We make the energy system smarter by organising it locally, so there is room again to live and do business. With energy communities that generate and share energy together and allocate the room on the grid fairly. That is system innovation: not just more cables, but a different way of working together.
We are socially driven. Reinforcing the grid costs billions, and in the end we all pay for it, through our energy bills. Every euro we save on reinforcement can go to healthcare, education and other social goals. That is what drives us: making better use of the room that already exists, so the money ends up where it is needed most.
At the same time, we want energy to stay affordable for everyone, including those with less to spend. By sharing more energy locally, with no margin on the kWh, the benefit stays in the neighbourhood. That makes the energy community a local engine, also against energy poverty. It takes patience and persuasion, but we are convinced that, together with all the parties involved, it will succeed.
€235 billion
investment in the Dutch electricity grid from 2026 to 2040
€9 to 33 billion
less investment in the onshore grid, by using it more smartly
1.7 to 2.3 times
as high: grid tariffs in 2040 compared with 2026
Source: Netbeheer Nederland (the association of Dutch grid operators), electricity grid investment outlook 2026–2040.
Chief Energy Officer (CEO)
Auke is an entrepreneur and a pioneer in dynamic energy and self-supply. His experience ranges from EnergyZero, which he founded, to helping shape ANWB Energie and founding and chairing the Dutch Association of Dynamic Energy Suppliers. He knows the energy system from the inside. He now puts all that knowledge and experience to work to give energy communities their place in the energy market.
Chief Impact Officer (CIO)
Mathijs is a social entrepreneur, driven to shape a more sustainable and fairer energy system. He previously founded companies in the social sector (NLvoorelkaar) and the food sector (Jack Bean). He knows how to get people and organisations moving around a shared goal.
Besides the founders, specialists in two teams work on groupp.energy.
Makes sure every energy community operates in the energy market properly, safely and in line with the rules.
Builds and improves the platform every groupp runs on.
Docklab Ventures is a co-founder of groupp.energy. Docklab brings experience in software development and corporate venturing, with Team Docklab of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Team Decentralcode. Together we acquired the Ilsa.tech platform from the Port of Rotterdam Authority: a fintech platform that lets a community buy, share and settle collective facilities together, such as a neighbourhood battery.
With Docklab’s development team, we are now rebuilding Ilsa.tech into groupp community, the heart of our platform. The functions for buying and sharing together remain, so a groupp can later also invest together. The first groupp goes live with it in December 2026.
Curious what an energy community could mean for your area? We’re happy to think along with you, whether you’re a developer, municipality, grid operator or energy cooperative.