As our energy systems become more sophisticated, so too do the software solutions needed to manage them.
Technology and the energy industry have become increasingly intertwined in recent decades, with digital technologies shaping how energy is produced, consumed and managed.
From advanced grid management and asset monitoring to energy trading platforms and predictive maintenance, software is involved in nearly every facet of a modern energy system, wielding the power to increase efficiency, reduce costs and open new business models.
Getting the software right can make or break a project, so collaborating with the right providers is essential.
Landmark agreement
Neoen signed a virtual battery agreement to enable an energy retailer to charge and discharge virtual capacity in Australia’s National Electricity Market.
Neoen’s Portfolio Optimisation Manager, Jeremy Lloyd, said the virtual battery enables the energy retailer to gain the benefits of owning a utility‑scale battery without having to build or own one.
The agreement required the delivery of a software application that could present real-time information about storage and market capacity to enable Neoen’s customers to control the virtual battery.
The project was to be the first of its kind in Australia, setting the tone for future grid-scale virtual batteries and posing a significant opportunity for Neoen and its customers.
Neoen knew that finding the right partner would be key and collaborated with YouDo to bring the vision to life.
Triumphant tale
YouDo CEO, Kari Reiterer, said YouDo first worked with Neoen in 2020 to develop a solution to help the company push energy from its Hornsdale Wind Farm into the frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) market as efficiently as possible. This included a dashboard reflecting real-time asset generation and dispatch status.
Fast forward to 2022, Neoen again collaborated with YouDo to deliver another sophisticated software product, this time for the landmark virtual battery agreement.
“YouDo’s proposal stood out with its emphasis on simplicity, practicality and budget,” Mr Lloyd said.
YouDo did a great job providing a simple breakdown of the product specification and estimates, which helped Neoen plan around them.
“I enjoyed working with YouDo on this project because of their direct approach,” he said.
“YouDo was always very reasonable in scoping changes to the design and was keen to help us solve problems as they arose. As a result, we were able to move quickly through the development phase.”
Once the software build was complete, YouDo got to work refining and enhancing the features, before moving on to testing.
Compared to large teams of international contractors, Neoen found YouDo’s design team to be highly effective – particularly when it came to the daily check-ins during the testing phase.
With so much revenue attached to the deliverables, Neoen’s project with YouDo carried a huge amount of risk.
It was all worth it in the end, with YouDo delivering the groundbreaking solution on-time and on-budget, even in the face of a tight timeline and resource constraints.
The completed software application provides clever visualisation of pricing over time, enabling Neoen’s customers to decide when to charge and discharge the virtual battery, to participate in and to earn revenue in various ways from the energy market.
For Neoen, the impact of YouDo – and the software the company developed – cannot be understated.
“This contract unlocks a great opportunity for growth as the demand for flexible generation and renewable energy increases globally.
“Collaborating with YouDo has helped us deliver a quality product to a budget & deadline, and has allowed us to focus on the needs of our customers,” Mr Lloyd said.
The software has been a resounding success since its development, with Neoen now using it to deliver virtual batteries to a number of other energy retailers around the country.
Bespoke software solutions
YouDo specialises in designing exclusive digital products and solutions for the energy sector, with more than 18 years of experience in the industry.
The small team of highly skilled software engineers work together to design bespoke software solutions that adapt to your business – empowering you with the flexibility to evolve and innovate with market demands.
The team’s expertise spans automating workflows, integrating advanced energy systems, cloud services, and analytics, as well as addressing complex challenges such as demand response management, energy trading and seamless system performance.
YouDo transforms businesses with its modern technologies and its proven collaborate, innovate, deliver methodology.
With YouDo, you’ll be sure to receive a quality, cost-effective solution that fits your business like a glove.
For more information, visit youdo.io
