Strategic Partnership Enhances Energy Flexibility Solutions for Commercial Buildings

In an era where energy efficiency and sustainability are paramount, Voltalis, a leading player in demand-side flexibility aggregation in Europe, has teamed up with Univers, the global leader in AI and IoT platforms. This alliance aims to bring smarter energy flexibility solutions to commercial buildings, with a goal of saving up to 15% on energy costs across Europe and Asia.

This partnership merges Univers's AI-driven EnOS™ energy orchestration platform with Voltalis's established Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology. Together, they offer one of the most comprehensive flexibility solutions on the market. The initial roll-out will involve ten commercial clients located in France and the UK, before expanding to integrate up to 1,000 buildings, managing approximately 200 MW of peak load annually across Europe and Asia.

The large-scale integration will interconnect and manage various building systems, including HVAC systems, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, battery storage, and distributed generation facilities. As a result, commercial properties will be able to automatically and in real-time respond to signals from the power grid and changing market conditions. This capability allows buildings to act as intelligent, flexible assets, which not only leads to reduced energy costs but also enhances grid resilience and enables the unlocking of new value streams by participating in flexibility markets.

The comprehensive solution is projected to save energy costs by as much as 15% and presents a significantly improved payback period, potentially reducing it by up to 50%. The sustainability benefits are noteworthy, as the first operational sites are expected to avoid several hundred tons of CO₂ emissions annually by lessening on-site energy demand, reducing peak load pressures, and curbing reliance on carbon-intensive peak generation sources.

According to Sébastien Condom, Senior Vice-President International at Voltalis, "With buildings accounting for 40% of global energy usage, they represent an untapped reservoir of flexibility. This partnership expands Voltalis's net flexibility offering for large commercial buildings that require advanced energy management solutions and behind-the-meter asset orchestration. Univers brings a best-in-class control and visualization layer that complements our VPP platform with its aggregation algorithms and market capabilities. Together, we demonstrate that flexibility can be a key performance indicator, not merely a lever for sustainability, within the real estate sector."

In emphasizing the partnership's significance, Chandi Ray, Vice President at Univers, stated, "This collaboration is about delivering flexibility at an industrial pace and on a global scale. With Voltalis's market expertise and Univers's AIoT capabilities, we show that commercial buildings can rapidly be transformed into intelligent, grid-responsive assets that provide value from day one."

Conclusion

The union of Voltalis and Univers marks a significant step forward in the commercial building sector, as they collaboratively develop scalable models of flexibility that bridge the gap between intelligence and participation in the electricity grid. This innovative approach not only supports improved business performance but also aligns with the growing demand for reduced carbon emissions in the corporate sphere. As this partnership unfolds, it stands to revolutionize how commercial properties interact with energy systems and redefine operational strategies in energy management.