“A building that isn’t affected by grid congestion can still help solve the problem.” With that in mind, Integer participated in a panel discussion organized by Rabobank Real Estate during PROVADA. The discussion focused on how the real estate sector can help address the growing challenges surrounding grid congestion.
During the session, our co-founder Antoine Post explained how predictive climate control can help manage energy demand more intelligently. By predicting energy consumption and adjusting systems accordingly, buildings can reduce their peak load, use energy more efficiently, and create flexibility in the power grid—without compromising the comfort of building occupants.
Network congestion calls for cooperation
The panel discussion brought together various perspectives from across the energy chain. In addition to Integer, Bart Louwerenburg of Skoon Energy, Koen Mulders of Currentt, and Maurits Hilwig of Rabobank Real Estate Finance participated in the discussion. One key conclusion kept coming up: grid congestion is not a problem with a single solution. It is a complex issue in which energy infrastructure, real estate, technology, regulations, and user behavior all intersect. That is precisely why collaboration among different parties is essential.
Buildings as Part of the Solution
Buildings face multiple challenges at once. They must reduce their energy consumption, comply with new regulations such as GACS, cope with limited grid capacity, and at the same time provide a comfortable indoor environment.
These issues cannot be resolved in isolation from one another. Smart energy management makes it possible to link different objectives. By not only making buildings more energy-efficient but also managing them flexibly, they can actively contribute to a more stable energy system. This means that even a building that does not itself experience grid congestion can play a role in reducing it.
Van slimme gebouwen naar een slimmer energiesysteem
For Integer, this vision aligns directly with its mission to make building technology simpler, smarter, and more scalable. With smart and predictive control technology, existing buildings can better adapt to changing conditions on the power grid. Events like PROVADA are invaluable in this regard—not only for sharing knowledge and vision, but above all for forging new connections and exploring opportunities together.
Integer would like to thank Rabobank Real Estate Finance for the invitation and Wouter Truffino for moderating the discussion. We also look back with pleasure on the conversations we had with existing partners and new organizations, including MAECONOMY.
The energy transition will not be achieved by individual organizations. It requires collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to create value together. And according to Integer, that is precisely where the future of smart buildings lies: buildings that not only use less energy but also actively contribute to a more flexible and future-proof energy system.