What Powernaut does

Powernaut BV is a Ghent, Belgium-based software company founded in 2024 by Florentijn Degroote (CEO) and Serge Morel (CTO) that operates an Open Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform serving European energy retailers and independent power producers (IPPs). The platform is a vendor-agnostic middleware layer that connects, aggregates, and orchestrates distributed energy resources — including solar PV, home batteries, C&I batteries, EV chargers, and HVAC systems — through cloud APIs, hardware gateways (Webdyn, SMappee), and local EMS integrations. It integrates with 14+ OEM brands (Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, VW, Enphase, SolarEdge, SMA, Sungrow, Huawei, Loxone, and others) and connects into trading desks for Day-Ahead, Intraday, imbalance, congestion, and ancillary service markets.

The product is organised into three modules — Connectivity & Aggregation, Forecasting & Optimisation, and Trading & Settlement — supported by an integrated billing and CRM layer. Its forecasting engine combines adaptive ML models trained on continuous real-time data pipelines with weather and asset metadata, delivering minute-level flexibility forecasts; Powernaut has disclosed ~12 kWh average deviation per quarter-hour on a 1.35 MWp solar pool in a live Romande Energie deployment. The platform also offers an Asset Pools feature for grouping assets by type, size, or contract.

Powernaut operates a B2B SaaS model with a consultative enterprise sales motion targeting energy retailers and IPPs, supplemented by a transaction/performance-based component through flexibility market monetisation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales run through booked introductory demos and case-study-led credibility. Named customers include Luminus (Belgium's second-largest energy supplier), Romande Energie (Switzerland), Bolt, Trevion, and DSG, with a first wave of five residential installer partners (ScoptVision, Innovoltus, MyGrid, BePowered, Qbus) covering 20 MW of installed capacity and a total managed footprint of approximately 200 MW. The company raised a €2.4M pre-seed round in December 2024 from Revent (lead), Seedcamp, Pitchdrive, and Syndicate One.

Name

Powernaut

Legal name

Powernaut BV

Website

https://powernaut.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Powernaut provides an open Virtual Power Plant platform that connects, aggregates, and optimises distributed energy resources (solar, batteries, EVs, HVAC) for European energy retailers and independent power producers, with integrated forecasting, trading, and billing across Day-Ahead, Intraday, imbalance, and ancillary markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ghent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscription (VPP): Powernaut operates as a B2B SaaS company providing energy retailers and power producers access to its Virtual Power Plant platform on a subscription basis. The platform is described as a 'Flexibility Workspace' enabling portfolio control, market trading, and customer management. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales are made through booked introductory demos with a consultative enterprise sales approach.
2. Transaction / Performance-Based (Flexibility Markets): The platform monetises distributed energy assets across multiple market types — Day-Ahead, Intraday, imbalance, congestion, and ancillary services. Revenue is earned by energy retailers and IPPs by selling flexibility from aggregated assets. Powernaut takes a share of the value created through its trading and optimisation engine, functioning as a platform that enables transaction fee or outcome-based revenue sharing with customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Powernaut sells an Open Virtual Power Plant (VPP) software platform that connects, aggregates and orchestrates distributed energy resources (solar PV, home and C&I batteries, EV chargers, HVAC) into a single controllable portfolio for energy retailers and independent power producers. The platform combines connectivity, adaptive forecasting, optimisation and trading/settlement modules, enabling customers to trade flexibility across Day-Ahead, intraday, imbalance, congestion and ancillary markets and to launch new flexibility-based energy products.

Product overview

Powernaut is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform provider offering a unified platform that enables energy retailers and power producers to control their energy portfolio, venture into new energy markets, and explore untapped revenue streams. The platform consists of three core integrated modules: (1) Connectivity & Aggregation for connecting and pooling distributed energy resources (DERs) including solar, home batteries, C&I batteries, EVs, and HVAC through cloud connections, hardware gateways, or local EMS integration; (2) Forecasting & Optimisation for adaptive forecasting combined with high-quality data and optimization that turns predictions into automated portfolio-balancing actions; and (3) Trading & Settlement for integrating with trading desks to trade across energy markets (Day-Ahead, Intraday, imbalance, ancillary services) with integrated billing and CRM. The platform also offers a Cloud EMS add-on for enhanced control through OEM partnerships. An Asset Pools feature enables organizing assets by type, size, or contract to maximize profit potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Platform Central SaaS platform that connects, aggregates, forecasts, optimises and trades flexibility from distributed energy resources (solar PV, home and C&I batteries, EV chargers, HVAC). Sold as an enterprise subscription to energy retailers and independent power producers across Europe. The platform combines a Connectivity & Aggregation module, a Forecasting & Optimisation module and a Trading & Settlement module into a single workspace, with support for cloud, hardware-gateway and local-EMS asset integration and connections to more than ten EMS systems and major equipment OEMs.
• Residential Energy Flex Program Residential flexibility program that connects household DERs (solar, home batteries, EV chargers, smart-home controllers) through Powernaut's VPP platform so that consumers can be rewarded for grid-supporting flexibility. Delivered in collaboration with a leading Belgian energy supplier and Powernaut's residential installer partners (ScoptVision, Innovoltus, MyGrid, BePowered, Qbus) covering 20 MW of installed capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 5× more value than a standard PPA for IPPs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BoltcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Energy and EV charging company partnering with Powernaut and Trevion to launch Belgium's first energy contracts that pay consumers for grid support (July 2025 press release). Bolt is also a customer logo on Powernaut's homepage, indicating a broader commercial relationship in EV charging flexibility.
• TrevioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Energy company partnering with Powernaut and Bolt to launch Belgium's first consumer energy contracts that reward grid support (July 2025 joint press release). Trevion is also a customer logo on Powernaut's homepage.
• ScoptVisioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024Smart home energy installer partner in Powernaut's first wave of five residential partners (announced June 2024). Combined with the other four partners, they represent 20 MW of installed capacity (~4,000 home batteries or 8 wind turbines). Each partner underwent a meticulous selection process and detailed technical stress-testing.
• InnovoltuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024Smart home energy installer partner in Powernaut's first wave of five residential partners (announced June 2024). Combined installed capacity of 20 MW across all five partners, equivalent to approximately 4,000 home batteries or the power output of eight wind turbines.
• MyGridcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024Smart home energy installer partner in Powernaut's first wave of five residential partners (announced June 2024). All five partners were selected through a rigorous vetting process and technical stress-testing, and are distinguished by exceptional customer-first service and quality smart home controllers.
• BePoweredcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024Smart home energy installer partner in Powernaut's first wave of five residential partners (announced June 2024). These partners collectively represent 20 MW of installed capacity and form the core of Powernaut's residential flexibility go-to-market.
• QbuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2024Smart home energy installer partner in Powernaut's first wave of five residential partners (announced June 2024). Qbus is a smart home controller provider distinguished by its quality of smart home control solutions. Partner selection was based on technical excellence and customer-first service.
• TeslacoreTechnology or IntegrationElectric vehicle manufacturer integrated with the Powernaut VPP platform. Tesla vehicles and Tesla Wall Connector / charging infrastructure can connect to Powernaut's flexibility workspace, enabling EV charging optimisation and vehicle-to-grid flexibility capabilities.
• Mercedes-BenzcoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive manufacturer integrated with the Powernaut VPP platform. Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles can connect to Powernaut's flexibility platform for intelligent EV charging scheduling and grid support.
• VolvocoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive manufacturer integrated with the Powernaut VPP platform. Volvo EVs and charging infrastructure can participate in the flexibility aggregation ecosystem managed through Powernaut.
• Volkswagen (VW)coreTechnology or IntegrationVolkswagen integrated with the Powernaut VPP platform as part of the EV and charger integration ecosystem. VW EVs and charging solutions connect to Powernaut for flexibility management.
• EnphasecoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading solar microinverter manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's platform. Enphase microinverters and Envoy gateway devices connect to the VPP for solar generation monitoring, forecasting, and flexibility steering.
• SolarEdgecoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter and battery storage manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's VPP platform. SolarEdge solar panels and battery systems connect to the platform for aggregation and flexibility management.
• SMAcoreTechnology or IntegrationLarge-scale solar inverter manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's VPP platform. SMA inverters and energy management systems connect to the platform enabling solar flexibility aggregation.
• LoxonecoreTechnology or IntegrationSmart home automation system provider integrated with Powernaut's platform. Loxone's home automation controllers enable connection of residential smart devices to the VPP for flexibility management.
• SungrowcoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter and energy storage manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's platform. Sungrow solar inverters and battery storage systems connect to the VPP for portfolio aggregation and flexibility.
• HuaweicoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's VPP platform. Huawei's energy products and smart home / IoT ecosystem connects to Powernaut for flexibility aggregation.
• GoodWecoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter and battery storage manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's platform. GoodWe inverters and storage systems enable solar and battery flexibility for the VPP.
• GrowattcoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's VPP. Growatt inverters connect to the platform enabling solar flexibility aggregation for residential and commercial installations.
• FroniuscoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter and battery manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's platform. Fronius inverters and energy storage products connect to the VPP for solar flexibility management.
• Solis ( Ginlong Technologies)coreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's VPP platform. Solis/Ginlong inverters enable solar panel connectivity to the flexibility aggregation ecosystem.
• SolaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar inverter and battery storage manufacturer integrated with Powernaut's platform. Solax products connect to the VPP enabling residential and commercial flexibility from solar and battery assets.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EnergyHub: EnergyHub is a leading US-based DERMS and VPP platform that aggregates residential and commercial DERs (thermostats, batteries, EVs, solar) for utilities. It is a direct peer: same middleware/VPP SaaS architecture, same utility/IPP target customers, same flexibility-market monetization model. Powernaut competes in Europe where EnergyHub is expanding; both pursue openness across OEM ecosystems.
• gridX: gridX is a German energy IoT and VPP/EMS platform connecting solar, batteries, EVs, and heat pumps for European utilities, retailers, and OEMs. Direct peer with comparable openness (multi-OEM, multi-asset), similar SaaS-plus-marketplace economics, and the same European utility/IPP buyer persona that Powernaut sells to.
• Enode: Enode is a Norway-based API and VPP platform focused on connecting and orchestrating distributed energy devices (EVs, batteries, heat pumps, solar) for utilities and energy companies across Europe. Direct peer — comparable OEM-agnostic connectivity layer, similar SaaS/API monetization, similar European retailer target segment, with comparable go-to-market via partnerships.
• Virtual Peaker: Virtual Peaker is a US cloud-based DERMS platform that aggregates residential and commercial DERs for utilities, with forecasting, dispatch, and settlement workflows. Direct peer with nearly identical functional scope (connectivity, forecasting, optimization, trading) and similar SaaS-plus-transaction economics, though primarily North American focus.
• Lichtblick: Lichtblick is a German retail energy supplier and VPP operator aggregating household combined-heat-and-power units, batteries, and heat pumps via its 'ZuhauseKraftwerk' program. Direct peer in the European VPP-plus-retail-energy-bundle space — comparable flexibility aggregation, comparable residential consumer products, and an overlapping set of European IPP/retailer customers that Powernaut targets.
• tiko Energy: tiko (a Swiss company owned by Landis+Gyr) operates a large European VPP aggregating residential batteries, EVs, and heating devices across multiple European markets. Direct peer with the same residential DER aggregation model, similar balancing-market monetization, and operating in adjacent Swiss/European geographies that overlap Powernaut's footprint.

Broad incumbents

• AutoGrid (Schneider Electric): AutoGrid, acquired by Schneider Electric, is a VPP and DERMS platform serving utilities and IPPs globally. It is a broad incumbent peer — overlapping capabilities in forecasting, optimization, and trading, but embedded in Schneider's much larger energy management portfolio rather than focused on the open mid-market European retailer segment Powernaut targets.
• Tesla Energy (Autobidder / Virtual Power Plant): Tesla operates Autobidder, a VPP platform trading Tesla Powerwalls, Megapacks, and solar assets across multiple wholesale markets. It is a broad incumbent peer: overlapping VPP/trading capabilities and shared EV+storage ecosystem, but tied to Tesla's own hardware versus Powernaut's OEM-agnostic positioning, giving Powernaut an openness wedge with European retailers.

Regional players

• Tibber: Tibber is a Norwegian digital energy retailer with VPP/aggregation capabilities across the Nordics, Germany, and the Netherlands. Comparable in its combination of retail energy supply and DER flexibility services, and a potential partner or competitor for Powernaut in Benelux/Nordic expansion given overlapping customer types and asset classes.

Emerging players

• Eliq: Eliq is a Swedish energy data and analytics platform helping utilities and energy companies leverage consumption data for products and services. Emerging player with partial overlap: not a VPP orchestrator like Powernaut, but operating in the same European retail-energy-services stack with comparable buyer personas (European utilities and retailers).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Powernaut