Energy Optimization: A Competitiveness Lever for Industry
Faced with significant fluctuations in energy costs, industrial companies are under pressure to better control their expenses. Highcast, a Paris-based startup founded in 2021, addresses this challenge by offering a solution that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with on-site support. This approach enables industrial sites to reduce their electricity bills by 5 to 20% while optimizing their energy consumption.
Cost Reduction: A Strategic Imperative
Between January and September 2024, the number of negative price hours in electricity markets surged to 490 hours, compared to a total of 407 hours accumulated between 2017 and 2023, according to ENTSOE. This price volatility presents a major challenge for industrial firms, which struggle to adjust their production according to price variations.
This is where Highcast comes in, identifying flexibility potential in production units without requiring additional hardware installation. Through a customized digital twin, the company provides industrial firms with an Electricity Cost Index (ICE), factoring in hourly price variations and CO2 emissions.
“We help industrial companies adjust their production according to the least expensive and least carbon-intensive periods. This represents a largely underutilized competitiveness lever in the sector,” explains Vivien Robert, co-founder and CEO of Highcast.
Tools for Optimized Energy Management
Highcast’s solution allows companies to plan and schedule their production based on electricity price forecasts and operational constraints. Industrial firms can then manage their production units according to market fluctuations, reducing both costs and environmental impact.
According to the company’s estimates, its clients could save up to 20% on their electricity bills. This hybrid model, combining on-site expertise with advanced technology, could unlock untapped savings for industrial companies.
“By optimizing electricity consumption, we help our clients improve their competitiveness while addressing environmental challenges,” adds Flore de Lasteyrie, co-founder and CTO of Highcast.
Solid Support for Highcast’s Growth
In October 2024, Highcast raised €2 million in a seed funding round co-led by CS Ventures and AFI Ventures, with participation from VIF, Super Capital, and several business angels, including Laurent Courtois, Vincent Bryant, and François-Régis Déhéry. This funding will allow the company to accelerate the development of its platform and strengthen its team.
“This funding will allow us to realize our ambition: to provide industrial companies with concrete tools to manage their electricity costs and reduce their carbon footprint,” emphasizes Flore de Lasteyrie.
With this funding, Highcast plans to recruit key talent to support its expansion and meet the growing needs of industrial firms in energy management.
