FlexLast

Migros, the Swiss supermarket, is part of a project involving electricity utility BKW and national grid operator Swissgrid, which aims to use the warehouses as a buffer to cope with the unpredictability of renewable energy sources. The firms have formed a consortium, called Flexlast, which is working on developing analytical models that predict the energy needs of a warehouse, and allow the electricity provider to divert resources elsewhere at times of lower consumption. In simple terms, when the wind blows and the sun shines, there will be abundant energy that Migros can use. When the weather changes, the utility firm can direct resources elsewhere, knowing that one of its biggest customers will continue to operate with a reduced supply.