BKW Energy Solution Hub: Energy systems for companies

Chris, what is the Energy Solution Hub about and what problem does it solve for our customers?

Companies today are facing rapidly growing complexity in their energy systems, for example due to electrification, self-generation, batteries and new market mechanisms. This is exactly where the Energy Solution Hub comes in, intelligently connecting these individual elements with each other. Our goal is to optimise energy systems holistically and to create clear economic added value for our customers as a result. Holistic optimisation means both the design and planning of energy systems as well as their operational management.

Why is BKW focusing on the Energy Solution Hub right now?

The timing is no coincidence: the dynamics in the energy market are increasing significantly and are opening up new opportunities, but also challenges for companies. At the same time, the market for battery storage systems, often an important component for optimisation, is developing very dynamically. With the Energy Solution Hub and the new Flexeny products, we support companies in finding their way in this growing and complex market. We are consistently aligning ourselves with the needs of our customers and addressing the increasing demand from companies for integrated and flexible energy solutions.

Many providers talk about integrated energy solutions. What specifically differentiates the Energy Solution Hub, and Flexeny in particular, from existing offerings in the market?

The key difference lies in the consistent integration: we combine energy supply, flexibility marketing and the operational control of installations in one solution. With Flexeny, we rely on data-based optimisation that continuously responds to market prices and system conditions. This enables energy systems to be optimised significantly better from an economic perspective. For customers, this means a faster payback on their investments and lower energy costs in the long term.

At the same time, with the Energy Solution Hub we support customers throughout the entire life cycle of their energy system: from intelligent design and construction through to ongoing management. Central to this are the numerous competencies within BKW, which we can offer customers as an orchestrated end-to-end solution. It is precisely this combination that makes our offering unique.

The media release announcing the launch of the Energy Solution Hub refers to electricity costs of down to zero. How is this potential achieved in concrete terms, and for which customer segments is this realistic?

The calculations from our pilot projects to date show that, under certain conditions, the optimisation potential can enable the energy price to be discounted down to zero. The decisive factor is the customer's energy system, i.e. consumption, own production and existing flexibility.

We analyse each customer individually, as there are further aspects that are relevant for customers and that we draw on in the individual discussions. For some companies, a strong expansion of flexibility and storage capacity may make sense due to grid peaks; for others, a smaller solution designed for own production may be appropriate. Ultimately, it is about finding the economically optimal combination of own assets and energy supply. Of course, optimal also means that the energy system meets the customer's current and, above all, future needs.

What is the first step if customers want to benefit from this advantage?

The first step is an assessment of the existing and future energy system. A concrete example could be the electrification of the fleet and the associated impacts on the energy system through the charging infrastructure. Together with customers, we analyse which installations, grid connections and points of consumption are already in place and how these will develop in the future. We examine where usable flexibility is available or where additional added value can be generated, for example through a solar installation, battery, charging infrastructure or load management.

This creates a sound basis for decision-making: we model possible scenarios, compare variants and show which solution is economically viable, technically sensible and feasible. This is the crucial point: it is not about simply selling a single system, but about designing the energy system in such a way that its components work together optimally.

What are the next steps for the Energy Solution Hub and what will you focus on in its further development over the coming months?

In the first step, the focus is clearly on implementing and managing the first customer projects. In parallel, we are continuing to drive ongoing projects forward and continuously developing our management products. We have been able to test and optimise the design of individual customer systems through to checking technical feasibility with around 45 customers. Customer feedback shows that we are in a very good position here.

Another important topic is improving collaboration within the Group. We want to further optimise the offering and the processes, and make targeted use of the experience gained in order to further increase efficiency and customer benefit.

In the medium term, the aim is to scale the offering and develop additional market and customer segments in Switzerland and abroad.

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