decarbon1ze
virtual power networks

We connect small flexibilities to the power grid.

decarbon1ze develops smart solutions for metering and billing the consumption of individual electric appliances. Targeted incentives for small electric devices allow for concerted control of the electric power flow. New services emerge based on specific electricity plans for electric heating and driving. Our team of decarbon1ze unites the knowledge and experience of pioneers of behind-the-meter solutions. With our services, individual climate protection at home and on the road will become both easier and more accessible.

Smart solutions for renewable heating and driving.

We have to cut emissions from transportation and buildings in half.
(German Law on Climate Protection)
This drives the demand for renewably sourced electricity.
(Ariadne Scenario Report)
Renewable electricity must increasingly replace oil and gas, also for heating and driving. This drives consumption: sector coupling will soon require two to three times the amount of today’s renewable energy production. Energy production must be ramped up at unprecedented speed. Because the power grid cannot store electricity, we need smart, controllable electric appliances that use energy whenever it is plentiful. Otherwise, renewable production will have to be shut down in times of strong winds or clear skies. We enable a mass market of small flexibilities by connecting individually controlled and billed appliances to the power grid in Germany’s 40 million private households and beyond. decarbon1ze offers new perspectives for suppliers of renewable heat and mobility, for grid balancing, and for an accelerated switch to renewable heating in the building stock.

FlexMC: Configuring the smart meter gateway for small flexibilities.

If conditions are right, the control of small appliances can also serve the balancing of supply and demand in the power grid. A low-threshold wireless connection of near-device submeters to the smart meter gateway (SMGW) enables new energy services. With our partners 50Hertz and Theben, decarbon1ze develops a new configuration of the smart meter gateway to make the controlling of small flexibilities easy and attractive.

Our team

Arwen Colell
Arwen Colell
CPO
Energy policy specialist with a love of social innovations. Believes in evidence-based decision making at all levels, and the integration of knowledge and experience. Therefore linked science and citizens for better policy recommendations on sector transformation at the MCC, and connected developers and users for ubitricity. Co-founder of a cooperative to buy the Berlin power grid. Professional optimist. Arwen holds a PhD from the Bavarian School of Public Policy (TUM). Sings opera, oratorio and one note samba.
Marie-Carole Girbal
Marie-Carole Girbal
CFO
Finance professional with a background in M&A and energy. Worked in transactions with KPMG Paris and in controlling for Veolia (Germany). Wanted to work more hands on and switched to ubitricity in 2013, where she built the main accounting, billing and controlling processes and lead the finance team. Passionate about digitalization with a special gift for efficient processes. Marie-Carole holds an MS in Accounting & Finance from Université de Paris and an MA in international economics and finance from Brandeis University in Massachusetts (USA). Enjoys listening to all kinds of instruments.
Knut Hechtfischer
Knut Hechtfischer
CEO
Cleantech enthusiast, experienced team and company builder from idea to exit. Masterminded and co-founded ubitricity, including patent family. Strong on product; lobbied and developed ubitricity in UK from first lamppost chargepoint to market leader. Raised 50M€+ funding. Regulatory lawyer, MBA by training. Plays the trumpet.
Ulrich Schuster
Ulrich Schuster
Co-CTO
Systems architect. Believes that a sound understanding of any problem is half the solution. Passionate and enduring learner. Engineer by training, with experience from integrated circuits and electric vehicles to software architecture, both hands on as well as in leading positions with Robert Bosch GmbH, ubitiricty and CompuGroup Medical SE. Uli holds an M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from U.C. Berkeley, and a PhD from ETH Zurich. Plays the clarinet.
Jan Weil
Jan Weil
Co-CTO
Developer with 20 years of experience from Assembler to Kubernetes and a secret passion for smart audio software. Designed the foundations of mobile metering at the PTB, led the development of the SmartCable for ubitricity and was the CTO of Urban Energy. Convinced that the combination of technology and interdisciplinary entrepreneurship is key to solving the challenges of the next decades. Jan holds a degree in electrical engineering (TU Berlin). Plays the electric bass.
decarbon1ze
virtual power networks