Manage actively, not reactively
ecm makes forecast deviations visible and brings available flexibility directly into short-term energy management.
Flexibility management · Swiss energy market
Balancing energy
optimised actively.
ecm Balancing Energy detects intraday forecast deviations and uses available flexibility precisely to reduce balancing energy costs for energy companies.
Energy companiesBalance groupsSub-balance groups
ecmFlex
Forecast+ 18.4 MW
Net position+ 12.1 MW
SwissgridPrice & balance
FlexibilityPV plants
Short answer
What does ecm Balancing Energy do?
ecm Balancing Energy is a web-based module for energy companies that continuously detects forecast deviations and derives automated flexibility dispatches. It combines current PV and consumption data, EDM forecasts, Swissgrid information and plant availability. In the current long scenario, ecm reduces overproduction precisely instead of switching PV plants off indiscriminately.
IntradayDetect deviations continuously
PreciseUse only the flexibility required
TraceableDocument positions and dispatches
The challenge
When the forecast does not match reality
More photovoltaics make energy production more renewable — and more weather-dependent. Clouds, irradiation and local weather effects can cause actual PV production to differ significantly from the forecast.
This creates imbalanced positions and potentially high balancing energy costs for energy companies. Forecasts alone do not solve the problem: the key is to detect deviations at short notice and manage available flexibility economically.
ecm connects forecast, position, market information and plant
control in one end-to-end process.
Automated process
How does ecm Balancing Energy work?
From the current position to the documented control action, ecm brings energy data and operational actions together in one traceable workflow.
-
01
Determine the current position
ecm reads the output of defined reference plants in near real time and extrapolates PV production across the feed-in profile. Other generation and, optionally, sales load can be included.
-
02
Detect the forecast deviation
The current position is compared with the EDM forecast. ecm continuously identifies whether and how much production or the net position differs from the plan.
-
03
Assess the economics
Swissgrid balancing energy prices, control-area balance, position and defined thresholds inform the decision to deploy flexibility.
-
04
Calculate the flexibility requirement
When the conditions are met, ecm determines the required flexibility capacity. The goal is to reduce the relevant deviation without using more flexibility than necessary.
-
05
Dispatch plants intelligently
The dispatch is distributed across suitable plants. Availability, technical reachability, controllability, approval and previous events are taken into account.
-
06
Adjust the dispatch continuously
ecm keeps monitoring the situation during the event. Plants are released or additional flexibility is activated as the requirement changes.
-
07
Document the results
All controls and flexibility events are logged at plant level and can be passed on to EDM, MDM or billing systems.
Your benefits
Reduce balancing energy costs without losing control.
Respond automatically
Continuous analysis and defined processes reduce manual intervention and ease the load on operational teams.
Transparency instead of a black box
Positions, prices, flexibility requirements and active dispatches remain clear and traceable for responsible teams.
Use existing plants
PV infrastructure can be connected through different communication drivers, including Solar-Log, SolarManager and Huawei.
Keep systems integrated
EDM, control systems, MDM, billing and other surrounding systems become part of one connected process.
Grow step by step
The modular architecture leaves room for additional flexibility types and energy-sector use cases.
Open system landscape
Your systems remain part of the process.
ecm Balancing Energy is not an isolated application. The platform connects energy data, plants and surrounding systems.
| System | Role in the process |
|---|---|
| EDM | Forecasts, EGS/LGS time series and ex-post metering data |
| Control system | Current readings from plants and grid transfer points |
| Swissgrid | Balancing energy prices and control-area data |
| PV / HEMS systems | Near-real-time readings and control commands |
| MDM | Further processing of metering and flexibility data |
| Billing system | Charging or compensating flexibility events |
Connect PV plantsSolar-Log · SolarManager · Huawei SmartLogger and dongle
solutions
ecm communicatorManage assets, read states and implement dispatches on
plants
Central plant control
Control flexibility centrally.
ecm communicator manages connected assets, reads their state and implements the flexibility dispatches requested by ecm Balancing Energy.
- Define controllability and approval per plant
- Manage technical output and communication drivers
- Set reference plants for extrapolation
- Log flexibility events at plant level
Start today. Extend tomorrow.
Balancing energy is the first use case of a broader flexibility platform.
Potential flexibility types
- Battery storage
- Hydropower plants
- Charging stations
- Boilers and controllable consumers
- Combined heat and power plants
- Other decentralised generation plants
Potential future use cases
- Optimisation in the short scenario
- Balancing power
- Peak shaving
- Distribution-grid congestion management
- Feed-in management
- Market- and grid-supportive flexibility
Customer testimonial
Bringing innovative solutions into practice together.
Direct exchange and short paths create the foundation for solutions that make a difference in everyday energy management.
Together with meonet, we were able to put a new and innovative concept for reducing balancing energy costs into practice.
We adhered to our ambitious timetable for implementation and go-live, and the system is demonstrating the desired impact in practice. Direct exchange with the developers allows the solution to be developed further in a targeted and rapid manner.
We can wholeheartedly recommend meonet.
Christoph WoodtliEnergie Thun AG
Frequently asked questions
ecm Balancing Energy explained.
Answers for energy companies, balance groups and teams integrating PV flexibility into energy management.
What is ecm Balancing Energy?
ecm Balancing Energy is a module of the ecm platform for actively managing forecast deviations. It combines current plant values, forecasts and market data and can derive automated flexibility dispatches.
Who is the module for?
The module is designed in particular for energy companies operating as suppliers or generators, sub-balance groups or balance groups with relevant decentralised production and controllable flexibility.
Which plants can be integrated today?
The current PV use case supports integrations such as Solar-Log, SolarManager and Huawei SmartLogger or dongle solutions. Additional communication drivers can be added.
Are PV plants always switched off completely?
No. The system calculates the required flexibility and distributes it across suitable plants. Dispatch power can be adjusted during an event.
Can ecm take the consumption side into account?
Yes. When suitable current metering data is available, sales load can be extrapolated and the net position can be considered.
Can the system respond to a short position?
The current productive focus is the long scenario and reducing PV production. Extending the module to short scenarios is planned as a future development.
Experience ecm Balancing Energy live
Ready to optimise your balancing energy actively?
We show you how ecm can be integrated into your existing system landscape.