May 24, 2024: Solnet Group, a European project planner of commercial & industrial solar installations, is launching virtual power plant services called Solnet Manager where customers earn revenue by maintaining the electricity grid using solar generated power that is stored in the VPP.

The platform, developed by Solnet Group, allows commercial and solar utilities to join a collective pool of virtual power plants, enabling them to participate in balancing markets and offering greater grid stability. Companies participating in the VPP network receive compensation for being on standby and providing production flexibility. 

Solar utilities and energy storage units can play a crucial role in grid balancing services, helping counteract the variability of renewable energy generation and generating extra income for participants, says the firm. “Previously, such market opportunities were available only to large-scale energy consumers and producers, but now smaller commercial solar utilities and variable-capacity energy storage can also partake.”

Solnet Manager is launching first in Finland, with planned subsequent markets including the Netherlands and Germany. 

“With the launch of Solnet Manager, we are addressing a crucial gap in virtual power plant participation for small and mid-scale installations,” says Arttur Kulvik, SVP and co-founder of Solnet Group, who has been responsible for the development of Solnet Manager.

“This will bring a new era to solar PV and energy storage markets, as it makes onboarding variable-size utilities for balance market participation easy, cost-effective, and profitable. In doing so, they can become part of the solution for overcoming the volatile nature of renewable energy production and grid congestion issues, earning additional revenue while ensuring the optimal functioning of energy grids. Everyone wins.”