First virtual power plant inaugurated in Greek energy market
Driven by Greek electricity market reform, emsys VPP has announced the inauguration of the first Virtual Power Plant (VPP) into the Greek electricity market.
Protergia, the power and gas unit of stock-listed MYTILINEOS S.A., and emsys VPP officially inaugurated the VPP during the Renewables & Storage Forum in Athens.
Protergia contracted German IT service provider emsys VPP to provide its software, combined with solar and wind power forecasts, for its aggregator unit. The collaboration saw the two customise and implement the virtual power plant, including plant connection and integrating solar and wind power forecasts provided by emsys VPP´s partner company, energy & meteo systems.
According to emsys VPP, the need for virtual power plants and power forecasting services is driven by the Greek electricity market reform. Greece is set to introduce a continuous intraday wholesale electricity market by the end of 2022.
From then on renewable energy plants have full balancing responsibility, facing significant costs in case of deviations between forecasts and actual production.
Renewable energy plants will have the opportunity to actively participate in the balancing market as balancing service providers on their own or via a renewable energy aggregator, a fact which, with proper management, is hoped to revitalise existing revenue streams.
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“Renewable energies are on the rise in Greece and Protergia is a leading market player. We are glad to count with this sophisticated IT solution to market our own portfolio and to offer aggregator services to operators of renewable energy plants” said Christos Nakos, head of renewable energy asset management of MYTILINEOS/Protergia.
“In these times, renewables matter more than ever,” added Dr Matthias Lange, managing director of emsys VPP and energy & meteo systems. “Together with Protergia and other partners, we are ensuring an efficient integration of climate-friendly wind and solar energy into the Greek electricity market.”
The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
Equipped with the Software-as-a-Service solution for aggregators, Protergia has now digitalised its portfolio of its own and third parties´ solar and wind power plants to monitor, forecast, remote-control and trade their variable electricity production in real-time.
emsys VPP continues to provide support during the operation of the VPP, including the flexible connection of other assets.
