More revenue despite negative prices: Increasing flexibility for PV systems

e2m launches new product for even more flexibility that automates curtailment in the event of negative prices in a smart way and makes it economically attractive – even for smaller PV systems. For a 2.1 MWp system, this means up to 6 percent additional yield – around €6,000 extra per year.

Changing market conditions demand new solutions

The product was developed specifically to protect operators of photovoltaic systems from loss of income during periods with negative electricity prices and at the same time to secure their entitlement to the market premium as part of subsidized direct marketing.

Top 3 developments that put operators under pressure

• Increasing number of negative prices: The massive expansion of renewable energies is leading to a growing number of zero and negative price hours on the electricity exchange. The number of negative price hours has increased fivefold in the last ten years. In June 2025 alone, 141 hours with negative prices were recorded – as many as in the whole of 2017. Around 28% of PV electricity production is now affected by such hours.
• Falling solar market value: The simultaneous feed-in of large quantities of PV electricity is depressing the average achievable market price. Current forecasts expect the market value of solar to fall by more than 25 % by 2028 – with a direct impact on profitability.
• Growing importance of flexibility: In order to optimally integrate fluctuating renewable energies into the system, the value of flexibility is increasing. Only in this way can PV systems contribute to covering peak loads and reducing the residual load.

PV direct marketing with curtailment

The e2m solution comes into play exactly where operators are currently required. Intelligent signals to the system enable automatic, complete shutdown in phases with negative exchange prices – without the need for active intervention. This enables a simple and highly flexible response to market developments and avoids the loss of the market premium in accordance with Section 51 EEG in the event of negative prices.

Advantages for operators at a glance

• Secure revenues despite price fluctuations: Smart curtailment reliably protects against market losses – even with negative prices caused by § 51.
• Economically optimized at all times: Feed-in only takes place when it is economically viable – even with short-term market signals.
• Zero effort, maximum transparency: e2m takes care of all market price monitoring and control – fully automatically. Operators can see in real time when curtailment has taken place.
• Legally compliant: fulfillment of all legal requirements – including § 51 EEG.
• Fast integration, no additional work, no additional costs: thanks to seamless integration into existing systems, installation work is kept to a minimum. The curtailment is included in the marketing model as standard.
• Particularly attractive for systems with low values that are operated under the 1-hour regulation according to the EEG or fall under the Solar Peak Act (all commissioning from 2025).

Overview of revenue potential

Visualization revenue increase PV system with 2.1 MW depending on the value to be applied and the § 51 regulation/2024 referenced to total revenue (marketing + market premium in subsidized direct marketing).

Sample calculation

Annual yield: 2.1 MWp × 950 h = 1,995 MWh
Total revenue without curtailment: 1,995 MWh × € 50/MWh* = € 99,750
Revenue increase at 6 %: € 5,985 per year

*50 €/MWh = value to be invested, corresponds to average market value solar 2024

Extrapolation over 20 years

Without degression: € 5,985 × 20 = € 119,700 additional revenue
With 1.5 % annual degression: ≈ € 104,085 additional revenue over 20 years

Systems that are more affected by negative prices due to the Solar Peak Act or low market values can significantly increase their yield if they switch off in a targeted manner.

By switching off, operators continue to secure the market premium and avoid negative income from electricity marketing. This flexibility is particularly relevant for new plants from 2025 onwards, which often fall under stricter §51 regulations.

Outlook: Taking flexibility further

With this solution, e2m is taking a decisive step towards more flexibility in direct marketing. The next expansion stage: intelligent combination of PV systems with battery storage systems, so-called co-location models.

Such system concepts enable maximum flexibility: electricity can be fed into the grid at times of higher demand and better market prices. With offers such as the Innovation Tender, e2m has already shown how market-oriented flexibility solutions have proven to work successfully in practice.

With this step, e2m is underlining its role as a technology pioneer for smart, market-oriented and grid-friendly PV marketing.