For most businesses, the decision to invest in solar energy has long been settled. Solar plants, together with energy storage systems, have moved beyond experimentation and now form part of core operational strategy – also in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The decisive factor is how these assets perform financially.
Recent experience highlights a clear shift within the energy sector: the decisive factor is no longer the installed power alone, but how that power is managed. As solar generation expands and price volatility increases, value creation depends on efficient operational control rather than on production volume.
Maximising revenue through intelligent management
Timely fault detection, accurate production monitoring and intelligent energy management increase revenue from existing infrastructure. Smaller, well-managed projects therefore often deliver higher returns than larger facilities that operate passively and respond too slowly to change.
Electricity prices now fluctuate several times a day. Under these conditions, value is created by deciding when to store energy and when to sell it to the market.
Energy storage as an investment asset
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) increasingly function as investment assets rather than cost-saving tools. When connected to the grid, they can generate revenue by providing balancing services. In such cases, operation is typically handled by a balancer who manages charging and discharging to capture favourable market prices.
The underlying logic is straightforward: low prices favour storage, while high prices favour export. However, these decisions require forward planning rather than real-time reaction.
Optimising storage
Maximum efficiency is achieved when storage is managed through specialised software in the form of an intelligent energy management system. These systems forecast consumption, market prices and solar generation to identify optimal charging and selling scenarios. As a result, payback periods for storage systems can be reduced to a few years.
In 2026, businesses seeking higher efficiency must address price volatility with responsive operational strategies. Only reliable energy management systems can continuously monitor markets and optimise whether energy is sold or used internally.
Grid constraints affect revenue potential
As solar and wind capacity continues to expand across Europe, production curtailments caused by grid constraints are becoming more frequent, even when electricity has a market value. This directly reduces potential revenue.
Grid conditions therefore represent a growing financial factor. In 2026, effective solar operations require close alignment with grid requirements. Facilities without adequate management systems may be forced to reduce or halt production, while those able to respond quickly can protect revenues and avoid losses.
Solar energy facilities, particularly energy storage systems, now depend entirely on software. These systems control production, storage, grid communication and responses to market signals.
Disruptions, unclear responsibilities or dependence on a single technology provider can directly affect business continuity and revenues. Cybersecurity has therefore become a core operational concern rather than a purely technical issue.
Operator competence drives financial outcomes
By 2026, evaluating energy storage systems solely on technical specifications will no longer be sufficient. The competence of system operators and the way systems are managed will be equally critical. As energy storage directly affects power supply stability, software failures or cyber incidents can lead not only to downtime but also to significant financial losses.
Reliable software providers, secure system architectures and clear control over data flows are becoming as important as the efficiency of batteries or solar modules. Reducing technological dependencies is essential to ensure that energy assets support business performance.
Active management is the key to success
Rapid decision-making, responsiveness to market and grid signals, and secure operational management are increasingly making the difference between economically successful and less successful projects. By 2026, returns will no longer depend solely on the size of a solar generator, but on how actively and effectively it is managed.
Text by Dr Sarunas Stanaitis, CEO of Inion LT. Edited for publication (mg).
