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Last Updated on: 18th April 2025, 10:50 am
In the first part of April, Corinex announced a $30 million investment round. The company is a global leader in broadband over power lines (BPL)–based grid visibility and flexibility solutions. The new investment will help the company continue its work in major European electricity markets, which also supports decentralized low-carbon technologies (LCTs).
Peter Sobotka, Founder & CEO of Corinex, answered some questions about the company’s work for CleanTechnica.
What is broadband over power lines?
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) is a technology that enables high-speed data communication over existing electrical power infrastructure. At Corinex, our field-proven BPL-based grid visibility and flexibility solutions provide high data rate, edge computing capabilities, and real-time (dynamic) load balancing across the low-voltage electricity grid, enabling utilities with full grid visibility and control.
What are some of its key benefits?
- Real-time grid monitoring and control of the low-voltage grid
- High data rate communication that enables utilities to transmit large volumes of data for better decision-making
- Edge computing capabilities for localized data processing and faster responsiveness, protecting the secondary substation from overload and allowing it to operate at optimal levels
- Reduced need for costly infrastructure upgrades by optimizing the use of existing grid assets, and giving DSO’s additional grid capacity on the low voltage
- Faster integration of low-carbon technologies like EV chargers, solar, batteries, and heat pumps
- Enhanced grid flexibility and resiliency to handle grid protection and resiliency, local flexibility aggregation, resolve grid connection queues of end consumers, and allow exporting to the LFA (local flexibility aggregator)
- Secure communication infrastructure compliant with utility-grade cybersecurity standards.
What is the cost?
While costs depend on deployment scale and location, our BPL-based solutions are highly cost-effective compared to other technologies. Utilities typically experience significant savings by avoiding expensive physical upgrades. Moreover, our solution generates a strong return on investment through improved operational efficiency and grid reliability, and allows DSO to own its grid infrastructure promoting regional control.
How long does it last before it needs to be replaced?
Corinex’s hardware is built to utility-grade standards with a typical lifespan of 15–20 years. Our software platform receives continuous updates to ensure long-term performance and compatibility with evolving grid requirements.
What can it be used to replace and why is it better?
- Corinex’s BPL-based solutions can replace several legacy communication technologies used by utilities, including:
- 450 MHz radio networks
- LTE and other cellular-based systems
- Narrowband PLC solutions
It’s better because BPL delivers higher data rate, real-time communication & control, and greater reliability over existing power lines. Unlike cellular or radio-based systems, BPL isn’t dependent on third-party infrastructure or subject to coverage limitations. It also supports edge computing, enabling faster local decision-making and control. This makes it ideal for managing increasing grid complexity and supporting distributed energy resources at scale, and enabling new business use cases with grid flexibility.
How quickly can it be installed and made operational?
Installation is fast and minimally invasive since it leverages the existing electrical grid. A typical deployment can be up and running in a few months, depending on grid size and regulatory processes.
Is the technology new?
BPL technology has existed in various forms for over two decades, but Corinex has brought it to a new level with patented improvements in speed, stability, and cybersecurity. Corinex is at the forefront of standardizing BPL technology globally, major global powerline associations, including G3-PLC, PRIME Alliance, and Meters & More, are in the process of adopting BPL to enable grid visibility and flexibility.
Who will use it?
Primarily, electric utilities and grid operators (DSO’s) will use it to manage growing grid complexity. In addition, consumers and prosumers benefit through more reliable energy service, increased access to renewable energy, as more consumers can install LCT’s on the low voltage network, and faster connection of technologies like EVs and heat pumps.
How scalable is it?
Extremely scalable. Our solutions are already being deployed by major European utilities and can support nationwide rollouts. It scales from pilot programs, and single residential developer programs, all the way to full smart grid transformation, covering millions of endpoints. Our GridValue software can support 5 million endpoints (households) in real time on a single instance of the software.
What is it made of?
Our solution consists of BPL meter with flexibility control module, load balancing concentrator at the substation level, and GridValue grid management software. All hardware is designed to meet utility-grade environmental and durability standards, and our software is scalable, highly secure, and with enough computational power for utilities to apply edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for large-scale smart grid deployments.
Featured image courtesy of Corinex.
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