Written by: Jasper Spanjaart - In cooperation with MT/Sprout
Startups have been born in the energy sector in recent years, but what are the odds of two companies with similar values as well as a complementary business model moving into the same premises? Rick Peters (Enerzien) and Marc Vergroesen (Energy Pool) on their chance meeting and ambitious growth plans.
With a wide range of technical, legal and economic aspects, the energy market is quite complicated. Within that complex playing field, Enerzien and Energy Pool have each found their own niche.
'We are the architects of the smart energy system,' says Rick Peters, commercial director of Enerzien. 'We tackle complex grid congestion issues for real estate, energy hubs, industry and energy developers. Our goal is to make systems smarter and integrated, not only to solve grid congestion, but also to achieve the most sustainable kilowatt hours at the lowest price.'
Complementary forces in a complex market
Energy Pool, on the other hand, focuses on the implementation and management of that type of system. The company has been active since 2009, with 7,000 completed projects across 18 countries. In the Netherlands, the company is still in a sort of "startup mode. 'We specialize in identifying and exploiting energy flexibility for balancing power systems,' says Marc Vergroesen, managing director of the Netherlands for Energy Pool.
'We are a balancing - & congestion service provider, or "flextrader. We ensure that companies with flex get maximum efficiency from their installations. We actively participate in reducing carbon emissions in the industry and the transition from fossil to electricity.'
'Keeping each other on their toes'
On paper, two different companies in the same world, but so above all: complementary. 'We saw a good synergy between our companies,' Peters states. 'But as independent experts, we have a duty to provide the right technical, financial, legal and contractual support. We play an architect's role, jointly providing action perspectives. Once a smart energy system is in place, we typically step out of the process, and then it is up to a party like Energy Pool to properly arrange and value the integrated system.'
It is therefore not a given that Energy Pool is called in when a project moves on to the realization phase, Vergroesen observes. "We can show at an early stage that we can also take the next step, but then it's still a bit like 'us from the toilet duck'. There's nothing like having an independent consultant do that story, who then keeps us on our toes. We believe we are the best, but that is for others to judge.
Short lines and quick solutions
Coincidentally, both companies were moving to B. Amsterdam, a hub for startups and scaleups, within the foreseeable future. 'That was pure coincidence,' says Vergroesen. 'It means that for an issue, where you normally have to get in for a car, you now walk down with two cups of coffee to have a quick sparring session. That's a really nice way of working together.
That collaboration also provides an immediate benefit. 'We see that the complexity of issues is a big challenge, especially for startups, because their conversion time is often long. It is so important to have experts with knowledge of the problem at the table early in the process. That way we can map the whole thing clearly and name all the facets.'
'Small consumers do not yet see added value'
Although Enerzien and Energy Pool are already achieving success with several forward-thinking clients, a major challenge lies in reaching the broader market. 'We are now working with Champions League customers who value advice and understand that it pays off,' Peters says. 'Part of the market, especially smaller consumers, does not yet see our added value because they do not yet look that far ahead and underestimate the complexity. It is up to us to come up with a scalable approach to reach and convince these companies as well, so that we can also support them.'
'Energy flexibility is key'
'We both see energy flexibility as the key to an affordable energy transition,' Vergroesen states. 'The better the demand for power is aligned with generation in the future, the lower the necessary investments in additional infrastructure can be. The energy systems that Enerzien is developing and Energy Pool is driving are by definition energy systems of the future with high levels of flexibility.'
Talent management as number one priority
The will and ambition to scale up further abounds at both companies. But while plenty is written about a scarcity of electricians, Vergroesen with Energy Pool is also experiencing recruitment problems. 'The biggest challenge is talent management. How do you find, onboard and retain good people who understand this niche market? Because without those people, the organization can't grow either.'
'Especially in a startup, within a high-performance environment, it is very important to have a good eye for development and personal growth,' Peters says. 'Employees are talented and growing fast; developing and retaining this talent is priority number one.'
Location plays role in recruitment
The company's location, B. Amsterdam, plays a big role in its approach to young talent, Peters says. "In this young market, we want to attract a diverse team of millennials and Gen Z. The look and feel and startup environment fit our vision and culture perfectly. We see that we can attract young talent fairly easily, but the biggest challenge is to manage the responsibilities for these high-value projects well and create a culture where it's okay to make mistakes and develop quickly.
Thus Peters and Vergroesen actually observe that they are not sailing in each other's labor market waters. 'It's actually two labor markets, some of which overlap,' Vergroesen observes. 'At the end of this month, together with another company, we are organizing a YEPPEN reception for Young Energy Professionals. It's a great example of how we found each other. We want to bring the market together through knowledge sharing.'
