This week, Adam is joined by Doug Cook, Director of Strategy and Flexibility at Ohme. The pair discuss how software and flexible energy management can help balance the grid and integrate more renewable energy sources.

Doug gives his perspective on the importance of bridging information gaps in the supply and demand of electricity and using software to manage it. He highlights the big motivations for this, especially as the energy landscape shifts towards electric vehicles and heat pumps as a home’s most energy-hungry appliances. He also makes interesting observations on where the sector will get its data in the future and how to utilise it.

Alongside the software and technical considerations, Doug and Adam delve into the complexity of the energy industry and the need for simpler messaging to improve public understanding, which will drive change. Doug discusses the challenges facing both major players and smaller, innovative companies in building trust with customers and finding successful commercial models. He puts the energy industry in context with some of his unique analogies and shares his vision for the future, highlighting the importance of creative and bold thinking as part of the transition to a more sustainable future.

In this episode, Adam and Doug discuss:

• Using flexible energy management approaches to balance the grid
• The need for a maturity journey in the energy industry
• Where the innovation will come from in the sector
• Challenges in building trust and commercial models
• Setting bolder goals for the energy sector

The weekly Hypercube podcast sits down with leaders in the energy and utilities sectors to explore how data analytics can help businesses make smarter decisions and accelerate business growth.

Chapter Markers

[1:07] Grid balancing challenges and how software and flexible energy management can help.

[4:55] How local, decentralised energy assets can help with national grid challenges.

[7:38] The importance of considering the end-user when designing energy strategies.

[12:27] Changes in data collection, the limitations of smart metres, and the need for innovation.

[19:05] How Ohme has focused on building trust through transparency and customer-centric approach.

[24:18] Changing commercial models within the energy sector to build ongoing relationships with customers.

[26:58] Restrictions in how the energy industry operates that limit innovation.

[28:55] Thinking more boldly about energy, what it offers customers, and how it can be used.