Lithuanian energy company Ignitis and German software provider emsys VPP are expanding their cooperation on virtual power plants. The virtual power plant (VPP) that emsys VPP built for Ignitis will be extended with functions for supplying balancing energy on the Baltic electricity market, with battery storage systems integrated to support frequency control in the Lithuanian grid.
The two companies have worked together since 2024. The VPP was originally set up to support direct marketing of Ignitis’ portfolio of around 650 MW, and also covers generation forecasts for its wind and solar assets. According to the companies, battery systems are already traded successfully on the intraday market. The new module adds the ability to bid flexible assets into balancing markets.
To take part, assets must be technically connected, prequalified and linked to the control system of Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid. The current focus is on automatic and manual frequency restoration reserves (aFRR and mFRR). The companies said the solution could later be extended to wind and solar plants.
The release links the need for flexibility to the Baltic states’ synchronisation with the continental European grid. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected from the Russian-controlled IPS/UPS system on 8 February 2025 and joined the ENTSO-E synchronous area the following day, which brought new requirements for frequency control.
“Battery storage systems in particular can react very quickly to changes in the grid and therefore play a key role in increasing flexibility,” said Eike Arndt, managing director of emsys VPP. Aivaras Slivikas, head of short-term trading at Ignitis, said pooling batteries in the VPP allows the company to respond more precisely to demand on the power and balancing markets. The project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under its renewable energy solutions programme.
