Energetic Center FENIX Jeseník

The production area of ​​FENIX s.r.o. ensures, within the FENIX GROUP a.s. group, especially the production of the ECOFLOOR range of heating cables, ECOSUN radiant panels, and now also HES and MES battery storage systems. All production, storage, and office spaces are heated exclusively by electric radiant heating. The reserved power is negotiated within the range of 600-750 kW throughout the year. The average electricity consumption of the entire area is approximately 3 GWh per year.

Building the EC FENIX - photovoltaics and battery storage

A new Energy Center was built in the production area of ​​FENIX s.r.o. in Jeseník between 2022 and 2023. The aim of the project was to ensure a higher level of energy self-sufficiency and reduce operating costs during the energy crisis. In the autumn of 2022, the installation of new photovoltaic power plants began. The original installed capacity of approximately 130 kWp was gradually increased to the current 891 kWp in this stage - the installation took place on free roofs, but also on building walls or ground structures.

In January 2023, a new SAS battery storage system with a total capacity of 2.4 MWh and a power output of 720 kW was also launched. The equipment is installed in two shipping containers and is directly connected to the substation at the entrance to the area. This new storage complements the original solution with a capacity of just under 600 kWh and a power output of 720 kW from 2019, which is installed in the technical room of one of the production buildings and primarily provides energy backup for the area, protection against micro-outages, and trimming of consumption peaks. The total capacity within the battery storage systems thus currently amounts to almost 3 MWh. The system was designed with the aim of maximizing the use of self-generated energy directly in the area in connection with automatic optimization of electricity purchase and supply within the spot market.

Practical operation of the system

The FENIX Energy Center is managed by a control system that ensures monitoring of current consumption and PV production. At the same time, so-called spot hourly prices for power electricity are always loaded for the following day, and the sunlight forecast is evaluated - based on this information, the algorithm then generates a behavior plan that determines the times when the battery storage will be charged from the grid or from PV surpluses, when the battery will compensate for the area's consumption, thus reducing the consumption from the distribution network, and when, on the contrary, the battery storage will supply excess energy to the grid at a favorable price. The entire process is automated and does not require manual intervention.

Operational results for 2023

Without investing in the Energy Center (PV, storage, active SPOT), electricity costs would reach approximately CZK 14 million without VAT (with a consumption of 2.3 GWh and the government capped price of power electricity).

Investment costs in the Energy Center (after deducting the subsidy of CZK 11.5 million) amounted to CZK 45.5 million without VAT. For 2023, the annual savings amount to approximately CZK 7 million, so the current payback period is 6.5 years.

Operational results for 2024

* In September 2024, the data was affected by a high-voltage connection failure due to flooding, with some values distorted by communication outages. Power supply restoration from the grid was completed only after 12 days.
Prices are listed without VAT

Examples of daily load profiles on weekdays and weekends during the winter (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec) and summer (Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) periods of 2024. The graphs depict the average hourly consumption in kWh and the average spot price of electricity.

Operational results for 2025

In 2025, significant changes were made to the operation of energy sources at the FENIX site. During the first three months, the battery storage systems and the photovoltaic power plant were operated in the same manner as in the previous year.

In April, a new SAS3 battery storage system with a power output of 1,088 kW and a capacity of 2,400 kWh was commissioned (in summer 2025, the capacity was increased to the final 3,000 kWh). The system is designed to provide ancillary services for power balance to ČEPS through an aggregator. Testing and system fine-tuning took place in April, and full commercial operation of SAS3 began approximately in mid-May 2025. Within the site, the storage system is connected behind the metering point via its own transformer directly to the 22 kV medium-voltage distribution network.

The commencement of ancillary service provision resulted in changes to the original operating mode. It was necessary to increase the site’s reserved capacity by 1 MW (currently 1.8 MW). The previous reserved capacity of 0.99 MW is now dedicated exclusively to supplying balancing energy to the grid. At the same time, other grid exports (PV surplus exports and active sales at spot prices) had to be limited.

The new regime was also reflected in billing. The full distribution charge is paid, including the volume of activated downward balancing energy (aFRR−); balancing energy is deducted only from the volume of purchased commodity electricity. Upward balancing energy supplied to the grid (aFRR+) is not included in electricity sales revenues. Within the remuneration scheme for ancillary services, revenues are paid both for reserved capacity and for actual activation.

Total electricity purchase costs in 2025 amounted to CZK 8,392,776 excl. VAT. Revenues from electricity sales to the grid reached CZK 35,221 excl. VAT, and revenues from the provision of ancillary services totaled CZK 3,647,750 excl. VAT.