{"id":8562,"date":"2025-09-18T20:45:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T17:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/optimusenergy.gr\/2025\/11\/04\/solarplaza-webinar-elena-kalogeropoulou-on-merchant-bess-in-greece\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T21:04:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T18:04:28","slug":"solarplaza-webinar-elena-kalogeropoulou-on-merchant-bess-in-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optimusenergy.gr\/en\/2025\/09\/18\/solarplaza-webinar-elena-kalogeropoulou-on-merchant-bess-in-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Solarplaza Webinar: Elena Kalogeropoulou on merchant BESS in Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In Solarplaza\u2019s webinar <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s the Deal with Merchant Standalone Batteries in Greece?\u201d<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Elena Kalogeropoulou<\/b>, Energy Trader & Business Developer at <\/span>Optimus Energy<\/b>, offered key insights into how Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can fully unlock their market potential in Greece. Drawing from Optimus Energy\u2019s experience as the country\u2019s <\/span>leading market access provider<\/b> and its <\/span>strategic partnership with enspired<\/b>, Europe\u2019s top optimizer, she outlined the commercial, technical, and market factors shaping this fast-evolving sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greece\u2019s power system is undergoing a profound transformation. Renewables already dominate the country\u2019s electricity generation mix, with more than half of the total demand met by clean sources and with more renewables expected to enter the market in the coming years, the majority of Greece\u2019s electricity will soon be covered by renewable generation. Yet, this <\/span>rapid renewable growth has brought significant challenges<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the first half of 2025 alone, 1327 GWh of renewable generation, nearly 10% of total output, was curtailed, up sharply from 513 GWh the previous year. Curtailments have now become a daily occurrence in Optimus Energy\u2019s trading activities, observed in real time across our portfolio and directly impacting renewable producers\u2019 revenues. <\/span>This surge in curtailments underscores an urgent need for flexibility solutions, where BESS are set to play a decisive role<\/b>. \u201cThe increasing occurrence of negative prices is an opportunity, signaling that the system urgently needs flexibility, and BESS provide exactly that,\u201d noted Elena.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, <\/span>Greece stands out as one of Europe\u2019s most attractive emerging markets for BESS<\/b>, driven by three key structural factors. First, the country exhibits one of the widest Day-Ahead Market spreads in Europe, with near-zero or negative prices during midday oversupply from renewables, mainly due to high solar penetration and low demand, and peaks in the evening, creating ideal arbitrage opportunities for batteries. Second, the ancillary services market remains largely untapped and unsaturated, still offering high price spikes and limited competition, which presents a rare opportunity for early participants to secure significant revenue streams before the market reaches maturity. Third, Greece\u2019s Transmission System Operator (TSO) maintains a relatively conservative balancing strategy that results in high-frequency and sizeable activations of flexibility services. This environment favors BESS assets, which can respond rapidly and efficiently to grid needs, thereby ensuring both enhanced system reliability and strong financial returns for investors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before large-scale batteries enter operation, Optimus Energy has already witnessed and demonstrated the value of flexibility through its Demand Response portfolio of industrial clients. After a year of active participation in the Balancing Market and Ancillary Services, Optimus Energy has achieved strong and consistent revenues from just the mFRR products, confirming the commercial viability of energy flexibility solutions in Greece. However, <\/span>demand side is not fit to instantly respond to various price signals \u2014 and that\u2019s precisely where batteries can unlock their full potential<\/b>, offering real-time responsiveness and maximizing value for both the system and the market. \u201cFrequent activations and measurable economic results demonstrate that flexibility is valuable and essential for the system,\u201d Elena explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Operating a BESS asset in Greece, just like in more mature markets, will require a cross-market optimization strategy, integrating participation across all available segments and products. Elena presented an indicative 24-hour market operation profile illustrating how a BESS asset will soon be required to perform in Greece.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Day-Ahead Auction<\/b> \u2013 Setting the foundation for price arbitrage.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Capacity Allocation (FCR, aFRR, mFRR)<\/b> \u2013 Locking in additional ancillary services revenues.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Intraday Trading (IDAs & Continuous XBID)<\/b> \u2013 Continuously adjusting to updated forecasts, market signals and system needs.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Real-Time Energy Delivery<\/b> \u2013 Physical energy dispatch of the asset.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Each step relies on smart capacity allocation and algorithmic decision-making, processing thousands of variables to transform market fluctuations into optimized, data-driven control.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Optimus Energy complements its operational readiness and expertise offering a <\/span>range of tailored commercial structures<\/b> for BESS asset owners<\/b>, designed to align with each investor\u2019s <\/span>risk appetite<\/b> and <\/span>financial objectives<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n