Frederic is the product owner of Team Ohms, which focuses on the so-called pre-trading domain. The team ensures that participants gain access to GOPACS. “We make sure that connected parties and CSPs can create an account, register their connections, and have those connections pre-qualified by the grid operators. After that, the connections can be used for congestion management, for example through a capacity management contract or redispatch bids.” The structure of GOPACS as a joint organization of grid operators, with DevOps teams from EDSN, fosters strong cross-pollination. “GOPACS has its own history and processes, but works closely with EDSN. As a result, we’re working in an increasingly integrated way. Whereas it was initially difficult to keep GOPACS in sync with external data sources and registries, we’re now directly linked to them. Knowledge is actively shared, and we can adapt quickly.”
A year and a half at GOPACS: A clear transition
Sanders has been working at GOPACS for nearly a year and a half and has seen the organization grow significantly during that time. “When I started, GOPACS was in the process of transitioning from a startup to a scale-up. A lot had been built to move forward quickly. What I missed most was a focus on the user. In the first few months, I kept asking the same question: how does this work for the user? The UX maturity was too low for the complex domain we operate in.” That observation was widely shared and also led to change. Investments were made in UX roles. The organization consciously made the shift from a technology-driven to a people- and product-driven way of working. “We now work much more goal-oriented. What does the user want to achieve? How do new features contribute to more controllable flexible capacity for the operator? That question is always central,” says Sanders.
Who is Frederic Sanders?
Frederic Sanders is an experienced product leader with a strong focus on digital innovation and data-driven solutions. As Product Owner at Energie Data Services Nederland (EDSN) and GOPACS, he works on developing products that contribute to a future-proof and flexible energy system.
With a background in B2B SaaS and a proven track record in the automotive sector, he combines strategic insight with a hands-on approach. Frederic is known for his customer-centric mindset, leading multidisciplinary teams, and translating complex issues into concrete product solutions.
Working to create impact: from problem definition to value
Sanders’ team is largely positioned at the front end of GOPACS—where users have their first experience with the platform. “We start by clearly defining the problem: when is something successful, how do we measure that, and how do we quickly gather feedback from users? We do this, for example, with prototypes.” This way of working leads to more focused decisions. “By critically examining alternatives, you can often deliver more value with less effort. If you reason solely from a technical perspective and coordinate everything with the parties involved, you run the risk of missing the real problem. By zooming out, you can better see what it’s really about and what’s coming.”
The market for flexible capacity is on the move
According to Sanders, the market for flexible capacity is in a decisive phase. “The urgency is high. Grid operators are finding themselves in a new, sometimes unfamiliar role: they must actively engage with their customers to be able to manage energy consumption at specific times. That’s exciting, but also healthy.” At the same time, he sees many positive developments. “There is a strong willingness to collaborate. Energy management systems are developing rapidly. For some parties, flexibility is a revenue model; for others, it’s a way to contribute to a sustainable power grid, driven by a shared sense of responsibility.” Initiatives such as capacity management contracts, charging station aggregations, group CBCs, applications for small-scale consumption, and opening up closed distribution systems demonstrate just how much potential there is. “There are a huge number of experiments underway right now. Not everything will stick, but that’s part of a sector in development.”
The message: start with the desired outcome
Frederic has one key message for the joint grid operators: “Use the desired outcome as your guide. If you keep reasoning from the current situation, change sometimes seems impossible. But if you start with what you want to achieve, you suddenly see new avenues for solutions.” He is also clear in his message to market participants: “Participating in congestion management costs nothing in principle. Think of it as part of your portfolio. You only participate when you’re available. For example, if you have unused capacity in the evening, you can deploy it, and that simply generates revenue.”
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The people behind GOPACS
In “The people behind GOPACS,” we spotlight the professionals behind the platform. They share their vision on developments in the congestion market and offer a unique insight into how GOPACS contributes to a future-proof energy system.
