Demand Response
EU’s Climate Goals “Can Only Happen if a Systemic Upgrade of the Building Stock is Achieved”
June 7th, 2019Machine Learning Algorithms Support Demand Response Residential Buildings
March 27th, 2019
Opportunities Beyond the Building – It’s All About Breaking Down the Silos
Buildings have traditionally been designed as somewhat isolated units protecting occupants from the outside world. While buildings still need to protect people from the elements, like the first buildings were designed to do, the modern world demands more complex relationships between buildings and their urban environment. Energy no longer just flows into a building but […]

Shell Announces Smart Building Partnerships with Sparkfund & GridPoint
“The Paris Agreement has sent a signal around the world. A new energy system is emerging. It will unfold over decades, moving at different paces in different places. The transition offers challenges, opportunities and tough choices for governments, businesses and customers,” states the Shell Energy Transition Report. Royal Dutch Shell, the British-Dutch oil and gas […]

Turning Entire Cities into Batteries with Energy Storing Cement
Instead of adding batteries to buildings in order to turn them into virtual power plants, what if we could use the building itself to store electricity? That is the thinking behind research at the University of Lancaster in the UK that has come up with a “smart cement” that is able to cost effectively store […]

A Blueprint for Scalable Virtual Power Plants & A New Energy System
While many people don’t know what a virtual power plant is, those who do still might not realize the scale of the impact they could have on our energy system. One up and coming start-up is showing that virtual power plants aren’t just about turning buildings into power generating facilities but potentially turning real estate […]

A New Kind of Energy Consumption Needs a New Kind of Energy Provision
Solar panels glimmer from millions of rooftops around the world, providing power more efficiently and cheaply than ever before. Energy storage systems are becoming commonplace, feeding on excess solar power then releasing it when the sun goes down or when grid electricity rates are high. Sensors and communication technology throughout the grid allows for intelligent […]

What Does a Blockchain Enabled Energy System Look Like?
Blockchain may be best known for its cryptocurrency applications but it is promising to be a game-changing force in any application that requires certification and exchange. As part of our April Blockchain Series, we explore the hype surrounding the blockchain’s potential for the Internet of Things (IoT), through applications in smart buildings, cities and grids. […]

Wholesale Change for US Energy Storage but UK is Slow to Develop Regulation
Across the pond, in the UK, energy storage is waning under the limits of its regulatory framework, and experts believe changes must be made to support this vital piece of the energy puzzle. Meanwhile, in the US, a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) strategy seeks to “open the floodgates” for energy storage using wholesale […]

Japan Tests Virtual Power Plants with Potential Capacity on Unprecedented Scales
In the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the Japanese government embarked upon the largest deregulation of any electricity market worldwide. Through their restructuring they not only want to push away from nuclear energy, but also to promote renewable energy and help modernize the Japanese electric grid by introducing competitive services and flexible […]