From Energy Supplier to Capacity Manager: New Business Models in Green and Decentralized Energy Markets

This chapter concentrates on the description of new business models in green and decentralized energy markets and derives recommendations for action for energy suppliers—particularly municipal utilities, of which there are around 1000 companies in Germany. The chapter focus is outlined in the introduction and clarified further by providing the authors’ vision concerning the future of the energy sector. In what follows, the increasing importance of renewable and decentralized energy production and the resulting necessity to further develop the design of the power market in Germany—with reference to the current energy policy—are described. Based on a short description of the main capabilities of the electrical power system, the future core tasks, challenges, and business models of energy companies are derived and explained with reference to current market and regulatory developments. The chapter ends with a description of strategic and organizational requirements needed by energy companies to implement the new business models. In the summary, the main aspects and success factors of viable business models for energy companies are again highlighted.