The question every CFO asks when energy efficiency comes up is the same: “how much capital do I need to commit, and how long until I get it back?”. The Energy as a Service (EaaS) model breaks that dilemma: Atera Energy designs, finances, installs and operates your plant’s energy infrastructure. You only pay for the savings you actually get, in monthly fees lower than your current bill.
This approach has helped more than 550 clients across 5 countries optimize their energy footprint without touching their CAPEX. Below we share the five concrete levers we apply on every project.
1. On-site solar self-consumption
The first step of any EaaS project is usually a photovoltaic system sized to the plant’s real load profile. The energy generated is consumed directly, avoiding transmission losses and reducing dependence on the grid.
For industrial clients with available rooftops — warehouses, factory floor coverings — we typically reach coverage between 35% and 60% of daytime consumption, with bill savings starting from month one.
2. Strategic energy storage
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are the missing piece to capture the real value of solar generation. They store the daytime surplus and deliver it during peak tariff hours, shaving demand peaks and avoiding power factor penalties.
At a food plant in Central America, combining solar + BESS cut the cost per kWh consumed by 38% and eliminated peak demand surcharges.
Atera Energy internal case
3. Energy audit and operational efficiency
Before generating a new kWh, you have to stop wasting the ones you already pay for. Our audits surface opportunities on four classic fronts:
- Motors and compressors running without variable frequency drives (VFD)
- Compressed air systems with leaks that can represent up to 30% of consumption
- Industrial lighting without LED retrofit or scheduled control
- Refrigeration and HVAC systems with no real-load optimization
4. Key equipment replacement under service model
The oldest electromechanical equipment is usually the least efficient — and the most expensive to replace. Under EaaS, Atera Energy finances that replacement and charges it as a monthly service, aligning payment with the real savings the new equipment generates.
Equipment that fits
Boilers, chillers, compressors, transformers, main motors, pumping systems and compressed air. Each asset is evaluated by its technical payback and by the operational complexity of replacing it during production.
5. Continuous monitoring + algorithmic optimization
The most underestimated component: measuring. We install granular metering hardware at the critical points and our operations team adjusts variables in real time to keep the savings year after year.
- We define KPIs per plant and per process line
- We compare real consumption against the predictive model
- We detect drifts and schedule interventions
- We report monthly savings to the client with data backing
Where to start
The first step is always the same: a full energy audit with no commitment. In 4 to 6 weeks we deliver a map of quantified opportunities and a tailored EaaS proposal. Zero upfront investment, zero risk: if there are no savings, we don’t bill.
