Flemish start-up Ella Energy wants to upgrade the digital meter for SMEs

Ella Energy is launching an AI platform that helps Flemish SMEs lower their energy costs based on their digital meter data — without extra hardware, installation or a consultant. For 45 euros a month, the platform continuously analyses the digital meter's quarter-hourly data and turns it into concrete recommendations on peak and standby consumption, grid costs, solar panels, contracts and invoice control.

Unused data

Flanders counts 97,000 professional access points relevant to this type of energy management. Up to three years of quarter-hourly data is available through the digital meter, but at most SMEs it goes unused — leaving thousands of euros in optimisations on the table.

"There is more energy data available than ever, but too little of it is turned into action. Many SMEs only act once the bill goes up."

A digital energy assistant

Companies connect their Fluvius meter and get insights from day one based on historical data. The software uses AI on two levels: machine learning analyses consumption patterns, predicts normal usage and detects anomalies, and generative AI translates those insights into clear, actionable alerts for owners, CFOs or energy managers.

The founders

Ella Energy was founded by West Flemings Benedicte Boonefaes (B2B software, incl. Showpad and Henchman) and Arthur Despiegelaere (solar energy, storage and sustainable innovation via CleverNett and Sparki), together with East Fleming Quinten Rosseel (AI infrastructure via Atlas Copco and Cronos). They observed that many companies still lack a grip on their base consumption, while the sector already focuses on batteries, flexibility and smart control.

The ambition

Ella Energy already has more than 500 connections to digital meters and aims for 2,000 active SME customers in its first year. After Flanders, it wants to expand to other European markets where quarter-hourly data is available.

This is a summary of the article on Made in West-Vlaanderen. Read the full article via the link above.