German startup Enerkii has launched an energy-as-a-service model that aims to cut power bills in half for industrial customers — and decarbonise them in the process.
The model uses an in-house operating system (OS) to calculate the optimal solar energy configuration for any company in around 15 minutes. Then it provides the hardware stack to set it up — solar panels, battery storage, EV charging, and, soon, heat pumps.
Henrik Abel, co-founder of Enerkii, said the approach shifts from simply installing or leasing solar panels to offering a turnkey (or ener-key) energy management system.
“The era of ‘solar-only’ energy solutions is over,” Abel told TNW. “We’re entering a new age where the challenge isn’t just about clean power generation, but about intelligent on-site distribution and optimised energy management.”
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Enerkii’s approach aims to reduce the energy costs and CO₂ emissions of industrial sites. In Germany, around 80% of industrial plants still rely on dirty energy, according to research from Deutsche Bank. Enerkii hopes to lower that figure by taking on the complex task of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy systems.
The startup tackles this challenge in a novel way. While many established solar companies sell or lease solar panels to homeowners, Enerkii operates the entire power system itself, acting as a mini on-site energy utility. Customers sign performance-based contracts, paying only for the electricity they use or the savings achieved, so there’s no up-front investment required.
“What’s been missing in this space is an operator who can provide expertise, financing and operation from a single source,” Abel said. “We are filling that gap with Enerkii. We only earn when the customer saves. This makes decarbonisation a no-brainer and an immediate competitive advantage.”
Enerkii, which was founded last year, says it’s signed 18 contracts with (unnamed) German industrial leaders, representing a total capacity of 87 megawatts. The company today announced it has secured fresh funding in a round led by World Fund. The undisclosed sum will fuel the rollout of Enerkii’s energy-as-a-service model across Europe.
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