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OVO Energy and Social Energy latest UK energy suppliers to expand presence overseas

Richard Simmonds • Nov 19, 2020

OVO Energy and home battery storage provider Social Energy are the latest UK based energy suppliers to expand further overseas following the likes of Octopus Energy and Bulb Energy.

Overseas opportunities

OVO Energy has expanded into the Spanish energy market with the help of German based battery storage provider Sonnen with the aim to launch a new solar-storage offering to Spanish consumers. 

The Spanish electrical grid is under constraints but has the potential to take greater advantage of its near all year round sunshine and solar potential. 

OVO said that it will offer its Spanish customers the option for domestic solar installs that will be paired with batteries produced by German based Sonnen. Local solar installation business Webatt has been appointed install partner for the project.

The offering will allow OVO customers to generate, store and either use or export their own power. OVO said it intended to make full use of Spain’s ‘auto-consumo’ policy, which allows owners of home solar systems to 
sell excess energy to local distribution grids.

“The Spanish grid already has a significant amount of solar from the first wave of installations which happened about 10 years ago, and we’re expecting to see another wave as the cost of solar has come down. The grid is expected to have challenges with the integration of new renewables, like solar, and batteries can really help with that,” said Toby Ferenczi, Director of Ovo International.

Social Energy has moved into the Australian market to provide new green home solar battery systems to Australian consumers.

Growing trend for UK Energy Suppliers

The number of UK energy suppliers offering complete energy systems that turn domestic properties into effective virtual power plants.


OVO’s offering is similar to the tariff offered by Tesla in the UK in October. OVO said that it is also hoping to introduce a home battery trial in the UK which will increase competition in home battery tariffs.


Other energy suppliers are likely to follow suit and competition is set to heat up as a result. The push towards cleaner energy is providing opportunities for energy suppliers and as a result innovation in the area is set to increase.


Ovo is the U.K.’s second-biggest energy supplier after Centrica Plc and is also a supplier in France, Spain and Australia.


Also read: Tesla to launch new energy tariffs

Social Energy in Australia

Meanwhile, Social Energy has launched in Australia with the aim of reducing energy bills for its customers that use its solar and battery system.


The 100% green energy package has seen the company sign an exclusive deal with Duracell for its home solar battery system.


According to Social Energy, customers in Australia could save over $2,000 on their energy bills in the first year of using their tariff.


The company is also using its own artificial intelligence platform and virtual power plant technology in order to provide the best deals for its customers. Such technology is becoming increasingly important for energy suppliers as they provide another potential source of revenue from maintaining and balancing the electricity grids of host countries.

Further Reading

What does Boris Johnson’s 2030 Ban on new Petrol and Diesel cars mean for energy suppliers?


Elexon returns £1.5 million to industry due to Covid-19 impacts and Estimation Derogations to continue into 2021


UK Government looking to the stars for space based solar power stations


Dyball Associates are proud to help new supply businesses successfully launch in the UK market.

 

Through our energy market consultancy services, and the software we’ve developed, we’re supporting new UK electricity and gas suppliers get set up and start supplying.

 

For more information on how to start and manage an energy company, get in touch with Dyball Associates today.


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