PHENOGY: More energy through the same grid

“Grids are a major bottleneck to the age of electricity.”

This statement by Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), captures the situation very accurately: while renewable energies such as solar and wind are growing rapidly worldwide, the expansion of grid infrastructure is lagging behind and is increasingly becoming the limiting factor of the global energy transition. In many places, local distribution grids are already reaching their capacity limits, as more decentralized generators feed electricity into the system simultaneously, or new consumers require power.

The traditional response to overused transport infrastructure is expansion: more lanes to absorb traffic, expanded rail networks for freight transport—and thicker, more powerful cables to move increasing electrical loads.  The downside? This approach is not only time‑consuming and costly, but also insufficiently sustainable. Thicker cables may ease grid overload for a few hours a year, but remain largely underutilized the rest of the time. Copper—the most common base material for cables—is expensive, and its extraction is environmentally and socially problematic.  

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Smart alternatives to grid expansion

Instead of relying solely on costly expansion, grid operators are beginning to rethink how complex energy flows from generation, consumption, and storage are coordinated. This is where PHENOGY comes in. We work with operators for whom local grid congestion slows the integration of renewable energy—especially solar power. Together, we develop data‑driven, scalable, and economically viable concepts for optimizing grid operations.  

From understanding the grid situation through data collection and analysis to implementation, we support the entire process. The objective: integrating more renewable energy into existing grids—without extensive and expensive expansion. By combining intelligent systems, storage, grid‑stabilizing operation, and local load management, bottlenecks are reduced, and energy systems become more efficient, resilient, and profitable.

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Our experts in action

Behind this solution at PHENOGY is a team driven by a passion for progress and innovation, supported by the inventive spirit deeply rooted in our Swiss environment. As a representative example, we would like to introduce Max Ursin, who is responsible for Systems Engineering / Sales C&I Battery Systems at PHENOGY.

Max, you only recently joined PHENOGY and in your work you combine technical system expertise with customer‑focused sales for commercial and industrial clients (C&I = Commercial & Industrial). What do you bring to the table?

I come from hands‑on practice, with decades of experience in battery storage systems and their real‑world integration in customer projects. These are systems that don’t just look good on paper but operate successfully every day. As a former founder and systems thinker, I now bring this experience to PHENOGY – with inventive, pragmatic engineering strength and a clear focus on solutions that work in practice.

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What role does inventive spirit play when it comes to new solutions for grid optimization and smart energy management?

A very important one – but this spirit only unfolds its full impact through collaboration with grid operators. Together, we capture, measure, and analyze real grid data and develop concrete measures to increase grid flexibility. The goal is smart management that makes better use of existing infrastructure and proactively mitigates bottlenecks. This is precisely where the added value of our technologies lies: we bring the theory of system optimization directly into practice.

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Innovation seems to be a topic that particularly inspires you. Who is your favorite inventor in history and why?

Without question: Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, the defining pioneers of the electricity era. They laid the foundation for modern energy supply. After 150 years of continuous development, we are now entering an age of accelerated electrification. Everything is becoming electric: mobility, heating, industry. Fossil fuels are being pushed back step by step. One thing is certain: the new always prevails! Edison and Tesla proved that, and it is exactly this pioneering spirit that we continue to embody at PHENOGY.