Page 78 - Forbes - Asia (July - August 2018)

2 / Germany I Promotion www.gmipost.com

From Small-Scale PV to Utility 2.0

ook at the numbers: In 2017, new so-
lar power projects around the world
Lreached a total of 98 gigawatts. That was
more than the net addition from coal, gas and
nuclear plants combined. Many of these new
projects were small-scale photovoltaic (PV)
installations, which are increasing because
of lower prices, cheaper equipment, govern-
ment subsidies and power purchase agree-
ments (PPAs). Take Germany for example. A
mature market, the average cost-per-watt has
fallen below $1.68. With all of these incentives,
shouldn’t every roof have a PV system by now?
ENVIRIA CEO and Co-founder Melchior
Schulze Brock points out that current arrange-
ments are lawed: “They target owners of sur-

faces suitable for PV projects, such as real es-
tate funds, agricultural or manufacturing com-
panies. But the return on investment is low. On streamline the business, the two entrepreneurs

top of that, the complexity involved—buying keep thinking ahead. The irm's rapid expan-
the technology, outsourcing installment and sion of small scale solar systems, most of which
operating the system—simply doesn’t justify have the capacity to store energy, has a far-
such a non-core investment.” reaching goal.
On the other hand, there are private and Coupling technology with i nancial exper-
institutional investors who are looking for safe ENVIRIA founders Ronny Thorenz (left) and tise, Schulze Brock and Thorenz aim to trans-
ways to invest their money but do not own a Melchior Schulze Brock (right). ENVIRIA’s form ENVIRIA into a utility in its own right. Their
space or structure to place a PV system. Müllheim 1 Project in southern Germany. vision is to facilitate direct green energy trade
“Those types of investors appreciate low attracting investments from banks and private among its customers. They call it “Utility 2.0,” a
yields because cash l ows are often guaran- investors. Last year, they incorporated their decentralized system that combines produc-
teed by the government or a large rated utili- preferred engineering, procurement and con- tion and storage where customer-to-customer
ty. You have diferent entities with complimen- struction subcontractor and formed ENVIRIA, transactions are enabled through blockchain

tary wishes and objectives, and that’s a lot of based in downtown Frankfurt, Germany. technology.
untapped potential,” explained Partner Ronny With an established residential portfolio Within the system, daily electricity surplus
Thorenz. in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, ENVIRIA produced can be saved for individual future
Using their investment banking expertise, propelled itself to become an industry power- use or directly sold to other ENVIRIA custom-
Schulze Brock and Thorenz set up ENVIRIA to house, with more than 3,000 completed roof- ers. This will create a more ei cient electric-
bridge that gap. Their revolutionary concept top projects that are generating a total of more ity marketplace as it provides an individualized
rests on a specialized solar investment man- than 25 megawatts since the incorporation solution that allows l exibility based on con-
ager, who leases a space from the property with its subcontractor last year. sumption needs.
owner for a fee—typically over a 20-year pe- As Germany prepares to shift away from a Later this year, Schulze Brock and Thorenz
riod—and installs the technology at their own subsidized feed-in tarif , Schulze Brock and are releasing a highly anticipated white paper,
cost, supplies the owner with electricity, while Thorenz are making sure to stay ahead of the which will illustrate the uses of a utility-based
feeding excess power into the grid and mak- game and are expanding abroad to countries cryptocurrency being conceptualized and
ing a return. where solar deployment is booming. Having enumerate its advantages. The cryptocurrency
Under the arrangement, the property own- opened its new oice in Hong Kong last year, should gain strength with the launch of each

er reaps the beneits without the hassle. All li- ENVIRIA is setting its sights on other countries, new project and simultaneously rebate cus-

ability lies with the operator, who takes care of such as the U.S., Australia and the Philippines. tomers based on production. Funding will go
the entire process, installs state-of-the-art PV In Australia, which has seen a three-fold in- to develop more projects around the world.
and energy storage systems, delivers ancillary crease in renewable energy investment and The ultimate aim is to ofer competitive energy

services, such as operation and management a surge in PV projects in recent years, the i rm pricing, especially in disadvantaged commu-
solutions, and provides comprehensive insur- is in talks with large corporations and city nities where investment is scarce but whose
ance for all systems. councils attracted by its investment-driven needs are far more signii cant.
In 2014, Schulze Brock and Thorenz founded model, and is ofering them a pipeline of 10 With its inquisitive mindset, sweeping ex-

ENVIRIA’s predecessor, MeinSolarKonzept. With megawatts worth of projects ready for a quick pansion and visionary digital currency, ENVIRIA
its innovative approach, the company was ad- rollout. is clearly one company to watch.
ept at securing commercial rooftop space and Constantly looking for innovative ways to www.enviria.energy