Bnewable helps companies avoid negative injection prices with PV optimization

In 2024, Belgium counted as many as 408 hours with negative electricity prices. That means generated power from solar panels is worth nothing at those times – or even that producers have to pay to put it on the grid. For companies with large solar installations, that puts pressure on the return on their investment.

The number of hours with negative prices increases year after year, and everything indicates that this trend will continue. The cause lies in the rapidly growing share of renewable energy, which, combined with limited demand, leads to moments of oversupply on the grid Anyone investing in PV today is counting on a stable return. But if the market value of the power produced suddenly drops or becomes negative, that return comes under pressure.

A smart way to get more out of solar energy

Bnewable is therefore launching a new PV optimization solution specifically designed for companies with large rooftops or solar farms. The approach combines battery storage with Voltana, the energy management platform developed in-house by Bnewable. The goal: to avoid injecting solar energy at times when it is not producing anything – or costing money. When there is more production than consumption, the battery stores the excess energy. When the battery is full and market prices fall below zero, Voltana intervenes. The platform applies smart curtailment: production is temporarily controlled based on real-time market signals. Thus, the solar energy generated is used in the most financially advantageous way possible or.

No investment required

Companies do not need to invest in batteries or complex software themselves. Bnewable offers this solution in a Battery-as-a-Service model: we assume the investment costs for the battery, and the customer shares in the value generated. This makes PV optimization accessible without major financial barriers. Our customers benefit from:

• better utilization of generated solar energy

• protection against price fluctuations

• shorter payback period of existing PV installations

• new revenue streams through flexibility services

Think ahead in a changing energy market

Whereas solar installations used to be mostly about production, today it’s increasingly about management. When do you produce? When do you consume? And how do you avoid injection at the wrong time? With this smart PV solution, Bnewable helps companies regain control of their energy bills, while contributing to a more stable and efficient electricity system.

📩 PV optimization useful for your business? Feel free to contact us.