The energy market is changing rapidly. Companies are facing rising costs, stricter sustainability requirements, and grid congestion that hinders expansion or feed-in. With Battery-as-a-Service (BAAS), Boltainer introduces a solution that combines flexibility and security: no large upfront investment, but immediate benefits from smart battery storage.
Responding to fluctuating energy demand
Traditionally, a company had two options: buying a battery or renting one on a temporary basis. Buying offers the best return over the long term, but requires a significant investment and specialized knowledge. Renting is often too expensive and has limited flexibility.
However, many organizations have fluctuating energy needs. Consider a bakery that only needs more power in December, or a logistics company that experiences peaks in demand when charging electric trucks. A battery that sits idle the rest of the year is simply not an option.
With BAAS, we solve this problem: customers purchase flexible battery capacity tailored to their specific needs and time frame.
Since its inception, Boltainer has completed more than 120 projects, ranging from agricultural and industrial clients to major companies such as ASML, Jumbo, and BP.
Network congestion as a driving force
What do all these projects have in common? Grid congestion. Companies are often unable to upgrade their connections or are not allowed to feed all of their generated solar energy back into the grid. Boltainer’s container batteries —built from safe LFP battery cells and controlled by smart software—offer a solution to this problem. They temporarily store energy and feed it back into the grid at times when it is actually profitable to do so.
To this end, Boltainer collaborates with its sister company BBOLT, which uses algorithms and trading software to intelligently deploy the battery in markets such as EPEX and the imbalance market.
Real-world examples
- BP gas station in Woerden: installed a 1 MWh battery to power three EV fast chargers without overloading the grid.
- Furniture factory in Hulst: installed five industrial batteries with a combined capacity of 1.1 MWh. Combined with 3,000 solar panels and its own wood waste plant, the company is now largely self-sufficient and active in the energy market.
In addition, Boltainer works with transportation companies, coffee roasters, construction firms, and farmers who want to make smarter use of their renewable energy.
Battery-as-a-Service (BAAS)
In October, Boltainer is introducing BAAS: a flexible subscription model that doesn’t require customers to make a large upfront investment. They pay a fixed monthly fee for battery capacity—which can be adjusted each month—including installation, maintenance, and service.
This is ideal for seasonal businesses, such as a bakery that only needs extra power in December. The battery is used optimally when needed, without tying up capital for the rest of the year.
How does it work?
- No upfront investment: Boltainer handles installation, maintenance, and service.
- Flexibly scalable: capacity can be increased or decreased on a monthly basis, depending on your needs.
- Smart control: our energy management system ensures that the battery is used where and when it makes the most sense.
- Transparent costs: a single fixed monthly fee, lower than the cost of traditional rent.
This makes battery storage just as simple and accessible as a subscription to software or telecommunications services.
“We’re removing the barrier. Business owners don’t want to own a battery; they want control over their energy. With BAAS, we handle everything—more cost-effective than renting and with no upfront investment.” – de Jonge
Batteries as a key component in the energy transition
The need is urgent. In the Netherlands, nearly 12,000 businesses and households are currently waiting to be connected to the power grid, resulting in an estimated €40 billion in lost economic value. Solar and wind farms are also facing delays.
Research firm DNE reported that the battery storage market is projected to grow to 1.5 GWh by the end of 2024—more than double the size of the market in 2023.
From pioneering to scaling up
When Boltainer launched in 2022, the market was still in its infancy and it was difficult to justify the investment. The breakthrough came when Boltainer demonstrated that a battery could pay for itself within five to six years through energy savings and energy trading.
Co-founder Kevin Dankers, a data scientist at TU Delft, developed a simulation program that calculates the exact savings or revenue for each customer. This model is now used as standard in the sales process.
International ambitions
Boltainer now has twenty employees, with teams in the Netherlands, Poland, and India. The next step is international expansion.
Network congestion isn’t just a Dutch problem—it’s a European one. Our combination of hardware and software allows us to add value everywhere. The Netherlands remains our home base, but we’re looking beyond our borders. – de Jonge
Our Vision
At Boltainer, we believe that energy isn’t just an expense—it’s an opportunity. With Battery-as-a-Service, we’re putting that vision into action: batteries that don’t sit idle, but continuously add value.
Flexibility, security, and returns—without any upfront investment. That’s the power of BAAS.