- The partners want to promote sustainable Swiss energy transition
- Companies identify new market opportunities, especially in smart meter rollout and electromobility
- The first step: Digital energy solutions for homeowners and self-consumption communities (ZEV)
Kiwigrid, operator of one of the world’s leading platforms for digital energy solutions, is expanding its presence in the Swiss energy market. That is why the Dresden-based company has entered into a partnership with Broadband Networks AG (BN).
“Our common goal is to sustainably promote the transition of the Swiss energy market to a digital, distributed, and liberalized energy world. Kiwigrid’s pioneer platform is perfect for achieving this vision”, asserts Ivo Scheiwiller, Managing Director of Broadband Networks AG.
Broadband Networks will in the first stage focus on Kiwigrid’s energy management solutions for homeowners and apartment buildings. For the latter, an interesting business model has developed in Switzerland – so-called ZEV [self-consumption communities], comparable to the “tenant electricity” models in Germany. Approximately 60 percent of the Swiss population lives in apartment buildings.
“Well-founded knowhow, years of experience, and a broad network are crucial for success in the federal and highly fragmented Swiss energy market. This, coupled with the remarkable technological expertise, makes Broadband Networks AG the ideal partner in Switzerland”, adds Kiwigrid’s Managing Director Tim Ulbricht.
Although Switzerland has a population of just 8.4 million, i.e. ten times less than that of Germany, it has about 600 energy suppliers, almost the same number as in Germany.
In 2017, the Swiss voted in favor of the “Energy Strategy 2050”, which prohibits the construction of new nuclear power plants and promotes renewable energy as well as digitization. Here, the smart meter rollout plays a crucial role. Currently, about five percent of the five million metering points have been equipped with a smart meter system. The goal is to have reached 80 percent by 2027.
For the Swiss solar sector, Kiwigrid forecasts an increase in photovoltaic systems and the energy storage deployment to 100,000, with 30,000 systems installed by 2023. “PV and energy storage are key drivers of digital energy solutions in Switzerland. But in the medium term, we expect the greatest market momentum to be from the advance of electromobility. The advancement of electric vehicles has led to the need for smart solutions across all customer segments,” explains Tim Ulbricht.
Currently, electric vehicles make up just under three percent of the total number of newly registered vehicles in Switzerland, similar to the figures for Germany. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, this is expected to rise to over 18 percent by 2023, which corresponds to approximately 250,000 electric vehicles.
Broadband Networks is the leading provider of broadband networks in Switzerland. BN specializes in energy companies, cable network companies, and municipal utilities. Both companies will present their solutions for the Swiss energy market at the upcoming E-World in Essen.
About Kiwigrid
Kiwigrid aims to help utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and manufacturers of distributed energy resources master the energy transition. Customers of the Dresden company use the energy service platform to open up new markets, diversify their products and services, and pull ahead of their competition. To make this possible, Kiwigrid offers them cutting edge IoT technology and energy services that help increase energy efficiency, optimize the use of renewable energies, pave the way for electric vehicles, and stabilize grids. Kiwigrid GmbH was founded in 2011 and now employs over 160 staff from various parts of the world. Since then, the company has built up a wealth of expertise in energy as it relates to the Internet of Things and intelligent energy management. Kiwigrid is one of the world’s leading technology companies in these areas and was once again included on the Global Cleantech 100 list in February 2018.
Press contact: Daniel Kühne, Head of Marketing, T +49 351 50 195 0121, daniel.kuehnekiwigrid.com
About Broadband Networks
Broadband Networks AG (BN) is a leading and independent Swiss company specializing in the planning, implementation, and operation of access network infrastructures in telecommunications and energy management solutions.
As a solutions provider and system integrator, BN specializes in energy companies, cable network companies, and municipal utilities, providing customers with in-depth expertise and advanced, high-performance technologies that deliver high-quality, cutting-edge, and sustainable solutions.
More information can be found at www.broadbandnetworks.ch
Press contact:
Andreas Caluori, Branding & Marketing, T +41 79 382 68 89, andreas.caluori@broadbandnetworks.ch
Broadband Networks AG, In der Luberzen 19, 8902 Urdorf, Schweiz