Industrial companies in Serbia are weighing battery ownership against buying flexibility as a service after SEEPEX recorded a day-ahead price of about EUR 368.6/MWh at hour 20 on 15 October. A small number of costly hours can account for a large share of procurement costs, making peak-price management a commercial decision.
Charging a battery earlier can cut electricity purchases during price peaks. Industrial batteries can also support on-site solar, reduce imbalance and provide short-duration resilience for sensitive processes, with these benefits most closely linked to a factory’s own operations. Companies that own and operate storage must select the technology, manage warranties and maintain the battery’s charge level. They must also decide whether to use it only behind the meter or participate in electricity markets, choices that affect how much value they retain.
Storage access and service models
Under Serbia’s EMS framework, certain active customers can use a simplified technical-study route for internal storage below 10 MW, provided the system cannot export electricity. The study costs EUR 15,000 plus VAT. This route can lower entry barriers for some industrial sites considering storage.
With flexibility as a service, a third party can finance and dispatch the battery under a shared-savings, tolling or availability contract. This can keep the asset outside the industrial company’s core operating agenda and shift technology and dispatch risks away from businesses that do not specialise in energy trading. In return, the customer gives the service provider a share of the battery’s potential upside.
The choice depends on how much of the battery’s value is tied to the factory. Ownership can make sense when most returns come from avoiding peak purchases and improving process resilience. If the business case relies heavily on balancing and merchant trading, a specialist operator may be better placed to take on that risk, so companies need to weigh site-specific savings against the risks and potential returns of market optimisation.
