Written by: Jasper Spanjaart – In collaboration with MT/Sprout
In recent years, a number of startups have emerged in the energy sector, but what are the odds that two companies with similar values and complementary business models would move into the same building? Rick Peters (Enerzien) and Marc Vergroesen (Energy Pool) discuss their chance meeting and ambitious growth plans.
With a wide range of technical, legal, and economic aspects, the energy market is quite complex. Within this complex landscape,EnerzienandEnergy Poolhave 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 design systems that are smarter and more integrated—not only to solve grid congestion, but also to deliver the most sustainable kilowatt-hour at the lowest price.”
Complementary strengths in a complex market
Energy Pool, on the other hand, focuses on the implementation and management of these types of systems. The company has been in operation 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 leveraging energy flexibility to balance power systems,” says Marc Vergroesen, managing director for the Netherlands at Energy Pool.
“We are a balancing and congestion service provider—or ‘flextrader.’ We help companies with flexible capacity get the maximum return on their installations. We are actively contributing to reducing CO₂ emissions in the industry and to the transition from fossil fuels to electricity.”
“Keeping Each Other on Our Toes”
On paper, they are two different companies operating in the same industry, but above all: complementary. “We saw good synergy between our companies,” says Peters. “But as independent experts, we have a duty to provide the right technical, financial, legal, and contractual support. We act as architects, working together to provide a roadmap for action. Once a smart energy system is set up, we typically step out of the process, and then it’s up to a party like Energy Pool to properly configure and optimize the integrated system.”
So it’s not a given that Energy Pool will be brought in when a project moves into the implementation phase, Vergroesen notes. “We can certainly demonstrate at an early stage that we’re capable of taking the next step as well, but that still comes across as a bit like ‘we’re the best’—self-promotion. There’s nothing better than having an independent consultant make that case for us, who then keeps us on our toes. We believe we’re the best, but it’s up to others to judge that.”
Direct communication and quick solutions
As it happened, both companies moved to B. Amsterdam—a hub for startups and scaleups—within a short time. “That was pure coincidence,” says Vergroesen. “It means that when you have an issue that would normally require you to get in the car, you can now just walk downstairs with two cups of coffee to quickly bounce ideas off each other. That’s a really nice way to collaborate.”
This collaboration also yields an immediate benefit. “We see that the complexity of issues poses a major challenge, especially for startups, because their conversion time is often long. It’s so important to have experts with knowledge of the problem at the table early in the process. That way, we can clearly map out the entire situation and identify all its facets.”
"Small consumers don't yet see the added value"
Although Enerzien and Energy Pool are already seeing success with various forward-thinking customers, reaching the broader market poses a major challenge. “We’re currently working with top-tier clients who value advice and understand that it pays off,” says Peters. “A segment of the market—especially smaller consumers—doesn’t yet see the value we offer because they aren’t looking that far ahead and underestimate the complexity. It’s up to us to develop a scalable approach to reach and convince these companies as well, so that we can support them too.”
“Energy flexibility is the key”
“We both view energy flexibility as the key to an affordable energy transition,” says Vergroesen. “The better electricity demand is aligned with generation in the future, the lower the necessary investments in additional infrastructure can be. The energy systems that Enerzien develops and Energy Pool manages are, by definition, the energy systems of the future, offering a high degree of flexibility.”
Talent Management as the Number One Priority
Both companies have no shortage of the will and ambition to scale up further. But while much has been written about a shortage of electricians, Vergroesen is also experiencing recruitment challenges with Energy Pool. “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’s very important to have a keen eye for development and personal growth,” says Peters. “Employees are talented and growing rapidly; developing and retaining this talent is the number one priority.”
Location Plays a Role in Recruitment
The company’s location, B. Amsterdam, plays a major role in attracting young talent, Peters says. “In this young market, we want to attract a diverse team of millennials and Gen Z. The atmosphere and startup environment align perfectly with our vision and culture. We’ve found that we can attract young talent fairly easily, but the biggest challenge is effectively managing the responsibilities for these high-caliber projects and creating a culture where it’s okay to make mistakes and grow quickly.”
In this way, Peters and Vergroesen are essentially acknowledging that they aren’t competing in the same labor market. “They’re actually two labor markets that partially overlap,” Vergroesen notes. “At the end of this month, we’re organizing a YEPPEN networking event forYoung Energy Professionals together with another company. It’s a great example of how we found each other. We want to bring the market together through knowledge sharing.”
