Kaiserwetter describes itself as the first ‘IntelliTech’ company, utilising AI, machine learning algorithms and data analytics to help its clients navigate the volatile but growing market of renewable energy assets. The Company’s CEO, Hanno Schoklitsch, told the UK Investor Magazine that it sets itself apart in its field by, “[Transforming] variable and volatile returns into almost steady income to the investor [and by providing] state of the art digital platforms and analytics”. By utilising the Internet of Things and a range of AI capabilities, the Company boasted its ability to collate structured data sets from scattered fundamentals. It also noted that its goal of catalysing investments into renewables – by way of offering Data Analytics as a Service – would further efforts to ‘decarbonise’ the energy sector (and in turn increase both traffic and credibility in the ethical investment field).  

The tech triad

For readers interested in learning about the triad of platforms that led Kaiserwetter to be named among the Top 10 Asset Management Solution Providers USA 2019, here we will provide a brief overview. Its first two platforms, ARISTOTELES and IRIS, complement one-another by providing analytics using the Internet of Things and historic operational data, to procure due diligence reports with the goal of maximizing investors’ returns while minimizing costs. The two platforms utilise both Smart and Predictive data analytics, alongside machine learning, to not only track and predict the financial performance indicators that affect the majority of assets, but variables specific to the renewables sector, for instance weather, temperature and power curve inefficiencies. Its third and most recent offering, ZULU, enables users to “configure services related to the technical and commercial management of renewable energy assets”, while increasing operational cost-effectiveness and transparency. The Group’s CEO stated that, “ZULU us a very exciting new area for our business where customers can pick and choose any service at any time, and know the specific lowest price of each in real time. As other asset classes such as biomass power and hydroelectric plants will subsequently be integrated into our platforms, the services offered to solar and wind owners will continue to lead the way in innovation and incorporation of the latest analytics we develop.”  

Positioned for a surge

Both by the very nature of its operations and led by its current strategy, Kaiserwetter looks poised to position itself at the forefront of innovation and as one of the success stories in the renewables asset management sector. At its core is an understanding that like any consumer, the archetypal modern investor is exposed to the increasing convenience and complexities offered by technology. As such, they increasingly come to expect the ‘Amazonization’ of online services, and in turn seek out the swift purveyance of due diligence reports, investment assessments, risk diagnoses and original expectations which Kaiserwetter’s data banks and platforms facilitate. Far from passively relying on their means of operation for growth, Kaiserwetter’s CEO was keen to discuss changes to the Company’s personnel and market positioning. Like any Company seeking to grow, Kaiserwetter has brought in swathes of specialists – data scientists, renewable energy engineering specialists, business developers and strategists – however, their trading strategy details their desire to become ambitious entrants into ‘sophisticated’ and ‘complex’ markets.

Why should our readers choose Kaiserwetter and what challenges does it face?

Mr Schoklitsch told us the main obstacles the Company faces are largely in the hands of larger players and market forces. Other than the obvious discussion of macroeconomic uncertainty, Kaiserwetter sees one of the major challenges to not only itself but to society as a whole, as being our ability to drive research and investment into renewable energy and AI sectors. It believes this can only be done with the right cooperation between governments and private entities such as itself, in tackling issues already on the political agenda, such as the need to drastically cut emissions (which is made easier if renewables gain scale and become more of a mainstream route for investment). The Company sees itself as a natural option for difficulties posed by not only market uncertainty but moral challenges, “The UK market, although a very exciting area at the moment, is currently experiencing many challenges with the difficult rupture from the EU market. Only decisive support from the tech sector and massive investment in the renewables sector, will enable the shutting down of most coal plants, reduce the development of fracking and simultaneously comply with the carbon emission reductions that world leaders have already pledged. We believe that our intelligence approach offers investors the best means of addressing these market challenges, while protecting investments from volatile market forces and the wider political instability we have seen in the United Kingdom and London recently.” Granted, much of this piece reads like a promotion, but it is entirely based on what I see as a fair opinion of the Company. Aside from operating at the forefront of some of the most important and growing sectors, and successfully marrying them (renewables and AI), Kaiserwetter appears to offer the best of both worlds in ethical investment. It not only understands the moral challenges facing our society and encourages the growth of a sector which seeks to combat these issues, but does so in a way that is profitable, sophisticated, and will likely only improve as the AI technology it uses becomes more capable. Elsewhere, there have been renewable energy updates from; Active Energy Group PLC (LON: AEG), Velocys PLC (LON: VLS), AFC Energy plc (LON: AFC), John Laing Environmental Assets Group Ltd PLC (LON: JLEN), SIMEC Atlantis Energy (LON: SAE), Aquila European Renewables Income Fund (LON: AERI), PowerHouse Energy Group (LON: PHE) and SIMEC Atlantis Energy (LON: SAE).