First six projects at Montea distribution centers already underway

iwell now also accelerates Belgian energy transition with intelligent battery systems for the entrepreneur who wants to take energy consumption into their own hands

iwell expands its operations into Belgium, opening a third branch in Ghent. The Dutch company had a flying start: iwell is helping six Montea distribution centers in Flanders become net-zero by implementing smart energy control and storage.

iwell unburdens Belgian companies

The recent energy crisis has exposed the volatility of grid prices and the impact on corporate earnings. With the impending closure of three nuclear power plants and the challenges surrounding the integration of renewable energy, it is uncertain whether traditional energy suppliers will be able to continue to provide sufficient power in the future. Companies looking to control their costs and ensure a stable energy supply would do well to invest in their own renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to meet increasingly stringent sustainability standards and eventually become net-zero.

Even companies that have already invested in their own renewable energy face challenges. Power production is dependent on weather conditions, so it is not guaranteed that sufficient energy will always be available for business-critical processes. In addition, in times of negative energy prices, excess production, which is fed back into the grid, can be an additional cost.

These challenges in the Belgian energy market provide unique opportunities for iwell to unburden companies in various sectors such as logistics, industry, agricultural and commercial enterprises. iwell has in-depth knowledge of the specific concerns these sectors face and always strives to create a profitable business model for each customer. With their scalable and modular offering, suitable for both small and large enterprises, iwell offers an integrated package of advanced battery systems (BESS - Battery Energy Storage System) combined with a self-developed energy management system (EMS). Thanks to the combination of BESS & EMS, iwell ensures that investing in their own renewable resources becomes not only possible, but also profitable. Their solution connects all energy sources and consumers behind the meter, allowing production to seamlessly match real needs and ensuring efficient energy management.

Jan Willem de Jong, co-founder and CEO of iwell: "Energy is a highly localized issue, which is why we work closely with several Belgian partners to optimally tailor our product to the specific needs of the Belgian market. After eight years of experience in the Netherlands, we successfully made the move to Germany, and now we are expanding our business to Belgium. We work with a local team and share the same ambition as in the Netherlands: to become the market leader in behind-the-meter storage and support entrepreneurs in their energy transition."

Dutch market leadership proves 'savoir faire'

With more than 250 projects in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, many companies now rely on iwell's energy systems, providing a total capacity of 80 MWh. This positions iwell as the market leader in the Netherlands in the field of smart battery systems behind the meter. Thanks to these systems, many of these companies are less dependent on the overloaded Dutch power grid. De Jong notes, "Grid congestion is a significant obstacle in the Netherlands that complicates the energy transition. Belgium could face similar challenges in the future, especially if the energy transition accelerates. This emphasizes the need to roll out our solutions further in Europe, with Belgium now being an important pillar in addition to the Netherlands and Germany."

Ambitions throughout Europe

The expansion into Belgium is part of iwell's broader European ambition. The company aims to achieve 2,000 MWh (behind-the-meter) of capacity within five years, equivalent to providing 1,500 business parks with local, clean energy. In addition, iwell is participating in several European tenders and exploring expansion opportunities in other countries.

Céline De Keersmaeker, Country Director Belgium: "For us, the expansion into Belgium is the next logical step in our European growth strategy. If we want to contribute to the success of the European Green Deal, we need to roll out our solutions further in Europe."