Smart Grids Reloaded: How Startups at EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 Are Reinventing the Energy Game
The energy transition doesn’t need another roadmap – it needs doers. And that’s exactly who’ll be showing up at EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 in Munich from 7–9 May 2025.
Wind and solar are breathing new life into the grid – and bringing a fair bit of chaos too. Renewable energy shows up when it wants, not necessarily when we need it. Meanwhile, heat pumps, EVs, and decentralised power sources are flipping the old system on its head. What used to be a predictable setup is now a buzzing network of supply, demand, and real-time control.
The key to making it all work? Flexibility. And that’s where the startups in Hall C5 come in. They’re bringing serious speed, smart tech, and a clear mission: to make the grid smarter, faster, and more profitable.
Spine GmbH: The App Store for the Power Grid
Picture this: your electricity meter turns into a smart control hub – and you manage your energy with apps, just like on your phone. That’s the vision behind Munich-based Spine GmbH. The founders, all from the solar space, created a software platform that runs locally on a small box inside your fuse cabinet. You can install apps that optimise your energy use based on market prices or grid needs.
The clever part? One single piece of hardware is enough. “It just doesn’t make sense to install a new device for every single function,” says CEO Martin Stötzel. With Spine, you get everything in one – dynamic pricing, grid stability, EV charging – all handled via one central system. It’s built for utilities, installers, and property companies looking to offer customers a smart, straightforward solution.
It might look like a neat shortcut – but it’s actually a tool that pushes energy digitisation to the next level, without tech headaches for users.
Bohr Energie: Small Producers, Big Impact
Got a PV system on the warehouse roof? A hydro plant in the valley? A battery in the basement? These used to be passive energy sources – now they’re potential players in the market. Bohr Energie, a startup from southern France, is helping small and mid-sized producers get in on the action.
From just 500 kW of capacity, producers can take part. Their software analyses market data in real time, picks the best moment to feed in electricity, and prevents losses from negative prices. No need to upgrade your tech – everything’s managed via an app. The energy is automatically sold at the best time in the background.
“We’re lowering the barrier to entry – our clients don’t have to be energy traders,” says co-founder Julien Haure. The startup bundles producers into a virtual aggregator that competes in the market. After a successful launch in France, they’re now going European. EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 is the perfect place to build connections – and win over investors.
Blindleister GmbH: Earning Money from the Invisible
Reactive power – sounds boring, right? But without it, power grids don’t work properly. It used to be supplied automatically by big power plants. Now, it’s a traded commodity – and that means an opportunity to earn.
Blindleister GmbH from Berlin spotted the potential. Their cloud-based software helps operators of PV systems, batteries, or wind turbines to monetise surplus reactive power. The result? A virtual power plant – just for grid stability.
“Usually, no new hardware is needed,” says CEO Niklas Reinhardt. The control runs via existing frequency converters. That’s a win for grid operators – and a new income stream for system owners. What sounds like a technical niche is actually a growing market with real-world value – especially in decentralised grid systems.
Narrowin GmbH: Cybersecurity for the Smart Grid
As power grids go digital, they also become more vulnerable. Whether it’s malware from the web or infected devices onsite – critical infrastructure now needs more protection than ever. Swiss-based Narrowin GmbH is all over it.
One of their standout tools is the “network diode” – a device no bigger than a power bank, placed between any system and the network. Think of it like a bouncer at a club: it inspects traffic both ways, and stops any dodgy data from getting in or out.
They’ve also developed the Network Explorer – a software that scans systems, finds vulnerabilities, maps your infrastructure, and helps teams react quickly. “Especially in networks with lots of sensors and controllers, it creates clarity and control,” says co-founder Tim Senn. From substations and local utilities to hospitals – Narrowin brings cybersecurity where it’s often missing.
Hall C5: Where Energy Startups Get Seen
The startup area of EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 isn’t a showroom – it’s a control room for fresh ideas. Over 4,000 square metres, nearly 150 young companies meet investors, customers, partners, and media. They’re not just demoing concepts – they’re showcasing market-ready products, often already in use but with massive scaling potential.
Whether you’re a network operator, city utility, or energy consultant – if you’re looking for real solutions, you’ll find them here. If you’re looking for funding, you’ll meet decision-makers. And if you’re trying to understand how tomorrow’s grid will really work, this is the place to be. In short: Hall C5 is the beating heart of energy innovation.
EM-POWER EUROPE 2025: A Must for Anyone Driving Energy Innovation
EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 is more than a trade fair – it’s an innovation platform. It brings together the people building a new energy system: digital, decentralised, and data-led. As part of The smarter E Europe, it runs alongside Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, and Power2Drive Europe – forming Europe’s biggest energy industry event with over 3,000 exhibitors and more than 110,000 visitors.
You’ll find everything from batteries and EV charging to energy marketplaces. Plus, the EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 Conference features international experts discussing how to make grids smarter, prosuming more attractive, and flexibility the new gold standard.
Bottom Line: Startups Are Driving the Energy Transition – and EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 Proves It
The energy sector is moving fast – and not just in labs. Real-world tools are reshaping how we generate, manage, and distribute power. These are founders turning bold ideas into scalable, practical solutions.
In Hall C5, you’ll see exactly how. Not just prototypes, but ready-to-roll technologies, smart business models, and teams who know how to balance grid stability, efficiency, and profitability.
Spine turns your meter box into an energy command centre. Bohr Energie uses algorithms to trade each kilowatt at the perfect time. Blindleister shines a light on reactive power – turning an overlooked asset into a revenue stream. And Narrowin secures the digital backbone of our future grid.
For startups, investors, and innovation leaders, EM-POWER EUROPE 2025 offers a hands-on glimpse into a new energy logic – open, digital, and economically sound. Not a vision, but a market in motion.