ECOYO - A platform to exchange green energy with a human touch

Why did we start ? In Belgium , we have 400,000 prosumers and 5,000 companies producing solar PV. ECOYO was launched to understand prosumer’s and consumer’s appetite for a peer to peer electricity platform.

What did we achieve ?

• 49 B2C customers acquired using digital marketing and events
• 60 small local renewable producers (SME’s, farms).
• fully operational platform :switching of customers, market communication with DSOs, invoicing of customers, regulatory compliance
• Business understanding of energy exchange platforms

Why was it stopped ? ECOYO’s customer segment would remain fairly small. ECOYO would need several millions of euros for customer acquisition and working capital, while the price/value optimum was not yet reached and the website as conversion tool had to be improved.

What did we learn ? It is hard to ask a price premium for a B2C energy platform with a human touch. It is easy to launch a fully operational low cost platform to supply power. An electricity exchange platform requires a supplier license and financial guarantees. ECOYO-alike business will become more attractive once regulation recognizes system cost advantages of local energy communities. (e.g. multi-apartment dwellings).