The real energy transition cannot take place without a profound flexibilization of the National Energy System (NES), is the central message delivered by Valentin Mihai, Country Manager of Nano Energies Romania, at the 11th Energy Strategy Summit, the flagship event of Energynomics. “There is a direct relationship between the balancing capacity of the SEN and the penetration of renewable energy in the national mix. The more we introduce more entities able to offset the imbalances generated by green sources, the more important they will become in the total energy production,” Mihai explained.
In his view, the flexibility of the energy system is the backbone of renewable integration. This implies a paradigm shift in the ratio between production and consumption, which is becoming increasingly unmanageable as variable renewable energy enters the national mix. “Balancing the ratio between consumption and production is essential, especially in the context of the increasing share of renewable energy, which brings increased variability into the system,” he emphasized.
Nano Energies builds on the concept of the virtual power plant – a digital network of flexible sources and consumptions that can be coordinated in real time to support the balance of the energy system. “We are the independent aggregator of flexibility, i.e. we manage the ability of sources to operate outside the normal regime, with up or down reserves of power, to regulate the frequency of the power system,” Mihai explained.
He detailed how this approach turns existing resources into flexible assets. “It’s a digital power plant that brings together several existing real power plants – either with small capacities or with an operating schedule that doesn’t allow full-day reservations. Together they can offer real flexibility to the power system.”
In the Czech Republic, Nano Energies is the market leader in balancing services, with two-thirds of the national market. The model is already being scaled up in other countries, including Germany and Poland. The company has offices in six countries and manages a portfolio of over 300 MW of contracted flexibility.
Valentin Mihai also emphasized the economic benefits of this model: “It’s a win-win-win activity: the energy system gains balancing, additional capacity is created for renewable projects, and our partners – the flexibility providers – get additional revenues from the same assets, without major new costs.”
DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION OF VALENTIN MIHAI
In Nano Energies’ vision, flexibility is not only about new technologies, but also about making smart use of existing resources – gas, biomass, biogas, even controllable consumption such as pumps or compressors with storage. Batteries are also playing an increasingly important role, and the company has already achieved concrete operational results in this area.
Looking ahead, Mihai outlined a fundamental change in the role of fossil fuels: “In the future, fossil fuel energy will be used primarily for system balancing, rather than as the main source of power for consumers.” This vision also requires a change of mindset among industry players. “The challenge is to bridge the know-how gap and have true ambassadors of automation and digitalization among utilities and industrial consumers. It is our role as technology companies to contribute to this transformation,” he added.
For Romania, SEN flexibility is not just a technical concept, but the key to an energy transition that is simultaneously clean, secure and competitive.
2025 Energy Strategy Summit was organised by Energynomics, with the support of our partners: AJ Brand, Elektra Renewable Support, ABB, Adrem Asset Management, Alive Capital, BCR, DEKRA, Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania, E-Infra, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, EnergoBit, Enery, Enevo Group, Enexus, European Investment Bank, Evryo, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Delgaz Grid, Genesis Biopartner, Huawei, ING Bank, Jantzen Renewables, Keno Energy, Leader Team, LONGi, Nano Energies, Prime Batteries Technology, Procesio, Procredit Bank, Relians, Renomia, Romgaz, Schneider Electric, script.ai, Sermatec, smartPulse, Solar Today, SolaX, Think Blu Solution, Voltika, Wiren, YEO, AIployees, Aqua Carpatica, Alexandrion, Carbon Tool, Imsol.