About this blog

My journey in the energy world began in 2021 with the revocation of the virtual reversing meter by the Constitutional Court, following a procedure initiated by VREG. Like many, I had invested in a large solar installation with an eye on the future. With a heat pump already in place and plans for electric cars, the Flemish government’s promise of a reversing meter made electricity worry-free for the next 15 years—or so I thought. But some things are just too good to be true.

When news of the revocation hit, I felt both frustrated and disappointed. Yet, I didn’t want to simply complain; I wanted to find a way to make it work. I began researching the energy sector, making calculations to ensure my investment still made sense. Along the way, I realized that data is crucial in this process. Without it, it’s like flying blind, assuming things that ultimately aren’t true. Fortunately, data analysis is one of my strong points, and from there, it was only a small step toward becoming an Energy Service Provider (ESP).

As an ESP, I gained access to Fluvius’s digital meter API. With this, I provide individuals and businesses with insights into their energy usage and help them assess the potential returns on various energy investments. I don’t see myself as an energy expert but rather as someone who connects the dots between data and energy, presenting them objectively. I’m a big believer in using common sense (or boerenverstand, as we say in Flemish).

In the summer of 2022, Fluvius announced the introduction of Energy Sharing in Flanders. I was immediately fascinated by the concept and recognized its potential positive impact. However, I also saw many shortcomings in the way it was being implemented, which led me to co-found the startup VONKT. Our main goal is to drive positive change by creating stable revenue streams through energy sharing, ultimately encouraging people to install more green energy or gain access to it.

What content you can expect

This blog is a place for me to share my experiences and all things related to energy. Topics may range from projects in my own home, client work, or insights from energy sharing. Since “bytes” is in the name, you’ll also find some posts on software development and data engineering here.

The newsletter will focus solely on energy-related topics, though I may start a separate one for development updates—so energy-focused readers won’t get a mix of topics they may not be interested in.

This website will also serve as a repository for images and graphs I create while researching energy topics, which you’ll find under the assets page.

Thanks for visiting!
Ward Schodts