Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 11:32 .
Jose Almeida, CEO of Greenvault Comunidades, discusses the company's focus on decentralized renewable energy solutions within the larger Greenvault Group. The subsidiary was created to address Europe's energy transition challenges and capitalize on opportunities in Portugal by promoting solar PV installations for local communities. Traditional self-consumption models limit benefits to those physically present at production sites; however, Greenvault's model allows shared consumption among neighbors connected through the same substation. This approach enhances grid resilience and provides access to cheaper solar energy for families living in apartments who cannot install panels themselves. Greenvault Comunidades facilitates this sharing via a platform that leverages existing technologies like smart meters prevalent across Portugal. Their business model monetizes surplus power as a virtual battery while enabling real-time aggregated usage between producers (e.g., factories) and consumers (neighbors). Since its inception post-2022 legislation changes in Portugal, they have established 70 operational communities with around 30 megawatts installed capacity. Examples include community projects involving kindergartens providing free weekend power or industrial collaborations reducing costs compared to supplier rates—demonstrating social inclusion alongside environmental protection goals achieved through distributed-level photovoltaic-sharing initiatives globally ahead of European directives mandating such availability by July 2026.
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José Queirós de Almeida
CEO
Greenvolt Communities
Spain
While variable renewable electricity generation is increasing, its cost-effective integration in the energy system remains a challenge. The electrification of consumption, from households to industries, has stagnated at around 23% across Europe. The electrification of demand could place unnecessary strain on the system if it is not made more flexible. To support an increasingly intermittent energy system, peaks in electricity consumption must be avoided and electrified consumers rewarded for shifting demand to another time of the day. The session will present solid business models to support the flexible consumption of renewable electricity in homes, buildings and industries.
Further Talks of this session:
Speaker
Michael Villa
Executive Director
smartEn
Belgium
Speaker
Janosch Balke
Product Manager Energy Service
Viessmann Climate Solutions
Germany
Speaker
Dr. Michael Schreiber
Head of Flex
Octopus Energy
United Kingdom
Speaker
Tarvo Õng
CEO
Fusebox Energy
Estonia
Speaker
Julien Cossé
Chief Strategy Officer
Nord Pool / Euronext Group
Norway