Why energy optimisation delivered lower returns in late 2025. Read how market stability, Dunkelflaute conditions and low price volatility impacted solar, batteries, rPOWR and ePOWR and how FlexiO is ready for 2026.

January Energy Update: why 2025 was a quiet year for optimisation

(and why FlexiO stayed calmly on standby)

November 2025: entering a “Dunkelflaute”

In November, we experienced an exceptional Dunkelflaute: low solar production and little wind. As a result, energy supply relied mainly on fossil fuels, a market that remained unusually stable during this period.

That stability sounds reassuring, but it has consequences for smart energy optimisation:

• Lower solar production → higher grid consumption → higher energy bills
• Fewer price fluctuations → limited battery optimisation → lower battery savings
• Stable day-ahead prices → little difference between fixed, variable, and dynamic contracts → limited tariff savings
• Stable energy market → lower rPOWR and ePOWR revenues

Important to note: this is a market phenomenon, not a system issue. Your FlexiO system remained fully operational, simply waiting for better opportunities. Sometimes, doing nothing is the smartest move.

December 2025: less sun, little wind, limited upside

In December, solar production continued to decline. This is entirely normal for this time of year.

• Solar output was average for December, but naturally low overall.
• The dynamic energy contract still showed only a limited advantage compared to a variable contract.
• Due to the continued lack of price volatility, the added value of battery optimisation remained limited.
• rPOWR and ePOWR revenues were therefore also modest.

In short: the technology worked as intended, but the market offered little room to optimise. Once again, this is normal for this time of year. 

Tips for users with the ePOWR energy contract

To get the most out of your system during stable market conditions:

• Avoid overly aggressive control of heavy loads (such as heat pumps or EV charging) based purely on day-ahead prices. We see that day-ahead and imbalance prices often move in opposite directions.
• Prioritise comfort and stability , this delivers better long-term results. This also helps FlexiO better predict your consumption behaviour, improving future optimisation.

Behind the scenes: We are actively developing target Mode, which will allow for more accurate estimation of EV charging profiles, increasing overall benefits. If you own a compatible charging station, we currently recommend using Smart Mode and Peak Mode for the best results. 

Adjust power settings according to your comfort needs, not short-term price noise.

2025 Year in Review: what does it tell us?

Solar panels

Despite the current market sentiment, one conclusion remains clear:  investing in solar panels continues to be highly profitable. Compared to 2024, we even observe a slight upward trend.

Home batteries

Compared to 2024, battery profitability shows a slight decline. However, batteries remain a key component for: additional savings, revenue generation, keeping net energy costs as low as possible. 

Share of FlexiO EMS+ and solar panels in 2025:

The main reason? The advantage of dynamic energy contracts decreased compared to variable contracts, and the strong grid-balancing revenues seen in 2024 did not carry over into 2025.

That said, and this matters, this does not indicate a long-term structural trend.

Ready for 2026

Energy markets move in cycles. 2025 was calm. But calm markets often precede new technical and economic opportunities.

FlexiO is ready to tackle the challenges of 2026, ensuring your energy installation remains efficient, intelligent, and future-proof. When the market is quiet, your system isn’t asleep.

It’s simply charged and waiting.