A company that specialises in technology to manage electricity demand and maintain power grid stability has set out an ambitious £1bn investment plan.
Voltalis, headquartered in France, aims to develop up to 5GWp of demand response capacity across residential and commercial buildings in the UK energy market by 2030. Achieving this ambition would represent an investment plan of up to £1bn, it says.
‘Demand response’, also known as ‘intelligent demand-side management’, is said to play a vital role in the energy transition. By temporarily reducing electricity consumption in buildings and industrial sites, it helps balance supply and demand, ensuring power grid stability.
Sarah Jones MP, minister for industry, said: “The investment plans announced today by Voltalis will play an important role in our Plan for Change and mission for clean power by 2030, which is set to unleash billions worth of investment across the country.
“This technology will give homes and businesses across the UK the option to save money on bills by improving their energy efficiency. Smart, innovative use of electricity can also help manage demand across the system, reducing the need for new grid infrastructure.”
Voltalis says its technology not only contributes to grid resilience but also provides “significant savings” for consumers.
Since 2006, the company has invested hundreds of millions in its technology development, and the roll-out of demand response capacities with the support of several lenders and project finance schemes.
More than 1.5m have already been connected to its platform in eight countries across Europe, the company says. It has ambitions to go further, building 10GWp of capacity in Europe by 2030, which would represent up to £2bn of global investment, with the UK anticipated to benefit from a large part of this plan.
Dr Randall Bowen, UK managing director at Voltalis, said “This new ambition marks a major step for not only Voltalis, but also for the UK in its energy transition. The goals we have for the UK market are clear. We want to improve energy usage, reduce costs for consumers, and support its drive towards decarbonisation. Our partnerships illustrate the efficacy of Voltalis’ technology and demonstrates our commitment to reshaping the UK’s energy industry.”
Mathieu Bineau, chief executive of Voltalis, said: “As the European leader in demand response technology, Voltalis has helped to transform energy use across Europe, and we are now placing the UK at the heart of our ambitious plans for continued growth and investment. Our technology is cutting edge but simple to adopt, and this significant ambition will help us rapidly roll out clean energy solutions to over a million UK homes and businesses, delivering savings for consumers, a boost to energy security and an acceleration of the energy transition.”
Julia Prescot, co-founder of Meridiam, the majority shareholder of Voltalis, added: “There is no time to lose in the race to Net Zero so what is needed above all is greater pace, innovation and investment.
“Voltalis’ plans will deliver on all three, helping to install cutting-edge technology in UK homes and businesses, quickly and efficiently. These plans will offer a significant boost to the energy transition and Meridiam are proud to play a continued role in driving clean, green growth across the UK.”
Image credit: Lisa-S/Shutterstock
Read next: ChatGPT reckons DeepSeek rival is a “wake up call” for West
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
