Curtailment: a smart approach to energy management

Why is curtailment important?
The energy market is evolving rapidly. While solar energy has long been seen as an inexhaustible source of sustainable power, negative energy prices and grid congestion are introducing new challenges. Curtailment – the temporary reduction or shutdown of energy production – offers a solution to better align supply with demand.

When energy supply exceeds demand, electricity prices can drop below zero. In such cases, traditional solar parks continue injecting without curtailment, leading to financial losses. By strategically limiting injection at the right moments, these losses can be prevented, paving the way for a more efficient energy system.

From solar parks to a flexible energy system
Traditional solar parks were once solely focused on maximizing production. Today, the need for smart energy management is growing. Energy management systems (EMS) and technologies like the Power Plant Controller (PPC) enable solar parks to respond more effectively to market conditions. This allows owners to optimize their installations and avoid unnecessary costs. In most cases, curtailment can even add additional revenue streams for the solar park owners.

How does curtailment work?
During periods of negative energy prices or grid congestion, it can be more efficient to temporarily reduce or halt solar park production. This process is guided by energy market signals that indicate when and to what extent production should be adjusted.

Advanced technologies now allow solar parks to flexibly switch between different energy providers and market dynamics. This enhances control over energy production and contributes to greater grid stability and a balanced energy market.

Who benefits from curtailment?
Curtailment is becoming increasingly important for both solar park owners and energy suppliers:

• Solar park owners can avoid losses due to negative energy prices and better align their production with market conditions.
• Energy suppliers gain greater control over energy balancing, allowing them to manage supply and demand more efficiently.
• Both can profit from a mutual financial beneficial flex agreement for providing this service to the market.

Collaboration between these stakeholders creates a more flexible and stable energy system both on grid level and on local level with the maximization of the potential renewable energy.

The financial advantages of curtailment
While reducing production might initially seem like a loss, curtailment can actually lead to financial benefits. The energy market operates under two primary pricing mechanisms:

• The day-ahead market, where energy prices are set one day in advance based on prediction models.
• The imbalance market, where prices fluctuate in real-time based on actual supply and demand.

By strategically navigating these markets, solar park owners can optimize their revenues. In some cases, curtailment can even generate higher compensation than directly selling the produced electricity.

How does curtailment impact your installation
Going from a fixed to a flexible solar park means that production and power supply will also vary based on the market signal optimization. A smart implementation of an advanced power plant controller (PPC) can provide the solar park owners and the operations and maintenance (O&M) parties with the necessary insights on when park is behaving nominally or when the solar park is actually down due to an issue. Furthermore, accurate reporting and evaluation on the curtailed energy can be enabled by the implementation of an advanced PPC combined with an insightful monitoring platform.

The future of curtailment
The energy market is shifting toward greater flexibility and decentralization. In this evolving landscape, curtailment is becoming an essential tool for integrating renewable energy into the grid. The combination of smart technologies and advanced energy management ensures that solar parks are no longer just passive producers but active contributors to grid stability.

Why consider curtailment and energy management systems now?
Rapid changes in the energy market demand new strategies. Solar park owners and energy suppliers that proactively adapt can better navigate price fluctuations and grid congestion. Smart energy management and curtailment help mitigate the impact of negative energy prices, optimize local usage of energy and ensure a resilient and future-proof renewable energy system.

Need help? Ecorus knows how.
With years of experience in renewable energy solutions and a deep understanding of the evolving market, we provide the tools and expertise needed to implement effective smart energy systems. Our solutions ensure that solar park owners and energy suppliers stay ahead of market fluctuations while maximizing the value and control of their renewable assets.

Want to learn more? Get in touch with us to explore how curtailment and smart energy management systems can work for you.