Trading partner
ENGIE and the Voltmasters EMS
ENGIE Business Belgium monetises batteries and large solar installations across multiple markets simultaneously: day-ahead, imbalance and reserve capacity (FCR/aFRR). Commercial batteries qualify from 250 kW; for PV installations ENGIE offers smart steering (Smart Steering) from 500 kWp. The Voltmasters EMS is a compatible control platform for both services and executes dispatch and curtailment signals locally and safely.
Who is ENGIE?
ENGIE (formerly Electrabel) is Belgium's largest energy group, active in more than 30 countries. In Belgium, ENGIE holds the full set of market licences: supplier, balance responsible party (BRP) and balancing service provider (BSP). With its own BESS portfolio of more than 300 MW (Vilvoorde 200 MW, Kallo 100 MW, Drogenbos 80 MW), ENGIE has the greatest battery expertise in the Belgian market. Through ENGIE Business, companies with a battery from 250 kW gain access to the same markets and algorithms ENGIE uses for its own installations. Alongside BESS optimisation, ENGIE also offers smart steering for large PV installations: through a flexible injection contract and a cloud dispatch platform, PV inverters are automatically steered based on market prices and grid status. The Voltmasters EMS is a recognised compatible control platform for ENGIE's Smart Steering programme, for PV installations from 500 kWp.
Our partnership
ENGIE sends dispatch signals to the Voltmasters EMS based on real-time market prices, weather forecasts and the local production and consumption profile of the site. The on-site controller executes those signals: charge and discharge commands for the battery, curtailment for the PV inverters. Throughout, it continuously guards the grid connection, the limits of the grid contract and the safety margins of every device.
Technical, in short
- Secure API connection with authentication via credentials provided by ENGIE
- ENGIE sends dispatch signals (BESS) and curtailment signals (PV) via a cloud dispatch platform
- The Voltmasters EMS is a recognised compatible control system for ENGIE Smart Steering (PV) and BESS dispatch
- Configuration happens in the project's energy trading settings in the platform
- Minimum BESS capacity: 250 kW
- Minimum PV installation size for smart steering: 500 kWp
Higher autonomy. Additional revenue. Less CO2.
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Multiple markets
Simultaneous monetisation on day-ahead, imbalance, FCR and aFRR. ENGIE optimises across all markets at once.
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Belgium's largest BRP
As market leader, ENGIE manages the largest balance portfolio in the country, resulting in better dispatch quality.
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Smart PV steering from 500 kWp
ENGIE Smart Steering automatically steers PV inverters via a cloud dispatch platform. The Voltmasters EMS is a recognised compatible control system.
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Proven BESS expertise
With 300+ MW of own battery capacity in Belgium, ENGIE has the most experienced operational team.
How it works
How to connect a project to ENGIE
Sign a contract with ENGIE
Your customer signs a contract directly with ENGIE. We help choose the right market product and guide the configuration from start to finish.
Activate the connection
The connection is activated in the project's energy trading settings. For your first project we guide the configuration from start to finish.
Live on the market
From then on the installation follows ENGIE's steering signals. In the platform you track the imbalance prices, the activations and the revenue per device, live.
FAQ
Questions about the ENGIE connection
Which markets does ENGIE monetise through the Voltmasters EMS?
Day-ahead, imbalance market and reserve capacity markets (FCR and aFRR). ENGIE optimises dispatch across all markets simultaneously, based on real-time price signals and the site's local profile.
What is the minimum installation size for an ENGIE connection?
Batteries qualify from 250 kW. For PV smart steering (Smart Steering), ENGIE requires a minimum of 500 kWp. Smaller BESS installations can be bundled into a virtual capacity that meets market thresholds.
Does ENGIE also use the Voltmasters EMS for PV steering?
Yes. ENGIE Smart Steering for large solar parks works via a cloud dispatch platform that sends curtailment signals to the local EMS. The Voltmasters EMS is a compatible control system for this programme: it receives those signals and executes them safely on the PV inverters, within the limits of the grid contract and the safety margins of the installation.
Does the installation stay safe while ENGIE is steering?
Yes. ENGIE signals take priority over the standard algorithms, but the Voltmasters controller always enforces the project limits: the maximum power of the grid connection, the limits of the grid contract and the safety margins of every device.
Ready to make your first project pay off?
Tell us about your next installation. We will show you the platform, help you build the business case and guide you from first quote to certification.