The smarter E Podcast

• #TSEP 242 Start-Ups as Drivers of Innovation and Change to Expand and Optimise the Grid

  Today, we dive into one of the most exciting areas of the energy transition: the expansion and optimisation of our power grids and the role that startups play in this. There's no question that the big players in the energy industry are important. But more and more often, it's the young, courageous companies that are driving change in the system with fresh ideas, new technologies, and unusual business models. However they need tackle quite a few hurdles on their way. How do start-ups manage to assert themselves in a highly regulated and technically demanding industry? How do they work with grid operators, municipal utilities, or energy suppliers, and where do they encounter resistance? We talk about this with Johan Söderbom, Thematic Leader for Smart Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy. About Johan Söderbom Between 1995 and 2014, Johan worked at the northern European Utility Vattenfall AB in various positions in R&D. From 2014 to 2019, Johan was heading a section at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) responsible for electrical and optical measurement technology, and he now holds the position of thematic leader for Smart Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy. About INNOENERGY InnoEnergy is industrialising clean tech innovation to enable and grow a global net-zero economy. Active in Europe and the US, the company invests in early-stage start-ups and in the current and future workforce, building resilient clean-tech value chains that drive sustainable economic growth. Through its ecosystem – with 1,400 partners including 39 shareholders spanning industry, finance, public policy, and academia – the company scales the energy transition at speed. Since 2010, InnoEnergy has supported 540+ companies, helping 4 of them grow into industrial unicorns. These companies have raised more than €34 billion to date, created over 47,000 jobs, and are on track to generate €110 billion in revenue and reduce 2.3 gigatons of CO2e by 2030. Currently, InnoEnergy is invested in 160+ start-ups and scale-ups. In support of the EU’s climate and industrial goals, InnoEnergy leads industrial alliances in batteries and solar, and accelerates the uptake of green hydrogen. Pinpointing market gaps, InnoEnergy launches new industrial champions in sectors including batteries, steel, and fertilisers. InnoEnergy was established in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as one of its first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC). In 2025, the EIT and InnoEnergy entered into a new partnership, continuing their collaboration on specific projects.

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• #TSEP 241 Mehrfamilienhaus – Mehr Energiewende! Wie Hausgemeinschaften zu einer erneuerbaren Energieversorgung 24/7 beitragen können

  In Deutschland leben über 60 Prozent der Bevölkerung in Mehrfamilienhäusern, so viele wie in kaum einem anderen EU-Land. Rund 3,3 Millionen Mehrfamilienhäuser gibt es hierzulande. Gleichzeitig entfällt rund ein Viertel des gesamten Endenergieverbrauchs in Deutschland auf private Haushalte, 2022 waren es etwa 630 TWh. Das Potenzial von Mehrfamilienhäusern und ihren Bewohnern, einen entscheidenden Beitrag zum Gelingen der Energiewende zu leisten, ist groß. Wie lässt sich dieses Potenzial nutzen? Darüber sprechen wir mit Axel Hoffmann, Marktmanager bei der Haager Vertriebsgesellschaft. Über Axel Hoffmann Axel Hoffmann ist seit 2018 Marktmanager bei der Hager Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG in Blieskastel. Nach dem Wirtschaftsingenieurstudium an der HTW Saar schloss er 2022 den Masterstudiengang Energiemanagement an der Universität Koblenz-Landau ab. Bei Hager ist er Ansprechpartner für Netzbetreiber und Experte für Mieterstrom, Wandleranlagen und die Stromversorgung im Außenbereich. Zudem ist er aktiv an Forschungsprojekten zur Umsetzung von § 14a sowie an Smart-Grid-Anwendungen beteiligt. Über Hager Als inhabergeführtes Familienunternehmen begleitet Hager Projekte vom Schalterkonzept über Energiemanagement- und Raumanschlusssysteme sowie Smart-Home-Lösungen bis hin zur Türkommunikation. Die Unternehmensgeschichte von Hager begann vor 70 Jahren mit innovativen Schaltschränken, die heute immer mehr zu Herz und Hirn von Gebäuden avancieren. Hager denkt Energieverbrauch und -produktion ganzheitlich und bietet sämtliche Komponenten, die es dafür braucht.

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• #TSEP 240 Energy Transition in Central Asia – Strategies, Structures, Opportunities

  Today, we're examining a region that's rarely in the spotlight in the international energy debate, yet has enormous potential: Central Asia. Specifically five countries characterised by a long tradition of fossil fuels, but also by an abundance of sun, wind, and water: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Are these countries already tapping into their potential for a sustainable energy future? We’ll get up to speed in regards to their political strategies and investment programs driving the transformation. What are the biggest hurdles in terms of regulation, financing, and infrastructure? How important are international partnerships in making this region a key player in the global energy transition? We talk about this with Elena Metzger. About Elena Metzger Elena Metzger leads the German Energy Dialogues with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). She has been the driving force to shape the Energy Dialogues into a key platform for political and technical exchange on energy efficiency, industrial decarbonization, renewable energies, and green hydrogen. She is also team leader for Central Asia, Türkiye, and the South Caucasus in the International Cooperation Department at the German Energy Agency (dena). About the bilateral Energy Partnership Central Asia With regard to cooperating in the field of energy policy, achieving international climate goals and making climate neutrality a reality by 2045, the German Government’s bilateral Energy Partnerships (EPs) have become one of its most important international energy and climate policy instruments. The growing network strengthens political dialogue on climate protection and energy system transformation between Germany and partner countries worldwide. The declared aim of this cooperation is to shape a successful global energy transition that combines security of supply, decarbonisation of industry and foreign trade promotion with effective climate protection. Today's episode is supported by Weidmüller, a specialist in electrification, automation, digitalisation, electrical connectivity and renewable energies. The family-owned company celebrates its 175th anniversary this year and is a true solar pioneer, boasting over 20 years of experience in PV. With more than 80 locations worldwide, Weidmüller markets combiner boxes, communication infrastructure and installation accessories for utility-scale and rooftop systems.

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• #TSEP 239 Neue Speicher und ihre Wirkungsgrade. Was kann die Multi-Level-Technologie?

  Betreiber von Solaranlagen kommen künftig kaum an PV-Heimspeichern vorbei. Gründe sind das Auslaufen der EEG-Förderung, das neue Solarspitzengesetz und variable Stromtarife. Damit sich PV-Anlagen weiterhin rechnen, muss der Solarstrom zwischengespeichert werden. Dabei werden zumeist traditionell DC-Speicher und Wechselrichter verbaut. SAX Power bietet dazu eine Alternative: Einen AC-Stromspeicher, der direkt 230 Volt Wechselstrom liefert, ohne den sonst üblichen Hybridwechselrichter. Über diese Innovation unterhalten wir uns mit Marc Gretzinger, leitender Elektronikentwickler bei SAX Power. Über Marc Gretzinger Marc Gretzinger hat sich schon während seines Elektrotechnikstudiums intensiv mit der Auslegung und dem Aufbau von PV-Anlagen beschäftigt und ist mittlerweile als leitender Elektronikentwickler bei SAX-Power tätig. Über Sax Power Die Anfänge des Unternehmens liegen in Ulm. Als langjähriger Partner der Deutschen Bahn hat die Firma SAX vor über 25 Jahren als einziger Lieferant die Entwicklung und Produktion der Regeleinrichtungen für Umrichterwerke im deutschen Bahnstromnetz übernommen. Das Unternehmen hat die Erfahrung aus den Bahnstromumrichtern genutzt, um die SAX-Technologie für Lithium-Ionen-Batteriespeicher entwickelt. SAX Power hat den weltweit ersten Heimspeicher erschaffen, der direkt 230 Volt Wechselstrom liefert. Seine intelligente Multi-Level-Technologie wandelt die Gleichspannung der Lithium-Eisenphosphat-Batteriezellen im Speicher direkt in Wechselspannung um. So entfällt die aufwendige Installation eines Hybrid-Wechselrichters, der bei allen bisherigen Heimspeichern zwischen Batterie und Hausstromnetz notwendig ist.

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• #TSEP 238 Smart Grids, Smarter AI: The GenAI Revolution

  The European energy system is undergoing profound change, driven by the urgent need to combat climate change and secure a sustainable energy future. Underneath initiatives such as the European Green Deal this transition, opens up enormous opportunities but also brings with it considerable complexities. One Key to Smart grids is central to effectively managing this change, and smart grids - modernised electricity infrastructures that integrate digital technologies. So what is the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) in the context of European smart grids? What can AI achieve? How AI also improve collaboration with humans in this area? And where are the dangers? We talk about this with Luís Vale Cunha. About Luís Vale Cunha He chairs the European Technology & Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) for Smart Networks for Energy Transition (SNET). Additionally, he is the Head of DSO Portugal and heads European Affairs. He is also a Member of the Board representing DSOs at the European level. In addition, he is the author of the interesting book "The Neo-Synthesis Age: Redefining Human Potential Through AI Collaboration".

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