well.'
'We are now at the point as an early-stage startup where we need to make big steps,' Kloosterhof continued. 'We got as far as we could with our own investments and grants. Now we need to expand the team and make the necessary steps toward the market.
Startup and Investor Readiness programs
In preparation, Kloosterhof attended both the Startup Readiness program and NOM's Investor Readiness program. 'Both programs have been very valuable to us. The Market Readiness program was a bit more intensive and gave us a lot of insight into where we are as a startup and what steps are needed to successfully bring the product to the market. The Investor Readiness program gave us great insights and tools on how to become attractive to investors, but also provided us with a valuable network.'
Making an impact
'I've been an entrepreneur myself since 2017, and for me, entrepreneurship is the perfect vehicle for making an impact and solving social issues,' Kloosterhof continues. 'That journey of course involves trial and error, risk taking and uncertainty, frequently feeling you’re in way over your head and persevering every time. But you're not alone in that. In the North, we have a wonderful ecosystem with a lot of knowledge and expertise to work together to solve social problems inside and outside the North. And should that be outside the North, it's wonderful that it starts here.
Powerchainger wants to go from prototype to first product in the coming year. 'And in addition, of course, work towards more sales and a scalable model, with Vattenfall as our launching customer,' says Kloosterhof. 'Looking ahead, we also see opportunities for other applications. In fact, our algorithms offer an important building block to arrive at a much smarter energy management system. And that is an absolute prerequisite for making the energy system future-proof.'