### Streamlining the Clean Energy Transition with Station A **Key Events and People:** - **Founding of Station A:** A startup co-founded by MIT alumni Manos Saratsis and Kevin Berkemeyer, along with colleagues Jeremy Lucas and Sam Steyer, to simplify the process of adopting clean energy technologies. - **Initial Development:** The founders developed software at NRG Energy to identify decarbonization opportunities for customers without in-person audits. - **Marketplace Launch:** In 2020, Station A expanded its services to create a marketplace for clean energy transactions, facilitating competitive bidding processes for projects. - **Current Impact:** The platform now supports over 2,500 clean energy developers and is used by large real estate investment trusts and businesses like HP, Nestle, and Goldman Sachs. **Time Elements:** - **2018:** The co-founders left NRG Energy to start Station A. - **2020:** Station A launched its marketplace for clean energy transactions. - **Present:** The company is a top 10 annual solar deployment entity and continues to grow its offerings. **Locations:** - **MIT:** The co-founders' educational backgrounds and initial connections. - **National:** Station A works with real estate companies and businesses across the country. ### Summary Station A, a startup co-founded by MIT alumni Manos Saratsis and Kevin Berkemeyer, is revolutionizing the way businesses and developers adopt clean energy technologies. The platform streamlines the complex process of installing solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers by providing a comprehensive marketplace that simplifies property analysis, project listing, bid collection, and provider selection. #### Origins and Development Saratsis, who studied environmental design modeling at MIT’s Department of Architecture, gained expertise in using data from satellite imagery and other sources to understand energy consumption patterns and propose effective clean energy solutions. Berkemeyer, during his time at the MIT Sloan School of Management, served as president of the MIT Energy Club and worked on the Future of Solar report at the MIT Energy Initiative. His background in developing solar and storage projects and selling clean energy products to commercial customers was crucial in forming Station A’s vision. After graduation, the co-founders joined NRG Energy, where they built proprietary software to identify decarbonization opportunities for customers. This software was highly successful, allowing the evaluation of large portfolios of properties and recommending clean energy projects that could yield positive returns within a year. Recognizing the broader potential of this technology, the team decided to spin it out into Station A in 2018. #### Platform Features Station A’s platform leverages AI and machine learning to turn property addresses into detailed building footprints, assess electricity costs, and identify available incentives. This analysis, which typically requires significant consulting fees, is provided quickly and at a minimal cost. The platform then helps real estate owners and businesses create detailed project listings, collect and compare bids from multiple providers, and select the best option based on cost, track record, and potential ROI. #### Market Expansion Initially, Station A focused on working with energy companies. However, they soon shifted their attention to real estate owners with large portfolios and businesses with long-term leasing contracts. This expansion has been particularly impactful, as many customers have hundreds or even thousands of addresses to evaluate. Using just the property addresses, Station A can provide precise financial return estimates for clean energy investments. In 2020, the company further expanded its services by creating a marketplace for clean energy transactions. This marketplace not only helps businesses run competitive bidding processes but also evaluates the performance of installed projects and tracks financial returns. The transparency and scale of this service are unprecedented in the industry, addressing a significant gap that many outside the sector find surprising. #### Current Impact and Future Vision Today, Station A supports over 2,500 clean energy developers and collaborates with major real estate investment trusts and businesses such as HP, Nestle, and Goldman Sachs. If Station A were a developer, it would rank among the top 10 in annual solar deployments. The founders attribute much of their success to the MIT network, where they established valuable relationships and a strong reputation. Station A continues to sponsor classes at the Sustainability Lab at MIT, reflecting their commitment to education and innovation. The co-founders emphasize that their daily operations are deeply influenced by the skills and knowledge they gained at MIT, particularly in building analysis and environmental modeling. Looking ahead, Station A is poised to further transform the clean energy adoption process. The founders believe that making the process seamless and accessible is as important as the technology itself. Their vision is to lead the industry in creating a more transparent and efficient marketplace, accelerating the transition to clean energy and reducing carbon footprints across various sectors. ### Conclusion Station A, founded by MIT alumni Manos Saratsis and Kevin Berkemeyer, is a pioneering platform that simplifies the adoption of clean energy technologies. By leveraging AI and machine learning, the platform provides detailed financial analyses and facilitates competitive bidding processes, making clean energy accessible and cost-effective for businesses and real estate owners. With a strong foundation in MIT’s educational and professional networks, Station A is well-positioned to continue its growth and lead the industry in the clean energy transition.