Niko Energy, co-founded by Edoardo Dellepiane and Raffaele Sertorio in 2023, has positioned itself at the forefront of Mexico’s solar market. The fledgling solar market is ripe with opportunities, given Mexico’s abundance of sunlight and stark lack of established solar installations.
Mexico’s First Virtual Power Plant
Niko Energy, after successfully aiding solar installers in selling, designing, and financing panels for small-scale commercial and residential buildings, identified yet another opportunity: the creation of Mexico’s inaugural virtual power plant (VPP).
With Mexico experiencing a surge in power demand, the ascendance of a VPP could significantly bolster the country’s strained power grid. By regulating devices, such as residential batteries, thermostats, and EV chargers, VPPs can efficiently manage power flow, thereby mitigating the effects of blackouts in the country.
Strategic Objectives
“We aim to hold the largest portfolio of decentralized energy resources in Mexico,” says Dellepiane. The company’s strategy involves further financing of new solar installations, as well as the sale of battery storage to existing solar owners and procuring portfolios from businesses interested in asset sales. Their goal? To accumulate capacity worth tens of megawatts.
Target Market
Niko Energy’s attraction is not just limited to homeowners and small businesses. Recently, larger corporations, lured by the benefits of solar panel installations, have also become clients. The company’s robust business model offers clients peace of mind and potential savings on their monthly energy bills.
Funding and Development
The startup recently secured $8 million in equity towards the expansion of installations and the development of the VPP platform, with an additional $15 million raised in debt.
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