Delta Dore and Survoltage join forces to democratize electrical flexibility and launch SmartFlow, the service that rewards energy savings

This free service allows individuals to actively participate in balancing the French electricity grid without sacrificing comfort, while also receiving compensation. This major development marks a shift from simply "consuming less" to "consuming better."

A strategic alliance in the flexibility market

Faced with the electrification of uses (heat pumps, electric vehicles) and the growing share of intermittent renewable energies in the energy mix, the French electricity network must meet a major challenge: to gain flexibility to avoid tensions and limit the use of backup power plants running on coal or gas.

To address this challenge, Delta Dore, a long-established expert in home temperature control, is partnering with Survoltage, an expert in grid aggregation that provides the technical link with RTE (the French electricity transmission network operator). This alliance enables the direct connection of French households' electric heating systems to the grid's needs in real time. The two partners aim to equip 100.000 homes with this technology, representing a total capacity of 100 MWh.

The SmartFlow offer: invisible and profitable flexibility

SmartFlow is based on the principle of diffuse modulation, or "demand response." In practice, the mechanism activates when RTE detects a peak in consumption (for example, during periods of extreme cold or peak hours) or a drop in renewable energy production. Survoltage then transmits a secure signal to the Delta Dore, Tydom, or Tywell home automation hubs installed in homes.

In response, the system controlling the thermostats adjusts the temperature setting by reducing it by a few degrees for a short period – on the order of 15 minutes to 1 hour. Thanks to an intelligent predictive algorithm and the natural thermal inertia of the buildings, this adjustment is imperceptible to the occupants, thus guaranteeing unchanged comfort.

This service, entirely free and without obligation, transforms every household into an active participant in the energy transition. In return for this flexibility, this civic-minded action is rewarded: an average household with 5 radiators can receive up to approximately €50 per year (an average of €10 per radiator). Activation has been designed to be as seamless as possible through a simplified digital process for consenting to the flexibility and sharing of Linky data with RTE.

From "consuming less" to "consuming better"

For 50 years, Delta Dore has been committed to helping the French "consume less" thanks to its thermostats and programming solutions. With the launch of SmartFlow, the company is introducing a new paradigm: it is now crucial to "consume at the right time," that is, when electricity is green, abundant, and less expensive.

This strong CSR commitment aims at a triple objective: to participate concretely in the energy sovereignty of France, to reduce the carbon footprint of the electricity mix by avoiding the start-up of backup thermal power plants during peak periods, and to support the purchasing power of households through the bonus paid to users.

According to Pascal Portelli, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delta Dore: “The energy transition won’t happen without individuals. Our role is evolving: after spending 50 years optimizing energy savings, we now enable people to consume better, at the right time. With SmartFlow, we simply connect homes to the grid's needs. This is a concrete step forward that transforms electric heating into an asset for the environment and purchasing power, without changing the comfort of our users.”

According to Jeff Knoepfli, President and co-founder of Survoltage: “Each of us plays a role in the electricity grid. Together, we have the opportunity to better manage our energy consumption for a resilient, sovereign, and decarbonized system. The SmartFlow offer allows Delta Dore customers to consume greener electricity and increases household purchasing power. The technological expertise of Delta Dore and Survoltage has been combined in SmartFlow to make this service as simple and transparent as possible.”