Enterprises and programmers frequently encounter a rigorous learning curve when implementing renewable energy solutions, such as solar setups and electric vehicle chargers. To secure an equitable arrangement, they must maneuver through an intricate bidding process that necessitates soliciting proposals, assessing bids, and ultimately establishing a contract with a supplier.
Now, the startup Station A, launched by a duo of MIT graduates and their associates, is simplifying the method of deploying renewable energy. The organization has created a marketplace for renewable energy that assists property owners and enterprises in evaluating their assets to compute returns on renewable energy endeavors, generate comprehensive project listings, gather and contrast bids, and select a supplier.
The platform aids property owners and businesses in integrating renewable energy solutions such as solar panels, battery systems, and EV chargers at the most affordable rates, in locations with the greatest potential to lower energy expenses and emissions.
“We undertake extensive efforts to facilitate the adoption of renewable energy,” states Manos Saratsis SMArchS ’15, who co-established Station A alongside Kevin Berkemeyer MBA ’14. “Envision if you were attempting to purchase a plane ticket and your travel agent only had access to a single airline. It would be more costly, and you wouldn’t even reach certain destinations. Our clients desire a variety of choices and want to easily understand the history of those they collaborate with.”
Station A has already formed alliances with some of the largest real estate firms in the nation, including those with thousands of properties, to decrease the carbon impact of their buildings. The firm is also collaborating with grocery chains, warehouses, and various enterprises to expedite the transition to renewable energy.
“Our platform employs a considerable amount of AI and machine learning to transform addresses into building footprints and to comprehend their electricity expenses, available incentives, and anticipated ROI,” observes Saratsis, who holds the position of head of product at Station A. “This would typically demand tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of consulting time, and we accomplish it for nearly no cost, and quite rapidly.”
Establishing the groundwork
As a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Architecture, Saratsis studied environmental design modeling, utilizing data from various sources such as satellite imagery to analyze how communities consume energy and to propose the most effective potential renewable energy solutions. He mentions that courses with professors Christoph Reinhart and Kent Larson were especially enlightening.
“My capability to construct a thermal energy model and simulate electricity consumption in a building began at MIT,” states Saratsis.
Berkemeyer was president of the MIT Energy Club while studying at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He also worked as a research assistant at the MIT Energy Initiative as part of the Future of Solar report and served as a teacher’s assistant for course 15.366 (Climate and Energy Ventures). He mentions that courses in entrepreneurship with practice professor Bill Aulet and in sustainability with Senior Lecturer Jason Jay were foundational. Before attending MIT, Berkemeyer had significant experience in developing solar and energy storage projects and marketing renewable energy products to commercial clients. The eventual co-founders did not encounter each other at MIT but ended up collaborating at the utility NRG Energy after graduation.
“As co-founders, we recognized a chance to revolutionize the way businesses engage with renewable energy,” remarked Berkemeyer, who currently serves as CEO of Station A. “Station A emerged from a shared conviction that data and transparency could unlock the vast potential of renewable energy technologies for everyone.”
At NRG, the founders created software to assist in identifying decarbonization possibilities for clients without having to dispatch analysts to sites for on-site evaluations.
“When collaborating with a large grocery chain or a major retailer, we utilized proprietary analytics to assess that portfolio and produce recommendations for initiatives like solar projects, energy efficiency enhancements, and demand response strategies that would yield favorable returns within a year,” explains Saratsis.
The tools proved to be immensely successful within the organization. In 2018, the duo, along with co-founders Jeremy Lucas and Sam Steyer, decided to spin off the technology into Station A.
The founders initially collaborated with energy firms but soon redirected their attention towards property owners with substantial portfolios and large enterprises with long-term leasing agreements. Many clients possess hundreds or even thousands of addresses to assess. By utilizing solely the addresses, Station A can offer detailed financial return projections for renewable energy investments.
In 2020, the company broadened its focus from merely selling access to its analytics to creating a marketplace for renewable energy transactions, aiding businesses in managing the competitive bidding procedure for renewable energy projects. Following a project installation, Station A can also assess whether it meets its anticipated performance and monitor financial returns.
“When I converse with individuals outside the industry, they’re often perplexed and say, ‘Wait, this doesn’t already exist?’” Saratsis mentions. “It’s somewhat astonishing, but the industry remains quite immature, and nobody has managed to devise a method for conducting the bidding process transparently and on a large scale.”
From the campus to the global stage
Currently, approximately 2,500 renewable energy developers are active on Station A’s platform. Several substantial real estate investment trusts also utilize its services, alongside businesses like HP, Nestle, and Goldman Sachs. If Station A were classified as a developer, Saratsis claims it would now rank among the top 10 for annual solar deployments.
The founders attribute their success to their time at MIT, which assisted them in scaling their operations.
“Many of these relationships originated within the MIT network, whether through connections made at Sloan or through interactions with MIT,” Saratsis notes. “A significant portion of this enterprise revolves around reputation, and we have cultivated a robust reputation.”
Since its inception, Station A has also been sponsoring classes at the Sustainability Lab at MIT, where Saratsis conducted research as a student. As they strive to expand Station A’s offerings, the founders assert that they employ the skills they acquired as students on a daily basis.
“Everything we do regarding building analysis is inspired in many ways by the experiences I had while at MIT,” states Saratsis.
“Station A is just at the beginning of its journey,” Berkemeyer says. “The adoption of renewable energy is not solely about technology — it’s about making the process smooth and accessible. That is what motivates us every single day, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this transformation.”