Greece: Optimus Energy and emsys VPP launch virtual power plant

Optimus Energy has partnered with the German service provider emsys VPP to deploy its virtual power plant (VPP) for trading renewable energy in Greece’s wholesale electricity and balancing markets. With a portfolio approaching 4 GW of solar and wind power, Optimus Energy is a leading player in Greece, representing half of the renewable energy capacity traded under the Feed-in Premium scheme or through direct merchant participation. This collaboration allows Optimus Energy to take advantage of a well-established Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, commonly used by aggregators and utilities across Europe, to enhance the value of its renewable assets in short-term energy markets.

Emsys VPP has begun setting up the virtual power plant for Greece’s wholesale electricity market and is adapting the platform to match Optimus Energy’s specific needs. This setup involves connecting more than 3,500 solar and wind power installations to the VPP, enabling real-time monitoring and flexible control of fluctuating power generation. To support this, energy & meteo systems, a partner of emsys VPP contracted by Optimus Energy, is supplying precise solar and wind power forecasts for the connected plants. These forecasts will be integrated into the VPP, allowing for optimized portfolio management, including curbing generation during periods of negative electricity pricing.

Emsys VPP is also delivering a customized virtual power plant for balancing energy services, marking a strategic step forward for Optimus Energy in Greece’s evolving energy landscape. This service enhances both the economic performance of renewable assets by creating new revenue streams and the stability of the power grid by adding flexibility, aligning with the country’s energy transition goals. As part of the offering, emsys VPP will handle the qualification of renewable assets for participation in the balancing market. This includes conducting remote-control tests to verify that the connected plants can respond instantly to dispatch orders from IPTO, the Greek transmission system operator. According to Stella Zacharia, CEO of Optimus Energy, the collaboration with emsys VPP combines advanced software capabilities and broad international experience, helping to unlock the full market potential of their renewable portfolio while supporting grid reliability and tapping into the emerging ancillary services market.