Redeem your energy flexibility through the new digital network FlexiO

Helping keep the lights on across the country, building and turning on fewer gas-fired power plants AND generating extra pennies with your own power plant, who doesn't want this?

We are facing a challenging period to maintain balance in our energy system.

The ever-increasing number of solar panel installations (as much as 1 GWp in Flanders by 2023) is putting considerable pressure on the electricity grid. It is therefore no surprise that the number of failing solar panel inverters continues to increase and negative prices on the energy markets become commonplace. Almost guaranteed these days on a sunny weekend day with lots of wind. Everyone then collectively injects their energy surpluses just when demand is low.

So the grid is gradually becoming saturated and simply adding solar panels has little added value. Both for those who invest in them and for society.

To ensure the continued rollout of renewable energy, energy flexibility is needed. And not a little bit. Elia, responsible for balancing Belgium's electricity grid, has mapped out the need for flexibility. No less than 7 GW will be needed by 2034 - the equivalent of 7 nuclear power plants that can be switched on or off on demand.

With new technology developed domestically by a team of 22 people from Antwerp's Scale-Up LIFEPOWR, everyone can be part of a digital network that helps balance our electricity grid.

"Many people are not yet aware that there is a lot of flexibility in their day-to-day energy use, for example while recharging their electric vehicle through the night or in their home battery, and that this flexibility is very valuable and even essential for our electricity grid" - said Dries Bols, CEO of LIFEPOWR.

The company previously released the energy manager FlexiO, as a carefree conductor for energy flows in the home, and now counts 2000+ customers who have already seen their energy bills drastically reduced through this service. LIFEPOWR collaborates with dozens of partner companies that help market this solution, including installation companies and major energy suppliers.

LIFEPOWR is now launching its digital power plant: a large network of connected customers, together accounting for 22 MWh of capacity, which private energy consumers can join to further increase capacity.

"We put a market on the table that people would otherwise not have access to individually," he said. "And everyone is better off in the market, than out of the market." Adds Ian Beyst, algorithm architect at LIFEPOWR.

The conductor is now no longer confined to the household alone, as it were, but is carefully orchestrating the harmony between solar power, wind power and batteries on a large scale, creating a powerful symphony of sustainable electricity. 'Orchestrated Energy'.

"This fits perfectly into the evolution of the energy transition we are currently experiencing and matches our vision in which we are more consumer centric and the power of Flexibility is an essential part of the energy system of the future."

- confirm Nicolas Koelman and Amandine Leroux of Elia's Customers Department.

As a new Balancing Service Provider (BSP), LIFEPOWR now works directly with Elia, the Belgian grid operator, joining a limited list of only 8 parties offering such services, according to VREG. In this way, it helps Elia stabilize the grid by injecting or withdrawing additional energy when needed. In this way, the energy system of tomorrow becomes a reality and provides additional income for private energy consumers.

Ambition. Current growth rates are already nice, but the company's ambitions follow the soaring demand for flexibility due to the rapidly growing rollout of electric cars, solar panels and home batteries. By the end of 2024, LIFEPOWR wishes to triple its customer base.

"At the current rate of growth, we are aiming for a customer base of about 6,000 users by the end of the year. Together we will then also directly provide more room for the further growth of renewable energy again." - adds Bols.

The future of more solar panels is in the smart combination with flexibility.

How to participate. Through the flexio.energy website, you can simulate the impact on your own situation and learn more about the solution, and whether you are eligible to enroll in it.

Museumstraat 39, 2000 Antwerp - info@lifepowr.io - www.lifepowr.io