Glossary
Balancing energy
Also known as: Regelenergie, Regelleistung, Regelreserve, Control reserve, Balancing, Balancing reserve
Regelenergie (balancing energy) is the energy Swissgrid, as transmission system operator, calls up at short notice to keep generation and consumption in the Swiss electricity grid in balance at all times. It is provided in three tiers: primary control reserve within 30 seconds, secondary control reserve within 5 minutes and tertiary control reserve for imbalances lasting more than 15 minutes. In 2025, Switzerland activated around 1'160 GWh of balancing energy, against around 700 GWh in 2020 (ElCom). Providers are paid for capacity held and energy activated.
Regelleistung (control reserve) denotes the capacity held available in MW; Regelenergie (balancing energy) the energy actually activated in MWh. Swissgrid procures both in tenders and pays providers for holding capacity in CHF per MW and for activation in EUR per MWh. In 2025, holding secondary control reserve cost on average around CHF 70’000 per MW and year (ElCom).
The need arises because utilities procure their electricity in advance in balance groups and real consumption deviates from the schedule. Every new PV system adds to the forecast errors, and with them to the imbalance energy activated. Battery storage systems deliver control reserve without start-up time and are therefore suited to all three tiers.
How a battery storage system earns additional revenue on the balancing energy market and which figures site studies show is explained in the article Balancing energy with battery storage. Marketing through a pool is part of our energy marketing solution.