How Shifted Energy CEO Forest Frizzell grew to $3.5M revenue with a 24 person team in 2023.

Shifted Energy was established in 2016 with a focus on integrating renewable energy resources into the grid through equitable transformation. The company has developed, tested, and perfected its patent-pending solutions aimed at helping utility companies across the globe stabilize their grids. This is achieved by accelerating the integration of intermittent wind and solar power generation. A key aspect of their platform is the engagement of hard-to-reach communities who are unable to access rooftop solar, primarily targeting renters. In doing so, Shifted Energy acts as a bridge connecting diverse populations, fostering collaborative efforts towards building a sustainable future.

The innovative approach adopted by Shifted Energy involves converting electric water heaters into rapidly scalable, efficient, and maintenance-free flexible demand response assets. It's estimated that there are over 180,000 electric water heaters in Hawaii and around 600 million worldwide. These devices act as hidden "batteries" that can absorb significant amounts of renewable energy, thereby providing an opportunity to shift loads and substantially reduce demand during peak hours.

By leveraging the latent storage capacity of water heaters, utilities can significantly lower their peak energy demands. This strategic operation prevents the need to consume valuable electricity for heating water during periods of high demand. Consequently, grid operators can potentially delay or avoid expensive upgrades to peaking plants, transmission infrastructure, or other legacy assets. Instead, they can prioritize efforts on the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, aligning with the broader objective of advancing towards a more sustainable and efficient energy landscape.