Greek Energy Supplier Optimus Energy Taps Emsys For Virtual Power Plant

Greek aggregate energy supplier Optimus Energy has contracted emsys VPP, a German service provider, to supply its virtual power plant (VPP) for trading renewable energy in Greece’s wholesale electricity and balancing market.

With a portfolio of nearly 4GW of solar and wind power, Optimus Energy holds a leading market position in Greece, representing 50 % of the renewable energy capacity traded under the feed-in premium (FiP) scheme or through direct merchant participation, nationally.

According to Optimus Energy in a release, the collaboration enables them to leverage a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, widely used by aggregators and utilities across Europe to maximise the value of their renewable energy portfolios in short-term energy markets.

Commenting in a release was Stella Zacharia, CEO of Optimus Energy: “Our collaboration with emsys VPP leverages their industry-leading software solutions and extensive international expertise, which are instrumental in optimising the market potential of our RES portfolio.

“We’re excited to play a pivotal role in enhancing power system stability in Greece, while also accessing the emerging ancillary services market as a valuable additional revenue stream for our expanding renewable energy portfolio.”

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Said Dr Ulrich Focken, Managing Director of emsys VPP and energy & meteo systems: “Our virtual power plant and power forecasts already support several Greek partners in managing their renewable energy portfolios. Providing our virtual power plant for the wholesale and ancillary services market to Optimus Energy marks a significant milestone in bolstering our market presence.”

emsys VPP has already commenced setting up its VPP for the wholesale electricity market and is customising the software to meet Optimus Energy’s specific requirements. This process includes connecting over 3,500 solar and wind power plants to the VPP, enabling real-time data retrieval and dynamic control of variable electricity production.

Contracted by Optimus Energy, emsys VPP’s partner company, energy & meteo systems, provides solar and wind power forecasts for the connected assets, which will be integrated into the VPP.

Additionally, emsys VPP is supplying a tailored VPP for providing balancing energy services, a strategic expansion of Optimus Energy’s services in the evolving Greek energy market, driven by the constantly increasing penetration of renewable energy sources.

Balancing services will benefit both the renewable assets, by creating an additional revenue stream, and the grid, by delivering greater flexibility in line with energy transition objectives.

As part of the service, emsys VPP will enable the qualification of renewable assets for participation in the balancing services market.

This qualification process includes remote control tests to ensure that renewable plants connected to the VPP comply immediately with dispatch instructions from IPTO, the Greek TSO.