From building to energy source: My review of two days of KONGRESS BW

Frank Hummel
Oct 24
4 min read

Updated: Oct 27

Two packed days as an exhibitor – and precisely the confirmation of what Frank-Hummel-Consulting (FHC) stands for: practical solutions that pay off, people who take responsibility, and partnerships that want to get started immediately.

TL; DR: AI makes energy management measurably better; battery storage generates additional revenue from reactive power/grid services ; buildings become active energy sources (PV + BESS + charging infrastructure + smart control); hydrogen with a sense of proportion where electrification reaches its limits. I'm looking for partners for HPC charging and storage pilots at the site.

AI in energy management: Less wear and tear, more return

Many use cases, one message: AI is no longer a buzzword.

Forecasts & optimization: AI learns generation (PV/wind), consumption (processes, fleet, heat) and prices – and uses these to generate schedules that optimally combine charging/discharging strategies and load shifting.
Battery life: Even small improvements in state-of-charge windows, C-rates and temperature control can noticeably extend the battery life – a significant economic advantage.
Sector coupling made smart: heat pump, IR heat, cooling, compressed air, wall boxes – consumption-based control instead of “on/off”.
Practical goal: predictable costs, higher self-consumption rate, peak shaving and a controller that considers availability rather than just “kilowatt-hours”.

Result: More operational stability , less degradation , better cash flows .

Rethinking battery storage: Beyond arbitrage

BESS has long been more than price arbitrage between day and night.

Reactive power (Q) & voltage support: Ensure local grid quality and generate additional revenue – especially in conjunction with PV and charging infrastructure.
Grid-friendly services: From peak shaving and schedule compliance to (local) control energy integration with aggregators.
Behind-the-meter added value: Reduced power peaks, predictable energy costs, consumer-oriented resilience (emergency power/bridging).
Site combinations: PV + BESS + HPC charging + heat pump = energy ecosystem that pays off and scales.

Important: Technical design always use-case-first (cycles/depth/performance), not “bigger is better”

From building to energy source – in 4 building blocks

Target image: Decentralized, electric and digital property.

Generation: PV on roof/facade + possibly small wind/waste heat.
Storage: BESS adapted to generation profile and loads (cycles, power, island/UPS demand).
Distribution/Charging: Scalable charging infrastructure (OCPP-capable), peak management, load prioritization.
Control: Intelligent controller (e.g. “Revolution-E” principle) that combines energy availability with processes and comfort .

Business models:

Tenant electricity & neighbourhood solutions with fair distribution and high transparency.
Energy flat rate with clear rules (fair basic consumption, capping of peaks, upsell options).
Peak sharing in the area (e.g. between production, logistics and mobility HPC).

Heat & Electrification: Think Heat Pump AND Infrared

Not a dogma, but an application compass :

Heat pump: Efficient for base load and low-temperature heating systems, ideal with PV/BESS.
Infrared heat: Precise, fast heat – ideal for halls, zones, offices, or renovations with limited intervention.
Target scenario: Electric heat plus smart operation – load shifting, hot water times, consideration of PV generation and grid signals.

Hydrogen: A sense of proportion where it works

Electrification first. Use hydrogen where alternatives are lacking or seasonal storage is needed:

Industrial processes , chemicals , steel
Long-haul (air/ship) and selected niches
Seasonal storage for system stability

For building and everyday heating, electricity generally remains the faster and cheaper option. Priority: efficiency, electrification, then hydrogen.

CO₂ as a raw material: niches today, markets tomorrow

Carbon Capture & Use can already serve high-value products (e.g. synthetic fuels for existing fleets, speciality chemicals).

It is crucial that electrification and efficiency progress in parallel – otherwise we will only shift emissions.

Culture beats technology: Transformation is a team sport

A common thread throughout the congress: corporate culture as an accelerator.

People > CV : Attitude, willingness to learn, willingness to take responsibility.
Trust & freedom instead of micromanagement.
Pilot, measure, scale – and make successes visible.

My experience from 30+ years of entrepreneurship: This is how speed, quality, and enthusiasm are created.

Concrete partner search & pilots

I offer space for high-power charging (CCS) on my company premises and are looking for partners for:

Storage use cases with reactive power/voltage support and peak shaving
PV + BESS + HPC as an integrated site solution
Neighbourhood/tenant electricity and energy flat rates
Network services in cooperation with energy suppliers /aggregators
Green tech collaborations (startups, universities, SMEs)

If you want to join: DM or contact us via f.hummel@hummel.services

This is how FHC works – from the first conversation to the roll-out

Areas of expertise (excerpt):

Strategy & business case (CAPEX/OPEX, cash flow, CO₂, TCO)
Energy management & controller logic (PV/BESS/loads/charging)
Charging infrastructure : planning, OCPP operation, load management, billing
Heat : heat pump, IR heat, hydraulics & control
Data & AI : Forecasts, roadmaps, monitoring, KPI dashboards
Funding and regulatory pathway (with partners)
En-ROADS Workshop : Understanding impact chains, accelerating decisions

Quick-Start Schedule (≤ 12 weeks):

Phase 1 - Site screening & load profile analysis
Phase 2 - Tech/Business Design
Phase 3 - Pilot
Phase 4 - Scaling Roadmap.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - Definition & Measurement Logic:
Self-consumption, peak reduction, kWh costs, CO₂ intensity, system availability.

My conclusion after Environmental Technology BW

Electrification is the economic shortcut to climate neutrality. With AI , BESS , and smart controls, we are turning buildings into active energy sources —resilient, efficient, and attractive to users. Now is the right time to establish concrete partnerships and launch sustainable pilot projects.