Projektreferenzen

Wir sind stolz auf die mehr als 100 Projekte, die wir seit 2014 abgeschlossen haben. Sie reichen von großen BMWE-Vorhaben mit vielen Partner und Millionen-Budget bis zu kurzfristigen Beratungsprojekten, die in wenigen Wochen abgeschlossen sind. Einige der Projektberichte wurden veröffentlicht, darunter zuletzt die Folgenden:

2026 / ongoing

 

Market design for BESS (ECO STOR). Battery optimization is becoming increasingly constrained by FCAs and grid fees. In this project, we are developing a coherent set of incentives, rules, and restrictions for utility-scale batteries to minimize adverse grid impacts while preserving their value for balancing and wholesale markets. Ongoing.

Swiss–EU agreement (Swissgrid). Switzerland and the EU have proposed an agreement to ingrate electricity markets more deeply. We assess the implications of the proposal for system security, market efficiency, and regulatory impacts. The goal is to provide a concise, fact-based foundation for public and political discussion and to support Swissgrid in transparent, evidence-based communication. Neon’s work centers on balancing market integration. Ongoing.

DataFlex (TSOs). Germany relies on mandatory redispatch with cost compensation to manage grid congestion. Integrating batteries and flexible demand into this system is challenging, as determining fair compensation is complex. Voluntary, market-based redispatch is often proposed as an alternative; however, it can create adverse incentives for market participants, such as baseline manipulation and increase-decrease gaming. In this pilot project, we support TSOs TenneT and TransnetBW in evaluating and enhancing the auction and compensation rules for market-based redispatch. Ongoing.

Grid tariffs (Creos). Luxembourg’s electricity system is undergoing profound changes, requiring a reform of grid tariffs for medium and high voltage customers by 2027, potentially including the introduction of dynamic grid fees. This reform process involves Creos, other grid operators, the regulator, and the government. Neon supports these stakeholders by structuring the reform process, providing rigorous economic assessments of grid tariffs, and identifying lessons learned from other countries. Ongoing.

Synchronizing Renewables with Grids (dena). This project addresses rising network costs in Germany resulting from the rapid expansion of renewable energy. We design and evaluate policy options to more effectively internalize these costs and support the government’s objective of synchronizing renewable deployment with grid expansion. The focus is on aligning investment and operational decisions with grid requirements, while maintaining the momentum of the energy transition. Ongoing.

Grid impact of batteries (multi client). The expansion of utility-scale batteries in Germany faces strong opposition, driven by concerns about their impact on the grid. For a consortium of five battery developers, we outline the welfare benefits that batteries provide to the power system. In addition, we propose guidelines for instruments that improve the grid impact of batteries. 2025-26.

Grids & Benefits (UnternehmerTUM). Grids & Benefits is a pilot project to implement dynamic grid fees, involving TSOs, DSOs, and aggregators. We support the project with a focus on high-level stakeholder management, strategic project development, and external communication of the project and its results. Ongoing.

Locational signals (BMWE). To efficiently integrate the growing number of flexible consumers into the system and reduce the need for ever-increasing grid investments, locational signals are essential. Such signals may arise from more granular wholesale markets (zonal, nodal pricing), grid tariffs (usage, connection), or investment mechanisms (renewables support schemes, capacity mechanisms). In this project, we are supporting the German government in the development and evaluation of instruments for local signals. Ongoing.

Progress report solar (BMWE). Along with our partner ZSW, we write the current edition of the regular progress report on solar energy. We are tasked with assessing the impact of dynamic tariffs and dynamic grid fees on small-scale solar. Ongoing.

Electricity strategy (BMWE). Germany’s economics ministry engaged us to support the development and implementation of the overall strategy in transforming and decarbonizing the country’s electricity supply. Ongoing.

Electricity grid (BMWE). This large project, led by Consentec, supports the German government in a range of questions related to network expansion planning. We provide advice on grid financing, including cross-border cost sharing and reforms of network charges. Ongoing.

Demand-side flexibility (BMWE). Everyone loves demand-side flexibility, but it hasn’t taken off yet. A crucial reason are various regulatory hurdles, from the (lack of) smart meters to peak demand network charges. We support Germany’s DOE in this domain. Ongoing.

Renewables support scheme (BMWE). Germany needs to reform its support scheme by 1 Jan 2027. A particular concern are undistorted dispatch incentives for wind and solar energy. Along with our partners Guidehouse and Consentec, we provide assessment and advice on various proposed reforms. Ongoing.

Nodal pricing (Enercity). Few energy policy questions are debated so fiercely as the split of the German bidding zone. For Hannover’s Enercity, we deliver a study on the pros and cons of uniform, zonal, and nodal pricing. 2025-26. Report

EU electricity market design (BMWE). European legislation shapes electricity markets, and more change is coming. This project provides continuous support and advice for Germany’s energy ministry in upcoming EU electricity market negotiations in a variety of topics ranging from support schemes to grid fees and capacity mechanisms. Ongoing.

Capacity mechanism (BMWE). After a political decision to introduce a capacity market, this two-year project develops such a market for Germany’s BMWK. The overall project is coordinated by Consentec, we lead the work on hedging obligations. Ongoing.

 

 

 

2025

 

Congestion management review (ENTSO-E). With the rise of wind and solar energy, battery, and electrification, grid congestion is becoming increasing challenges for many TSOs. In this report, ENTSO-E provides a comprehensive summary and evaluation of congestion management solutions. We reviewed and discussed the study with TSO representatives from 20 European countries. 2025.

EV flexibility (industrial company). Smart charging and vehicle-to-grid will reshape EV economics and OEM business models. We provide electricity market expertise, regulatory advice, and long-term scenarios to a leading European OEM. 2025.

Grid impact of thermal storage (industrial company). Heat batteries enable electrification of industrial heat by converting intermittent renewables into steady heat flows. Current grid tariffs favor base load profiles, discouraging flexible heat pump demand. We supported a heat battery provide in the German grid reform consultation and demonstrated that flexible heat pump demand offers both grid and customer cost advantages over base load. 2025.

Electricity procurement costs (industrial company). Wholesale prices, subsidies, and grid tariffs are critical for electrification investments in energy-intensive industries. For a major European energy consumer, we provide technical and regulatory expertise for a planned billion-euro investment. 2025.

Smart charging (utility). For a German utility, we advise on decentralized flexibility, focusing on smart charging and vehicle-to-grid. 2025.

Management fee reform (SFOE). Switzerland’s move to a single-price ISP in 2026 requires updating the management fee methodology for renewables. We analyze the current approach and develop a transparent formula reflecting balancing costs under the new market design. 2025. Report

Dynamic tariff (Naturstrom). German utilities with more than 200,000 customers must offer a dynamic retail tariff, but only a few households have adopted such tariffs. For Naturstrom, one of the ten largest German utilities, we analyzed which household types benefit from dynamic tariffs and quantified the potential to unlock household flexibility. 2025. Report

Balancing energy auctions (ElCom). Since the introduction of the PICASSO-compatible bidding process, Switzerland has seen a sharp increase in balancing prices. This project analyzes the causes of the price rise and evaluates the current market design. Based on this, we develop concrete proposals for improving the Swiss balancing market. 2025.

Flexibility roadmap (utility). With the rise of EVs and batteries, electricity consumers are becoming increasingly flexible. Load shifting is becoming less a question of technical capability and more a matter of providing appropriate incentives. This shift has significant implications for the utility business model. In this project, we support a leading European utility in developing a comprehensive flexibility roadmap. 2025.

Price spikes (50Hertz). The study evaluates economic causes of extremely high power prices, as well as withholding of capacity by power plant operators to artificially inflate prices. The goal is to develop practical recommendations to prevent future price spikes and mitigate their negative effects on consumers. 2025. Report

Offshore energy island (project developer). Germany has ambitious offshore wind targets that require costly grid expansion. For a large project developer, we assess whether a hybrid hydrogen/electrical connection of North Sea wind can reduce system costs. 2025.

REMIT (court). Expert witness report on behalf of a court in an ongoing REMIT-related lawsuit involving alleged market manipulation in the allocation and use of transmission rights. 2025.

Flexibility (utility). Power system flexibility is a cross-cutting issue for utilities, network operators, and providers of decentralized power services. We assist an integrated utility in consolidating flex-related activities across all units of the holding. 2025.

Grid impact of BESS (ECO STOR). Today, most battery project developers obtain a grid connection only by accepting operational restrictions. In this project, we supported ECO STOR by defining and quantifying grid utility and discussing instruments improving the congestion impact of utility-scale batteries. 2025. Report

REMIT (utility). Expert witness report on behalf of a European utility in a REMIT-related market manipulation lawsuit concerning imbalance settlement. 2025.

Non-market clearing (utility). The rapid expansion of renewables, combined with insufficient curtailment, is increasing the likelihood of supply exceeding demand. In these cases, the day-ahead market may not clear despite steeply negative prices. We developed a prediction model to assess the probability of such events. 2025.

Settlement price (utility). Several European countries move towards more liberal imbalance settlement rules and introduce a symmetric imbalance settlement price. Against this background, we supported a utility updating its trading and investment strategies. 2024-25.

Scheduling process (TSOs). Market parties have to submit a schedule to their connecting TSO, forecasting generation and consumption. However, they often have an incentives to submit a biased forecast. For the German TSOs, we evaluate options to improve schedule accuracy, building on lessons learned from other countries. 2024-25.

Excess electricity (BMWK). The fast expansion of solar energy comes at a price: because many investments small-scale and subject to a feed-in-tariff, they keep generation even if supply exceeds demand. In this project, we forecast the probability of excess electricity situations for coming years and support the German government addressing the problem. 2025.

Smart charging (Rabot). Dynamic tariffs allow owners of EVs to benefit financially from charging their cars when it is cheapest. Time-of-use grid fees, intraday optimization, and bidirectional charging leverage such optimization. For Rabot Energy, a smart charging pioneer, we quantify the financials for a range of typical German drivers. 2024-25.

 

 

2024

 

Strategic advisory (project developer). For a European wind, solar and battery developer, we provide strategic advice, focusing on capture rates, regulatory change and market design. 2024.

Solar price effect (BSW). Imagine a year without solar energy. With reduced supply, wholesale prices would be much higher than they actually are. For trade association BSW, we empirically quantify this solar price effect. 2024.

Consultation (industrial company). After the German government publishing an electricity market white paper (“Strommarkt der Zukunft”), we provided support in drafting a stakeholder consultation response. 2024.

Dynamic FIT (50Hertz). Germany now has 60+ GW of solar capacity under the feed-in-tariff. Those generators won’t stop producing, even if oversupply sends wholesale price in negative territory. For TSO 50Hertz, we develop a reformed feed-in-tariff that incentives producers to turn of in situations of oversupply. 2024.

Grid fees (Industrial company). Network charges make up an ever-increasing share of industrial electricity bills, jeopardizing electrification investments. We provide forecasts of TSO grid fees until 2040, including projections of capacity and energy charges. 2024.

§19(2) StromNEV (TenneT). For decades, Germany’s system of rebates for grid fees for heavy industry has prevented industrial demand-side response. Finally, a reform window has opened. In this project, we identify the numerous problems of the current rebates and propose a range of reform options. 2024. Report (DE | EN)

Wind competitiveness (RE project developer). The cannibalization effect threatens to make wind energy a victim of its own success. For a large onshore developer, we assess future factors that support wind competitiveness and provide input for a new business strategy. 2024.

Imbalance settlement price (Swissgrid). Concerned about large system imbalances, Switzerland has decided to reform its imbalance settlement price. We provide quantitative assessment of proposed pricing system and develop a new pricing regime. Our proposal is derived from first principles and informed by the real-world experience of other countries. 2024.

Support schemes (BMWK). Germany needs to update its renewables support scheme for wind and solar energy to comply with EU law. A particular concern is to reduce dispatch distortions. We provide assessment and advice on a range of options ranging from incremental reforms to fixed-for-floating swaps. 2024.

Network charges (Chancellery). Rising network charges are an increasing concern for policy makers, driven by concern about industrial competitiveness. For Germany’s chancellery, we assessed current and future development of grid costs and network charges. 2024.

Grid fees (Industrial company).  Forecast of German TSO network charges on an annual basis until 2040 based on projections of investment, cost of capital, ancillary services, electricity prices, and electricity demand. 2024.

Ancillary services (Battery project developer). Battery project eye ancillary services as sources of revenues. Those include upcoming markets such as reactive power and synthetic inertia. We provided an assessment of ancillary services markets and ad-hoc input to business case development for a European battery project developer. 2024.

Offshore tender (RE project developer). Offshore wind tenders now often include non-price criteria. We reviewed the tender documents for a European offshore project and provided input regarding system integration. 2024.

REMIT (Utility). Lion served as an expert witness on behalf of a European utility in a REMIT-related market manipulation lawsuit concerning balancing markets. 2024.

Value of flexibility (ZVEI). Small-scaled demand-side flexibility resources such as EVs, heat pumps, and solar batteries are widely acknowledged as core ingredients of future energy systems, but scale-up is sluggish in practice. In this report, we estimated the economic value for markets and grids based on a numerical Python model. 2023-24. Report (DE | EN)

Cross-border forward markets (TSOs). European TSOs issue long-term transmission rights. ACER had proposed numerous changes, including the establishment of a virtual hub. In this report for the German TSOs, we develop an analytical framework to assess cross-border forward markets and assess these proposals. 2023-24. Report

Real-time price (Elia). Belgium TSO Elia works on reforming its imbalance settlement price in the context of PICASSO. As part of a review committee, we provide input and assessments and support external communication. 2023-24.

 

2023

 

Industrial power prices (Agora Energiewende). Study on design options for electricity price subsidies for industrial consumers, considering incentives, hedging and flexibility. 2023.

Network charges (Staatskanzlei Niedersachsen). Briefing paper on the current state of network charges in Germany, shortcomings, and reform options. 2023.

Electricity market reform (European Parliament). Assessment of electricity market reform proposals such as CfDs, PPAs, price caps, and peak shaving. Joint project with Bruegel for ITRE committee. 2023. Report

Smart retail tariffs (Utility). Proposal for a dynamic retail tariff that offers customers price insurance without stifling decentralized flexibility (report DE|EN) and dynamic grid fees (report DE|EN). 2023.

German electricity market (Utility). Along with PA Consulting, we provided a global energy company with strategic assessments of the German power market. 2023.

Revenue cap implementation (BNetzA). Germany’s energy regulator is tasked with implementing the revenue cap on power generators. Along with Frontier Economics, we provided economic expertise. Ongoing.

Passive balancing (multi client). Study on the role of decentral balancing, i.e. the response of market parties to imbalance prices, commissioned by a group of market parties. 2023. Report (DE|EN)

Electricity market design (Agora Energiewende). Support of Germany’s leading energy think tank on electricity market design, in particular regional dynamic network charges. 2022-23. Report (DE|EN)

Gaming (TenneT). Game-theoretical assessment of local markets for flexibility, formally identifying optimal increase-decrease bidding strategies and mitigation measures. Joint work with Takon and ZEW. 2021-24. Working paper

Coal exit (BMWi). Germany’s government committed to cancel carbon certificates along with its coal exit. In this project with Aurora, we provided estimates how many certificates to delete. 2021-23.

 

2022

 

Intraday / Balancing (TSO). Econometric identification of the link between intraday prices and balancing activation based on millions of individual transactions. We found a strong correlation, a possible sign for insider trading. 2022.

Electricity market design (Utility). Analytics and assessments on the EU market design reform, focusing on offshore wind. 2022.

Imbalance settlement pricing (Elia). Support in developing a new imbalance settlement pricing scheme in Belgium in the context of PICASSO. 2022.

Future gas costs (E3G). Assessment of future costs of gas supply for Berlin-based think tank E3G. 2022. Report

Home battery storage (Sonnen). Simulations for optimizing home battery storage operations during the energy crisis. 2022.

PV support scheme design (Swissgrid). Support scheme for solar energy centered around generation adequacy. We proposed an optimized contract for differences. 2022.

Consumer centric market design (50Hertz / Elia). Study on better integration of flexible consumers into power markets, particularly device-specific metering, passive balancing, and ex-ante firm imbalance pricing. 2022.

Balancing markets (Utility). For a European storage investor, we provided an assessment of multiple European balancing markets and long-term balancing price forecasts. 2022.

Future Energy Outlook (TransitionZero). Advice on setting up a global energy outlook, including recruitment and technical model development. 2021-22.

Charging infrastructure (Agora Verkehrswende). Partnering with Consentec, we assessed the market for public EV charging infrastructure and developed a proposal for a competitive market design. 2021-22. Report

Nodal pricing model (TSO). Development of a GAMS load flow model of Europe for simulations of locational marginal prices. 2021-22.

Dispatch Hubs (Elia / 50Hertz). For TSOs Elia und 50Hertz we assess the incentives implied in multiple variants of their “Dispatch Hub” proposals, in particular incentives for inc-dec gaming. 2020-22. Report

2021

 

Strommarkttreffen (Agora Energiewende). For many years, we organized and grew Strommarkttreffen, a professional network that links researchers with practitioners. Agora Energiewende supported us financially. 2016-21.

Intraday / balancing (multi client). For a group of German electricity trading houses, we assessed the German intraday electricity market. Using state-of-the-art econometrics, we found the activation of balancing reserves to be followed by price movements. 2021. Report (DE|EN)

Open energy outlook (TransitionZero). On behalf of NGO TransitionZero, we developed a technical proposal for a transparent, rigorous global energy systems model. 2021.

Redispatch for loads (BMWi). Outline of incentive-based participation of electricity consumers in Germany’s redispatch system based on capacity remuneration. Key design parameters are assessed with respect to economic efficiency and gaming incentives. Study for the Economics Ministry. 2020-21.

Procurement of ancillary services (BMWi). Assessment of market-based procurement of non-frequency ancillary services such as inertia, black start capability and voltage support. Teaming up with EF.Ruhr and others, Neon served as work package leader. 2019-21. Report 1 | Report 2

 

2020

 

Italy’s PUN (BMWi). The Italian electricity market has six different bidding zones, but consumers pay a uniform prezzio nationale unico (PUN). For Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, we assessed the pro’s and con’s of such an arrangement. 2020.

System imbalances (Trading company). During three episodes in June 2019, Germany’s power system was heavily out of balance. For a European trading house, we provided expertise and analysis on the reasons and regulatory implications. 2019-20.

RE auction design (BMWi). Evaluation of Germany’s renewable energy auctions and assessment of reform options on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. Navigant served as project lead. Neon contributed analyses of system-friendly wind power and locational signals. 2018-20. Report

Open modeling (BMWi). Study on open source energy system modeling and open data in the energy sector for BMWi. Neon lead a consortium of DIW Berlin, TU Berlin and ETH Zurich. 2018-20. OPSD | Report | Paper

Market-based redispatch (BMWi). Large study on competitive procurement of redispatch resources and local flexibility markets. Our core conclusion was that the risk of inc-dec gaming likely outweighs potential benefits. Neon served as project lead of a large consortium. 2017-20. Markt/Netz report (DE) | Final Report (DE | EN)

Earlier

 

EU electricity market design (BMWi). Policy advice on wholesale market and balancing market design for Germany’s Economics Ministry in the context of the Clean Energy Package. Neon was member of a consortium with Connect Energy Economics, Consentec, and others. 2016-19.

ENTSO-E Transparency Platform (European Commission). Quality assessment of the data provided by European Transmission System Operators for DG Energy, Brussels. 2017. An article based on this study appeared in Applied Energy. Report | Article

Grid benefits of offshore wind (RE project developer). Neon delivered input to a policy paper, assessing the grid and system benefits of offshore wind, driver by high capacity factors. 2016.

Wind value lift (RE project developer). Evaluation of design options and operation strategies to improve the economics of wind power under market conditions. 2016-17.

Trading benchmark (Trading company). Regulatory assessment and quantitative cost benchmarks for portfolio management costs of renewable energy for the trading department of a major European utility. 2017.

Nodal vs. zonal pricing (BMWi). Consulting on locational price signals in wholesale markets for Germany’s Economics Ministry. Joint project with Consentec. 2016-17. Report

Open Power System Data (BMWi). Construction of an online platform for European power system data. Neon coordinated a team of three research institutes. 2015-17. Platform

RE time series (Utility). Neon developed time series of wind and solar generation at high granularity from re-analysis models. 2016.

Electricity market design (IEA-RETD). Assessment of long-term wholesale and retail power market design under very high shares of variable renewables in cooperation with FTI CL Energy. 2015-16. Report

Benefits of hydro flexibility (Utility). Model-based assessment of capture prices for a European utility. Neon provided a model-based assessment of the market value of wind energy and hydroelectricity. 2016.

Price drop (Swedish Energy). Swedish wholesale power prices declined by two thirds from 2010 to 2015. Neon conducted a model-based assessment of the reasons for this price drop. 2016. Report

Wind value in the Nordics (Energiforsk). Model-based assessment of the market value of wind energy in the hydro-dominated power system of the Nordic region. Neon designed the study, developed the model, and wrote the report, which appeared in Applied Energy. 2016. Article

Model development (Trading company). Neon supported the trading department of a major European utility in power market model development. 2015.

Whole system costs (DECC). Neon reviewed a report on whole system costs of wind and solar power for the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, London. 2015. Report

Renewables integration cost (Agora Energiewende). Qualitative study for Agora Energiewende. Neon advised Agora and helped implement workshops in Berlin and Paris. 2015. Report

System-friendly wind and solar (IEA). Model-based study for the International Energy Agency. Neon assessed the market and system benefits of low-wind speed turbines and west-oriented PV. 2014-16. Paper