When devices that generate or consume electricity and the power grid in between chat with each other, it sounds like science fiction.

The idea of devices that generate or consume electricity and the power grid communicating with each other sounds like science fiction. However, a company from Engerwitzdorf has already developed a technology for this. With "gridoo," ATB Automatisierungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG aims to accelerate the energy transition. The innovation was also made possible by funding provided to the company thanks to advice from the Upper Austrian location agency Business Upper Austria.

"gridoo ensures the intelligent coordination of all components in the power grid, regardless of the manufacturer," explains ATB Managing Director Wolfgang Bernhard. "This is how we accelerate the energy transition. Our technology ensures that electrical devices can 'chat' with each other, i.e., communicate. This makes the power grid more efficient and saves energy costs.

In use in pilot projects

The production-ready devices look like an internet router. They run the algorithm developed in the research project with funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). The basis of the gridoo technology is already internationally patented. The system can be easily integrated into existing devices and networks. gridoo is already being used in initial projects at large energy companies.

Creating an energy transition

"If we want to achieve the energy transition to renewable energies, we need a future-proof power grid. Energy from wind, sun, and water makes the grid volatile because electricity is not always generated and consumed at the same time or at the same rate," says Bernhard. Therefore, all components involved must coordinate with each other. Examples of components include charging stations for e-mobility, heat pumps, battery storage systems, and photovoltaic systems.

Everyone is a target group

"This concerns every single consumer and producer with significant electrical connection capacity and flexibility," adds the ATB Managing Director. Target groups include not only end consumers, but also grid operators, energy suppliers, mobility providers, garage and building operators, as well as private households, energy communities, and providers of building and home automation systems.

Self-learning algorithm

"The control units of these components are relevant," explains Wolfgang Bernhard. "The goal is to make them smart with gridoo. In the future, all of these devices will have corresponding solutions implemented, or they will at least communicate with them." With gridoo, information exchange takes place automatically in the background. User intervention is possible via the application, but not required. The self-learning algorithm plans energy production and demand in advance and reacts in real time to unplanned deviations and events such as weather changes, user behavior, dynamic tariffs, or grid congestion.

Independent and flexible

Wolfgang Bernhard is convinced: "The goal of climate neutrality requires a massive electrification of the entire energy system based on renewable energies. Due to the current geopolitical situation, Europe's independence from gas and oil imports is a top priority. Electrical consumers and loads will therefore increase significantly. There is no way around utilizing and optimizing flexibility in the power grid. And that is precisely the core of gridoo."

Data security is guaranteed

While there are already solutions on the market that allow, for example, the PV system to communicate with the charging station and storage system, gridoo can do much more, making it unique. "Our USP is the complete combination of live monitoring, load management, and energy management in a single unit, regardless of the number of components involved," says Bernhard. Another key point is that gridoo doesn't rely on cloud computing power, but also relies on local, self-learning algorithms. This is relevant from a data protection perspective: With gridoo, no data needs to leave the premises.

Spin-off prepared

It's also exciting to see what happens next with the patented innovation. ATB has been in existence for more than 25 years and now plans to spin off gridoo into its own new company to make it easier for investors to get involved. "We can only realize our full potential if we grow quickly now. Our decades of experience are viewed very positively here. And there isn't yet a major player in this market worldwide," says the entrepreneur.

Professional advice

The "eChat" research project, funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), was a complete success. The developed technology is now being marketed under the brand name gridoo. "The Research and Innovation Funding Advisory Department at Business Upper Austria advised and supported us throughout the funding application, the final report, and beyond. The input from the experts during the application phase was crucial for the funding approval," emphasizes Bernhard.

Value creation in Austria

Since the power grid is critical infrastructure, the source of expertise and components is also important. "That's why we manufacture our control devices in Upper Austria, and the expertise also remains in Upper Austria," says the managing director. His team, incidentally, consists of eight sole proprietors. They developed gridoo, work on a commission-based basis, and are so convinced of the product that they passionately work on it full-time.