Taking a more Commercial Approach in the Wind Energy Sector

In our recent panel discussion we hosted at WindEnergy Hamburg 2024 event, one of key points that was discussed highlighted the urgent need for companies in the renewable energy sector to adapt their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to align better with both operational and market realities. This shift is crucial in the face of an increasingly complex energy market, where success depends not only on efficient asset management but also on optimising financial outcomes through smart, data-driven decisions.

Traditionally, KPIs in the industry have focused on asset availability and total energy production. However, the panel advocated for a more strategic approach, introducing the concept of Commercial Availability. This new KPI emphasises the importance of ensuring that assets are operational when energy prices are at their peak and scaling down production when prices drop or turn negative. By focusing on this market-aligned metric, operators can maximize profitability while still maintaining operational efficiency, ensuring that their energy production aligns with market demand and pricing fluctuations.

This conversation ties directly into a broader theme at WindEnergy Hamburg 2024: reducing operational costs while boosting profitability. As the renewable energy market grows, companies are under pressure to lower their expenses while ensuring their operations remain competitive and agile. At Green Eagle Solutions, we contribute to this goal with our advanced automation solution, ARSOS, which helps streamline critical operational processes, cut down on unnecessary costs and helps control room teams have more time to focus on critical tasks that require human attention and value-added tasks.

In particular, the ARSOS Grid & Market Robot empowers renewable energy operators to optimise profitability by automating key decisions based on real-time market dynamics and grid requirements. It ensures assets are fully operational when energy prices peak, maximizing revenue, while automatically scaling back production when prices drop or turn negative, helping to avoid financial losses. Additionally, it automates responses to grid operator demands for ancillary services such as frequency regulation, voltage control, and curtailments, allowing operators to contribute to grid stability while unlocking new revenue streams.

Moreover, the solution ensures compliance with regional grid codes, including the European ENTSO-E standards, by automating monitoring and adjustments to meet regulatory requirements. By integrating these capabilities, ARSOS reduces operational complexity, enhances overall performance, and enables operators to make faster, smarter decisions.

The measurable benefits of ARSOS are clear: by automating repetitive tasks and improving operational efficiency, wind farm operators can achieve faster response times, higher operational quality, and better decision-making. Over time, these efficiencies have led to substantial production gains, with operators reporting between €200 and €400 in additional revenue per megawatt per year, all while significantly lowering maintenance costs.To learn more about these insights and the future of the industry, you can watch the full panel discussion below.

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