FCR: The premium revenue layer
Frequency Containment Reserve (Primärregelleistung) is tendered weekly on the ENTSO-E platform. encosa aggregates your battery capacity into the required 1 MW pool, submits bids automatically, and delivers symmetric ±power within 30 seconds of any grid frequency deviation. A 100 kWh battery at 0.5C earns €500–750/month from FCR alone — before spot and peak-shaving are added on top.
How FCR works
FCR (also called Primärregelleistung in German) is a grid stability service. When grid frequency deviates from 50 Hz — caused by a sudden imbalance between generation and load — FCR units must respond within 30 seconds with symmetric power (charge or discharge depending on direction).
The service is tendered weekly on the ENTSO-E platform. The minimum offered capacity is 1 MW — which encosa achieves by aggregating multiple client batteries. Prequalification testing is required once per year and includes a technical evaluation by the responsible TSO.
Batteries are ideal FCR units: their response time is <1 second — far faster than the 30-second requirement — and they can deliver symmetric power naturally.
Revenue calculation example
FCR prices vary week to week. Range shown reflects 2024 tender price variation. Spot market stacking adds further revenue on top — encosa manages both simultaneously.
FCR band + trading window — simultaneously
FCR prequalification requires symmetric delivery between 40–60% SOC. encosa keeps that reserved while trading the capacity above and below that band in spot markets.
Check if your battery qualifies for FCR prequalification
Most commercial batteries ≥100 kWh at 0.5C qualify. We handle the paperwork and TSO registration.