Energy cost is rising and volatile. Carbon exposure is rising. Diesel is rising. Surplus is being curtailed (spilled — surplus power thrown away rather than used). The same dynamics that pressure operators on the cost side create opportunities on the revenue side — if the productive surplus uplift is real, and the project is structured to capture it.
Mining, minerals processing, food & beverage, agriculture, manufacturing. Most operators we work with start with a single-site feasibility. Microgrid (a self-contained local power system) sizing against the diesel baseline produces the anchor commercial case (anchor meaning a large, steady customer that takes the surplus power long-term). Productive surplus ranking identifies which uplift loads (water, cold-chain, e-boilers, milling, drying) deliver real margin from the oversized renewable. The output is a bankable case (robust enough to secure financing) for capex commitment or co-development.
6–12 weeks. POA (price on application — quoted individually, not published). Produces the anchor commercial case for a single site. Stress-tested for diesel price scenarios and carbon exposure.
If the feasibility supports proceeding, joint structuring on capex and operations. Dev fee 1.5–3% on capex, carried equity 5–15% (an ownership stake the firm keeps in the project alongside its fee).
4–10 weeks. Ranks remaining sites by uplift potential. Most second engagements are repeat P2 → P7 on the next site.
For operators with large portfolios, library subscription lets the internal team continue screening between formal engagements.
Curtailment is the visible problem; flex-load (flexible load — demand that can ramp up or down to soak up surplus power) deficit is the underlying one. Engagement with TSOs (transmission system operators) and DSOs (distribution system operators) centres on which industrial customers in their service territory could absorb time-localised surplus, and what tariff or service product would unlock that absorption. The framework returns a ranked flex-load opportunity map per service area.
| Engagement | Duration | Price band |
|---|---|---|
| Service-area flex-load opportunity study (P2) | 10–16 weeks | POA |
| Standing instance for grid planning use (P5) | 12–24 wks build | POA |
| Industrial-customer strategy alignment (P3) | 6–10 weeks | POA |
A scoping call confirms the right product. Most operator engagements begin with a P2 site feasibility and progress through co-development. Grid operators typically begin with a flex-load opportunity study.
Site feasibility is fixed-fee. Co-development is dev fee plus carried equity.