Brothers Roel and Maurice van der Ende have revealed the first Dutch-design ultra smart home battery in the Netherlands, Planetpod. This compact home battery, built from recycled materials, efficiently stores solar energy and delivers it on demand.
Powered by a self-learning algorithm, the battery charges using cost-effective electricity and can even generate profit by autonomously selling surplus energy.
The Dutch startup behind this technology aims to transform the home battery market while making contributions towards solving the climate crisis and conserving resources.
Planetpod: The ultra-smart home battery
Roel and Maurice van der Ende founded Planetpod in 2023, a company focused on energy storage innovation. It was established following their prior experience with Mountox, an electric car comparison site they started six years ago.
The brothers’ journey with Mountox revealed the gap in energy storage technology in the Netherlands, inspiring them to launch Planetpod.
Planetpod aims to solve the energy transition challenges by addressing the critical components of electrification, sustainable energy generation (solar and wind), and energy storage.
According to the startup, insufficient energy storage infrastructure in the Netherlands leads to fluctuating and sometimes negative energy prices, hindering solar park development. With the impending phase-out of solar netting schemes, energy storage solutions become crucial to avoid losing generated energy.
Planetpod’s AI home batteries offer a solution by efficiently storing and managing solar energy, contributing to a stable and sustainable energy grid.
Designed for Dutch homes
The brothers have been developing the smart home battery for over a year and a half. On average, the home battery can provide power to households for one day.
Roel van der Ende says, “Six years ago, we started our first business, Mountox, a comparison site for electric cars. Through this business, we discovered that energy storage in the Netherlands is significantly lagging.”
“The solution seemed clear to us: a compact all-in-one home battery where you can store solar energy for use day and night, and trade. The energy surplus is sold by Planetpod when rates are favorable. Thanks to our smart software, it pays for itself quickly.”
Planetpod expects a rapid return on investment within six to seven years by leveraging predictive technology on solar energy, weather, and energy usage. This enables efficient energy management and sales across multiple markets.
The company’s users can join a network to alleviate grid congestion and create additional revenue streams through energy trading with Dutch suppliers.
The startup challenges multinationals
Planetpod claims to have already garnered approximately 3000 interested subscribers for their smart home battery.
Despite facing competition from large companies, the Dutch startup enjoys several advantages by developing both the hardware and software in-house.
Co-funder Maurice says, “We can optimally tailor everything for Dutch households. Moreover, the Planetpod is much smaller than other home batteries. The inverter is often a separate device with other suppliers; the Planetpod is all-in-one. They expect to sell thousands in the coming years.”
“The Planetpod works seamlessly with our user-friendly app. You can choose the mode yourself, like cash- or holiday mode. The home battery is also the first one to enable your electric car to be charged at the cheapest rates.”
“The brothers opted for a striking design. For many people, it’s a big step, such an investment. So why not a home battery with a modern and sustainable design? Something you’re proud to show off to your neighbours and friends. The casing is made of recycled plastic, and the insulation from used mattresses,” adds Maurice.
The company is set to launch on the market in 2025, with pre-orders now available starting today.
Planetpod, as part of UtrechtInc’s startup ecosystem, recently raised capital to further develop their smart home battery in collaboration with TU Delft.
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/planetpod-unveils-ai-home-battery/
