Edgentica – AI-Agents using real-time metering data on the edge for energy efficiency and power grid optimization

Overview

Edgentica delivers a novel, privacy-preserving architecture for real-time acquisition, processing, and value creation from high-frequency smart meter data. With the VSE's recommendation on customer access to smart meter data, scalable, compliant, and intelligent solutions are becoming increasingly important, especially for small and mid-sized DSOs aiming to modernize their customer interfaces.

The solution integrates four innovations into a cohesive system:

1. The data pipeline prioritizes privacy and utilizes a consent-managing infrastructure, aligning with StromVG, VSE, GDPR, and FADP standards.
2. Embedded NILM models run directly on smartphones to disaggregate appliance-level loads.
3. Agentic architecture connects mobile and backend agents to facilitate structured coordination.
4. Energy assistant, powered by compact Small Language Models (SLMs) running on the smartphone, delivers contextual insights and online dialogue.

Combining these components results in a state-of-the-art energy interface. Households receive actionable device-level insights, while DSOs gain flexibility signals and behavioral context without accessing raw data.

The business model is a white-label SaaS solution for DSOs, enabling rapid deployment without internal development. This feature is impactful for smaller DSOs, assisting them in adhering to legal requirements (StromVG Art. 17c) and implementing the VSE's recommendations (real-time local energy data access for end users via smart meters, with update frequency at least every 10 seconds) efficiently, with minimal overhead.

By distributing intelligence across edge and backend systems, Edgentica enables privacy-by-design analytics and overcomes the limitations of cloud-only architectures. It provides a real-time, compliant alternative to traditional feedback tools.

The project will be validated in a real-world pilot. Edgentica positions Switzerland at the forefront of privacy-respecting, AI-enabled grid intelligence, supporting the energy transition through secure, participatory digital infrastructure.