Science blog: INVADE inspired by Amazon and Airbnb

The work package WP9: Business models and market structures, led by INVADE project partner Lyse has put forward a market structure for platform-based business models inspired by disruptive companies like Amazon and Airbnb.

With the right conditions, it is thought that such a player could take a significant position in the energy sector. Therefore, the same way Amazon relies on local ecosystems of delivery services, and third-party property management agencies provide the local presence needed for Airbnb to thrive, a platform providing energy services on a global scale could be built on top of local energy ecosystems.

Exploitation efforts fronted by Smart Innovation Norway aim to validate this strategy by establishing these local ecosystems on top of which the integrated INVADE platform can provide services such as advanced forecasting (weather conditions, electricity price, etc.), optimization of distributed energy resource (DER) usage, and allow for trading electricity consumption and generation flexibility between local markets.

One such example can be found at the Olsengården Borettslag, a housing association in Oslo which is investing in state-of-the-art equipment like rooftop solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The INVADE team, notably project partner Schneider Electric is assisting the cooperatives to set up their own local energy system to be able to exchange energy services with neighboring housing associations through the integrated INVADE platform.

This effort extends to other local projects like utilizing public infrastructure in the Halden municipality which plans to use its fleet of EVs and smart charging to support the electric grid and reduce the cost of charging infrastructure as part of the Halden Smart City project.

These are examples of many local energy ecosystems which can benefit from computational and trading services from a global player like INVADE, and sufficient development of these local systems is crucial to reach the critical mass needed to a viable global energy platform.