New Business Opportunities in the Electricity Market

Zagreb, 30 October 2026 – Dario Antolović, Director of Integrated Energy Services at ENNA Next, took part in the panel discussion “New Rules for the Croatian Electricity Market” at the Green Energy Fair, a renewable energy exhibition held at Arena Zagreb on 28 and 29 October.

The other panellists were Luka Pehar, Director of the Electricity Market Sector at HROTE, and Davor Bošnjak, Director of Short-Term Trading at HEP Trgovina. The discussion was moderated by Marko Perožić, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Bloomberg Adria.

The discussion focused on whether the regulatory framework and market mechanisms are ready for the growing share of renewable energy sources, as well as the role of battery energy storage systems, aggregation and new opportunities in the ancillary services market.

Speaking about the application of battery energy storage systems, Antolović highlighted how ENNA Next offers its partners a range of viable business models, depending on their needs and the type of installation.

- We integrate facilities into the day-ahead market, monitoring electricity prices to identify the optimal times to store energy in batteries, feed it into the grid or use it for own consumption. We also work with producers who want to shift the sale of their electricity from periods with the least favourable market conditions to periods when prices are more favourable, thereby achieving faster returns and greater benefits. Stand-alone battery storage is another interesting solution, where electricity is drawn from the grid and stored - said Antolović.

He also emphasised the importance of aggregation, which involves connecting a large number of smaller generation and flexible energy assets into virtual power plants.

- This is a model we are already developing at ENNA Next. Our portfolio includes installations ranging from 30 kW to 40 MW, and by combining their capacities, we create additional value for our partners, who receive compensation for the flexibility they provide - he added.

Antolović also welcomed the recent launch of an interactive map showing available distribution grid capacity, describing it as an important step towards greater transparency and easier planning of new energy projects.

The panellists agreed that the growing share of renewable energy sources and the increasingly frequent occurrence of negative electricity prices require new market models and greater system flexibility. Battery energy storage, aggregation and ancillary services markets will therefore play an increasingly important role in the future electricity system.