From Rotterdam VvE to cold storage facilities in Barcelona: how EHBI Group approaches the energy transition in an integrated way

Whether it’s a large Rotterdam homeowners’ association looking to go completely gas-free or a Spanish refrigeration company with three buildings and monthly consumption of over one million kilowatt-hours, EHBI Group always focuses on systems that work together. And the brain behind all these energy flows? That’s the Embion EMS.

“That’s impossible” EHBI Group prefers to think differently

EHBI Group is no ordinary installation company. The company guides clients through the energy transition from start to finish: from solar panels, heat pumps, and charging stations to battery storage and all associated electrical work. But what truly sets EHBI Group apart is its way of thinking.

“What sets us apart is that we carefully assess whether the assets can work together to create a well-balanced energy system,” explains Erwin, CEO of EHBI Group. “Where other installers say something isn’t possible, we say: it’s always possible. You just have to think outside the box and collaborate with the right partners.”

That approach was put to the test in two strikingly different projects.

Marchalplein Homeowners’ Association: six boiler rooms, one smart solution

In 2023, a large homeowners’ association in Rotterdam asked EHBI Group to help with a comprehensive sustainability overhaul. Insulation, windows, window frames, facades, and the roof all needed to be addressed. Most importantly, the homeowners’ association wanted to completely phase out gas. There were six boiler rooms on the roof housing gas-fired systems. These had to be replaced with heat pumps.

That sounds simple, but the implementation was anything but. Heat pumps consume a lot of electricity, and the existing grid connection was insufficient. The contractor’s original plan? To apply for six new, separate connections. Costly, time-consuming, and certainly not feasible in the short term.

EHBI Group had a different idea:

“We said: let’s see if we can upgrade that one existing connection—which was already there for the elevators—just a bit. Just keep one connection for everything. We calculated it, worked out the details, and got it done.”

The plan was turned into an elegant system. The homeowners’ association was allocated a contracted capacity of 160 kW. That’s one-third less than if six separate 50-kW connections had been installed. All the heat pumps were connected to that single connection, supplemented by

• solar panels on the roof

• A battery pack for the winter months

• The Embion EMS as the central control system for all energy flows

The EMS continuously monitors the balance between the main connection, the battery, solar generation, and the heat pumps. The system truly proves its worth during the winter months, when demand for heat peaks and solar power contributes little. If the battery is nearly empty and there is hardly any solar power available, the EMS temporarily shuts down one or more heat pumps. It pauses briefly to let the battery recharge a bit, and then restarts the pumps. The duration is so short that residents don’t even notice.

“The goal was always to never receive complaints from people getting cold showers or feeling cold. And fortunately, that has never happened.”

The system is now entering its third winter. And it’s not standing still. Last summer, self-consumption optimization was activated for the first time. Solar power generated during the day is used at night via the battery to cover the building’s energy consumption. This way, the system remains efficient even outside of peak heating demand periods.

Edificio Diego Martínez, Barcelona: improving sustainability with data as a compass

On the other side of Europe, a very different story is unfolding. Through a network of partners, EHBI Group connected with a client in Barcelona who operates three large cold storage and freezer facilities. Energy consumption was roughly 1.2 million kWh per month, and this despite the fact that there were hardly any solar panels on the roofs.

Spain offers excellent solar conditions, but also significant challenges. You have to deal with grid congestion and a relatively new awareness of energy storage. The client wanted to become more sustainable, but first and foremost needed insight. How much energy are we actually consuming? And what can solar energy provide us?

EHBI Group installed solar panels and the Embion EMS on all three buildings. Now, for the first time, the client can see exactly how much solar energy is being generated, how much the buildings consume, and when energy is being wasted. When the cooling systems are turned off, some of the solar power is simply wasted. That information is worth its weight in gold.

“We’re already wasting a lot of solar power at certain times. With that information, we’ll explore next year: Would battery storage be a good fit here? Or electric vehicle charging? Step by step.”

Whereas the Marchalplein project revolved around an acute grid problem, the EMS in Barcelona serves as a compass for a step-by-step transition to sustainability. The data it provides guides the next investment decision, not out of necessity, but based on insight.

Why choose Embion EMS for commercial projects?

EHBI Group works with various energy management systems, depending on the scale and complexity of a project. For residential installations, a simpler and more affordable system suffices. But for commercial and complex projects, EHBI Group consistently chooses Embion.

The reason is practical: for commercial installations, in-depth insight isn’t a luxury, it’s a requirement.

“We want to know exactly how much power is flowing through the main connection, how the assets are performing, and what’s really happening. With Embion, we can see all of that ourselves without having to call support every time. We can add, test, monitor, and verify assets ourselves. And only when we really can’t figure it out do we call support.”

That autonomy is no small matter. With other systems, the installer has to go through the supplier for every adjustment or piece of information. Embion gives EHBI Group the freedom to be in the driver’s seat and maintain control over every project.

And if support is needed?

“Then I send an email and always get a prompt response. If there’s a real emergency, I call. And outside of office hours or on the weekend, Ronald is there for me. He always makes sure I’m quickly connected to the right person. That trust is the most important thing. You know that if something comes up, it will be resolved.”

For EHBI Group, Ronald —Embion’s account manager— is the familiar face of Embion. Whether it’s a technical question, an emergency, or a new phase in a project, he ensures things move forward quickly.

Building on growth

Both projects demonstrate that EHBI Group approaches the energy transition as an ongoing process. The Marchalplein Homeowners’ Association is gradually expanding its self-consumption. The cold storage facilities in Barcelona are at the beginning of a sustainability journey that becomes more concrete every year.

In both cases, Embion serves as the foundation for new possibilities. It provides insight into current developments, ensuring that the next step can always be taken with a solid foundation.

“Every system has its pros and cons. But ultimately, it’s about the organization behind it. And we see that Embion is always there when needed and also knows when something is truly a priority. That’s simply the most important thing.”

EHBI Group is in charge, with the Embion EMS serving as the backbone.