Kiwigrid launches pan-European VPP platform

German energy software company Kiwigrid has launched a pan-European VPP platform designed to integrate, optimize, and monetize the flexibility of distributed energy assets. The company said the open-architecture platform builds on its existing Energy IoT platform, which is currently used by more than 100,000 connected energy management systems.

Kiwigrid said the platform is intended for electricity retailers, utilities, installers, and flexibility aggregators seeking to participate in emerging energy markets without developing their own infrastructure. The company said distributed assets such as PV systems, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers can be aggregated and coordinated to respond to price signals, participate in balancing markets, and provide grid services.

As an initial step, Kiwigrid has partnered with dynamic electricity retailer Tibber. The companies said the collaboration will allow customers to monetize the flexibility of their energy systems through participation in energy markets.

Kiwigrid cited data showing that about 5% of Germany’s electricity generation was curtailed in 2025 because of grid constraints. The company said European regulators are increasingly moving toward market structures that require renewable energy assets to provide active management and flexibility services. In Germany, renewable generators that do not participate in flexible marketing mechanisms could lose access to certain compensation schemes from 2027.

The company said its platform is technology-agnostic and designed to avoid dependence on closed ecosystems, allowing integration with equipment from multiple manufacturers. Kiwigrid also said the platform is developed and operated entirely in Europe and complies with emerging cybersecurity and data protection requirements, including rules linked to the NIS2 directive and critical infrastructure security standards.

Market expansion

Separately, German startup 1Komma5° said its Heartbeat AI virtual power plant has reached 1 GW of flexible capacity under management. The platform aggregates residential PV systems, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. The company said customers pay a fixed monthly subscription fee for energy optimization services that shift consumption to periods of high solar generation or low electricity prices and enable electricity sales during periods of elevated market prices.

German utility Enercity and UK technology company Kraken are also developing a virtual power plant platform designed to aggregate PV systems, residential batteries, and other distributed energy resources. The companies said the system will coordinate thousands of assets to support renewable integration, reduce grid congestion, and participate in ancillary services markets.

Meanwhile, Germany-based Sonnen, a subsidiary of Shell, is expanding its Texas virtual power plant through a battery-only model. The company is adding households without rooftop solar by installing 60 kWh residential battery systems at no upfront cost and integrating them into its aggregation platform. Sonnen said it plans to add up to 10,000 customers under the model by the end of 2026, providing about 600 MWh of additional flexible capacity.

German battery manufacturer Tesvolt is also expanding into energy trading through its subsidiary Tesvolt Energy. The company said it will aggregate commercial and industrial battery storage systems ranging from 100 kWh to 10 MW and market their flexibility through partnerships with energy traders Enspired, Entrix, and The Mobility House.

From pv magazine España