Balancing energy: market plants flexibly

Classification

What is Powerflex?

Powerflex integrates flexible systems into BKW’s virtual power plant, thereby enabling access to flexibility markets. BKW handles integration, deployment management and billing, while you retain operational control.

Suitable installations include battery energy storage systems, combined heat and power plants, emergency power generators, small hydropower plants, industrial consumers and production processes, HVAC systems, biogas and biomass plants, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and other controllable installations.

Your benefits with BKW

Your partner for integrated, flexible asset management

Simplify market access, create additional revenue opportunities and retain operational control – with our expertise in flexibility.

Generate additional revenue from the availability of plants (standby) and the dispatched energy (activations).

You define the technical and operational limits of your installation and retain full control over operational processes.

Benefit from BKW's experience in operating virtual power plants, participating in the market and running the control centre 24/7.

The short-term unavailability of an individual asset does not result in a penalty fee in BKW’s Pooled Flexibility portfolio. The unavailable capacity is simply not monetised during this period.

Process

Connect your assets to the market

Powerflex connects flexible systems to BKW’s virtual power plant, enabling participation in the electricity market while you retain control.

Step 1

Asset potential

We assess the technical and economic potential of your installation and prepare a preliminary revenue estimate as well as a participation agreement.

Step 2

Connection and integration of assets

We securely connect your installation to BKW’s virtual power plant via an approved technical interface, such as the Powerflex Box.

Step 3

Testing and prequalification

We test the technical infrastructure and carry out the necessary steps for market approval or prequalification before commissioning, providing on-site support if required.

Step 4

Asset operations

We operate and market your flexibility, prepare reports and handle settlements. Your system remains available within the agreed operating limits.

Checkpoints

Experiences with Powerflex

Storage facilities, generation plants and flexible loads are connected to the relevant markets, with BKW handling integration, operational management and billing.

Easy market accessWe take care of the complex processes associated with market access, trading, settlement, reporting and billing.
24x7 control operationsThe operational teams provide flexibility around the clock to ensure reliable market participation.
Over 10 connected asset technologiesPowerflex combines a wide range of technologies, including photovoltaic systems, combined heat and power plants, batteries, hydropower, emergency generators, HVAC systems and industrial consumers.

Frequently asked questions

What municipalities should know about Powerflex

The answers provide initial guidance. We assess the specific suitability based on your asset and current market requirements.

Suitable assets include combined heat and power plants, small hydropower plants, emergency generators, batteries, industrial consumers, HVAC systems, photovoltaic systems, biomass or biogas plants and charging stations for electric vehicles. Suitability depends on controllability, metering, availability and market requirements.

Yes. Your operational requirements and technical limits are defined before market participation begins. BKW uses the flexibility of your system exclusively within the agreed limits, while you retain full control over your system and core operations.

BKW handles market access processing, pooling, bid submission, dispatch processing, monitoring, reporting and billing, enabling you to participate without having to set up your own trading or market operations.

Revenue is generated from the flexibility of your assets, for example in the ancillary services markets. This may include payments for the availability of the assets (standby/reserve) and for energy called upon (activation). The potential depends on the respective assets, availability, prices and product requirements.

Known restrictions can be taken into account in advance. Higher and more predictable availability generally increases revenue potential. In the BKW pooled portfolio, short-term outages generally do not result in any penalties; unavailable capacity is simply not marketed.

Onboarding usually takes between one and three months, depending on the complexity of the asset and any required pre-qualification.

Suitable assets can be securely connected to BKW's virtual power plant via the Powerflex Box or another approved technical interface.

Our experts will be happy to assist you in developing the right solution together with you.