Case Study: Steffes achieves grid stability and virtual energy storage with Microsoft Azure

Solving renewable energy challenges with the Internet of Things

Steffes Corporation, a North Dakota manufacturer and global designer of electric thermal storage (ETS) solutions, faced a growing challenge: power grids built for steady supply are destabilized by the rapid, unpredictable swings of wind and solar generation. With electric water heaters making up 20–40% of residential load, Steffes saw an opportunity to turn a common household device into a distributed, fast-response asset to absorb excess generation and help balance the grid.

Working with Mesh Systems and using Microsoft Azure IoT services and the Orleans framework, Steffes built the Grid‑Interactive Electric Thermal Storage (GETS) system and a cloud “Power Tower” that mirrors and controls thousands of water heaters in real time (monitoring up to 150 data points per unit). After 24 trials across seven time zones and a live deployment at Kapolei Lofts (499 homes) in Hawaii, GETS delivers second-by-second frequency regulation, dampens renewable volatility, reduces reliance on fossil backups, and creates a scalable, cost‑effective path for wider renewable adoption.

Steffes

Kelly Murphy

Business Development Specialist