1. Purchasing Cooperatives for SMEs: United Access to the Leipzig Power Exchange<\/h3>\n
According to Ulverich, the most powerful lever for reducing energy costs lies in pooled purchasing. Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) lack direct access to the Leipzig electricity exchange \u2013 but through cooperatives, this access becomes possible.<\/p>\n
Companies like W\u00fcrzburger Versorgungs- und Verkehrs-GmbH (WVV) pool electricity volumes and organize purchasing cooperatives. A certified buyer acts on behalf of all participants, leveraging collective volume to achieve measurable cost reductions. Ulverich cites realistic savings of 10 to 15% \u2013 without compromising quality.<\/p>\n
This model becomes especially efficient for companies with annual consumption of around 100 megawatt-hours. “Firms of that size are too large for standard tariffs but too small for their own market strategy,” Ulverich explains. That\u2019s where this model comes in \u2013 with professional partners, cooperative organization, and digital support.<\/p>\n
Another innovative energy market example: Nordgr\u00f6\u00f6n<\/em>. This company supplies electricity directly from producers to high-consumption customers \u2013 bypassing traditional utilities. The result: lower grid fees and reduced transmission losses. \u201cDirect power purchase agreements between producers and consumers really work and provide genuine cost advantages,\u201d Ulverich adds.<\/p>\n Ulverich also sees tremendous potential for property owners. As an investor and strategic advisor at Solar Estate<\/em>, he supports a company focused on residential housing firms, cooperatives, and private landlords with at least eight rental units. The business model: landlords generate electricity (e.g., via PV systems) and sell it directly to tenants.<\/p>\n Solar Estate handles billing, control, and monitoring \u2013 fully automated, legally compliant, and scalable. Especially amid rising energy prices, the tenant electricity model is becoming increasingly attractive for institutional and private investors. \u201cWe enable landlord-to-tenant electricity sales from the very first building \u2013 without major technical entry barriers,\u201d Ulverich emphasizes.<\/p>\n A third key pillar in reducing electricity costs is Virtual Volt<\/em>, a cloud-based platform that intelligently controls energy use, purchasing, and grid integration. It uses AI, real-time data, and market interfaces to connect energy consumers with producers.<\/p>\n Ulverich describes Virtual Volt as the \u201cWindows of the energy sector\u201d \u2013 a digital OS that shifts loads, generates forecasts, identifies ideal purchasing windows, and contributes to grid stability.<\/p>\n Example: In a hotel or supermarket, Virtual Volt can delay the cooling cycle of a refrigeration unit by just 30 seconds \u2013 without affecting performance. These tiny load shifts help reduce consumption peaks, stabilizing the grid. The technology behind it: peak shaving<\/em>, which can significantly lower grid fees.<\/p>\n \u201cMany companies pay a surcharge on their grid fees based on their single highest usage peak of the year,\u201d Ulverich explains. \u201cThat one-time spike can drive up costs. With smart load shifting, these peaks can be flattened and charges reduced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about intelligent flexibility. Sometimes, just a few seconds are enough to cut costs and enhance supply security,\u201d says Ulverich. That\u2019s why Virtual Volt is also attractive to municipal utilities and service providers \u2013 many of whom can white-label the solution. Interested firms are invited to join the ongoing development as partners.<\/p>\n Digital Energy Control \u2013 Without New Hardware<\/strong><\/p>\n One major benefit of Virtual Volt: it requires no new hardware. Fully cloud-based, the solution integrates with existing systems and immediately delivers transparency. A central dashboard shows consumption data, savings potential, and price trends \u2013 with automated reports for environmental and financial reporting.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil recently, only large corporations had access to such control systems,\u201d says Ulverich. \u201cNow we\u2019re bringing them to SMEs.\u201d Those who generate their own electricity \u2013 e.g., via solar \u2013 benefit even more. Virtual Volt can decide when it\u2019s best to use self-generated energy or when it\u2019s cheaper to buy from the grid.<\/p>\n Ulverich is also working with Google Germany to integrate Virtual Volt into IoT infrastructures, allowing real-time, intelligent electricity management. The goal: to orchestrate energy flows scalably and efficiently \u2013 straight from the cloud, with no new hardware.<\/p>\n Ulverich\u2019s Role: Visionary, Investor, and Strategist<\/strong><\/p>\n Ulverich no longer sees himself as a classic entrepreneur. Rather, he acts as a strategic investor, visionary, and business angel. \u201cI bring 25 years of industrial experience and digital leadership,\u201d he explains. \u201cAt K\u00f6nig & Bauer, I was responsible for the digital transformation of a global engineering company. Today, I apply that expertise to make the energy sector smarter, more efficient, and more resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n He keeps his future open: \u201cIn the long term, I remain open to strategic leadership roles \u2013 such as CEO or COO \u2013 especially where digitalization, industry, and energy intersect. That\u2019s where I see the greatest impact and need for strategic execution.\u201d He currently contributes his experience in leadership, tech, and markets as an advisor, sparring partner, and board member \u2013 especially in complex transformation phases.<\/p>\n Conclusion: It\u2019s Time to Act \u2013 Digitally and Together<\/strong><\/p>\n Ulverich is convinced: the energy crisis was a wake-up call \u2013 and also an opportunity. With purchasing cooperatives, tenant electricity models, and digital platforms like Virtual Volt, SMEs, the housing sector, and property owners can sustainably lower energy costs while building greater independence and resilience.<\/p>\n \u201cOptimism drives us,\u201d he says. \u201cBut we have to do our homework. We already have the tools and the technology \u2013 now we need leadership and the courage to act.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you an SME or in the housing sector?<\/strong> Then reach out to Michael Ulverich directly to arrange a non-binding consultation. He\u2019ll help you lower your electricity costs significantly \u2013 using digital tools, strong partnerships, and proven concepts.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udce9\u00a0ulverich@web.de<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even in 2025, energy remains a major uncertainty \u2013 especially for companies without their own energy departments or direct access to the market. Those relying on standard tariffs often pay significantly more than necessary. Yet there are proven alternatives. Michael Ulverich draws on his industrial expertise to develop exactly the kind of solutions where platform<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12089","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-whitepaper"},"yoast_head":"\n2. Solar Estate: Tenant Power as a Business Model for Property Owners<\/h3>\n
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\u201cThe tenant electricity market is still vastly underutilized,\u201d says Ulverich. Yet it offers multiple benefits: reduced ancillary costs for tenants, higher returns for landlords, and a tangible contribution to the energy transition.<\/p>\n3. Virtual Volt: The Intelligent Operating System for Electricity Use<\/h3>\n
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\nLooking to reduce your electricity costs and implement new energy solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kloepfel-magazin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MUConsulting_Bild_Wortmarke_mit_Claim_balanciert-300x79.png\")
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