Fortum x IBM Sustainability Garage

01

The Challenge

As we introduce more renewables into the electricity grid, energy production becomes less predictable.

Energy orchestration is key to help manage these grid disparities.

Imbalances between supply and demand in the electricity grid can lead to peaks and troughs in electricity supply.

This represents a serious risk for Fortum & its clients.

Fortum is under increasing regulatory and societal pressure to decarbonize its business.

To do this they need more renewable energy that is smart and flexible.

At the same time, Fortum faces organizational challenges in the form of inertia and silos.

The company needs a shared innovative vision to help drive their green mission forwards.

02

The Urgency

We have about 5 years to reverse climate change before its effects become too threatening to ignore. Society and Fortum’s clients have to decarbonize.

Policy makers are enforcing stronger environmental regulation, demanding green solutions for both energy and mobility.

Increasing the production of renewable
energy as well as the electrification of mobility are both important in slowing down climate change.

The renewables and e-mobility market is growing; incumbents & new entrants are finding opportunities in new green business models.

03

The Vision

We envisioned an ‘energy backbone’ which contributes to an interconnected, flexible and stable energy network in order to achieve Energy Orchestration.

With fewer energy peaks and better customer experience for Fortum’s clients.

For Fortum to become the orchestrator of an energy ecosystem.

Take a look

We created a video showcasing our work to showcase Fortum stakeholders the value of the IBM partnership, presented at the IBM Summit.

04

Roadblocks along the way

Fortum faces several different investment opportunities.

Fortum does not know where to start and how to innovate quickly.

Fortum struggles to communicate the complexity of Energy Orchestration.

Fortum needs to accelerate strategic partnerships in innovation.

06

Deliverables

Our first deliverable was an interactive energy ecosystem that enables Fortum to decide where to invest, estimate ROI, and identify potential partners.

We also developed and co-created an on-site battery storage solution to improve Fortum's profitability and offset renewable energy volatility.

05

User Research & Insights

„How to support increasing green mobility without killing the power grid?“

User Interviews

Research Outcomes > Personas

To develop a user-centered and scalable solution, we conducted in-depth interviews with Charging Point Operators (CPOs), fleet owners, and EV users. Our objective was to understand their biggest pain points and identify barriers to efficient EV adoption and charging infrastructure management.

Key insights emerged during our research:

• “Peak-loads are painfully costly, but I want to provide fast-charging as much as I can to my customers.” – Charging Point Operator (CPO)

• “The way it works today, or rather doesn’t work, prevents me from converting my entire fleet to electric.” – Fleet Owner

These recurring themes highlighted the tension between fast-charging demand and grid stability, the high costs of peak-load energy consumption, and the limitations in scaling EV fleets due to unreliable charging infrastructure.

To structure and prioritize these challenges, we systematically documented them in a Pain Point Tracker, enabling us to map out critical user needs and guide solution development. This data-driven approach ensured that our final design not only balanced energy loads but also made fast charging more accessible, cost-effective, and scalable.

Charging Point Operator

Name: Alex Schneider

Role: Charging Point Operator (CPO)

Company Type: EV Charging Network Provider

Location: Germany (Urban & Highway Networks)

Experience: 8+ years in the energy and mobility sector

Background & Responsibilities:

Alex manages a network of EV charging stations across urban and highway locations. Their primary role is to ensure the availability, efficiency, and profitability of charging stations while maintaining a seamless user experience for EV drivers. They collaborate with energy providers, fleet operators, and city planners to expand charging infrastructure while balancing grid demands and operational costs.

Goals & Motivations:

✅ Provide fast and reliable charging to customers without causing grid overload.

✅ Optimize energy consumption to reduce peak-load costs.

✅ Increase station uptime and customer satisfaction.

✅ Expand the network of charging points to meet growing EV demand.

✅ Integrate renewable energy sources for a sustainable, cost-effective system.

Challenges & Pain Points:

❌ Peak-load costs are extremely high, making fast-charging expensive to operate.

❌ Grid stability concerns limit expansion and the ability to offer ultra-fast charging at all stations.

❌ Complicated regulations and infrastructure limitations slow down the installation of new charging points.

❌ Unpredictable demand makes energy load balancing difficult.

❌ Customer complaints due to station downtime, long queues, and inconsistent charging speeds.

Key Quote:

“Peak-loads are painfully costly, but I want to provide fast-charging as much as I can to my customers.”

Technology & Tools Used:

• Smart Grid & Energy Management Software

• Charging Station Management Platforms (e.g., ChargePoint, EVBox)

• Data Analytics for Load Balancing & Demand Forecasting

• IoT-enabled Smart Chargers

Decision-Making Factors:

💡 Cost Efficiency: Lowering operational and peak-load costs.

💡 Customer Demand: Providing seamless, fast, and reliable charging experiences.

💡 Scalability: Investing in future-proof technology to accommodate growing EV adoption.

💡 Sustainability: Integrating green energy solutions to meet environmental regulations.

Our team

Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Esther Bryce, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various fields, from architecture to interior design and sales.

Esther Bryce

Founder / Interior designer

Lianne Wilson

Broker

Jaden Smith

Architect

Jessica Kim

Photographer