Flexibility Services

Powering New Zealand’s Clean Energy Future

New Zealand’s journey to a low-emission future relies on electrifying transport and industrial heat. This change will increase electricity demand by more than 60 percent by 2050. Meeting that demand responsibly means using energy more intelligently, not just building new infrastructure.

To achieve this, we must make better use of distributed energy resources across the country such as solar panels, small wind and hydro systems, home batteries and electric vehicles. By connecting and coordinating these assets, we can manage the grid more efficiently, reduce costs and support the move to renewable power.

How Cortexo Helps

Cortexo offers a cloud platform that links flexibility service providers and utilities with owners of distributed energy resources. The platform provides real-time visibility, communication and control through open international standards like OpenADR and IEEE 2030.5 ensuring all devices and systems work together.

It supports key grid services such as:

  • Energy arbitrage – store energy when prices are low and use or sell it when prices are high
  • Peak reduction – smooth out energy use to prevent overloads
  • Instantaneous reserve – respond quickly to sudden changes in supply
  • Frequency keeping – balance electricity supply and demand
  • Voltage stability – maintain safe and reliable power quality
  • Inertia – provide system stability when there are sudden shifts in frequency

Over Two Decades of Innovation

Cortexo has been a leader in distributed energy and demand response for more than 20 years.

Projects include:

  • Managing home solar and hot-water systems using OpenADR 2.0a
  • Controlling diesel generators and industrial loads for Transpower
  • Using smart meter connectivity through SEP 2.0, now evolved into IEEE 2030.5
  • Optimising generation from a privately owned 4 MW hydro station

Industry Collaboration

Cortexo plays an active role in shaping the future of New Zealand’s energy system through:

  • FlexForum – helping design and develop New Zealand’s national flexibility market
  • Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) – supporting distributed energy innovation
  • EECA and EEA projects – contributing to open demand response protocol development
  • Electricity Authority engagement – ongoing collaboration on flexibility and distributed energy initiatives
  • Participation in the Power Innovation Pathway – advancing new ideas for grid modernisation

Global Standards and Partnerships

Cortexo also contributes internationally by working with:

  • The OpenADR Alliance ‘Profile Update’ Working Group (contributor)
  • The IEEE 2030.5 and CSIP AU Standards Group and Distributed Energy Resources API Working Group (DERAPIWG)

Why Flexibility Matters

A more flexible energy system helps New Zealand unlock the full potential of renewable power.

With Cortexo, every connected solar panel, battery, and electric vehicle becomes part of a smarter, more stable grid delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all.

Cortexo's Associations

Cortexo actively participates in the following industry organisations. 

OpenADR Alliance logo
A yellow and black logo with a circle in the middle.
Flex Forum logo
Electricity Authority NZ logo
IEEE Standards Association logo

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Get in touch with Cortexo

Contact Cortexo today to learn how we can help connect you to better insights and save money.