August 25, 2026
Day-Ahead or Imbalance Trading? Covolt Combines These Markets with Flex Trading Pro!
Published by
Olivier Maurissen
Covolt Belgium
Many companies believe that trading on the day-ahead market and trading on the imbalance market are two separate worlds: you choose one market or the other.
At Covolt, things work differently. We take a position in the day-ahead market in advance, and decide at that moment—based on the imbalance price—whether we’ll actually execute that position. A perfect example of a value stack.
The classic scenario: Trading in a single market.
Trading? Simply put: It’s about buying low and selling high. The profit lies in the spread (the difference) between the kWhs charged and the kWhs discharged.
Many batteries operate on a fixed model. You either trade on the day-ahead market or on the imbalance market.
How Covolt Leverages Both Markets Simultaneously
We take a position in advance on the day-ahead market: a nomination to charge or discharge a battery at the day-ahead price for that 15-minute period.
The difference lies in what happens during that 15-minute period. As soon as we see the current imbalance price, we reassess that nomination. If charging as planned still turns out to be the best financial choice, we simply carry out the nomination.
If the imbalance price at that moment turns out to be much more attractive, we'll deviate from the nomination and send the battery in the other direction.
A concrete example
On July 30, 26, between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.: On the day-ahead market, we had nominated a purchase of 450 kW for this hour: we planned to charge the battery, so we intended to purchase electricity at the day-ahead price of €51/MWh.
During that hour, there was a sharp imbalance spike of €850/MWh. At that moment, it was much more advantageous for us to discharge rather than charge as planned. That’s why the battery switched modes: We’re discharging the battery at 1,570 kW!
Financially, this offers a twofold benefit:
- The 450 kW capacity commitment itself is not being met. We are not loading as agreed. That shortfall is billed at the imbalance price (€850) instead of the day-ahead price (€51).
- The additional 1,570 kW that we actually discharge is also billed at that €850 imbalance price.
Twice at the register
Instead of paying to charge (450 kW × €51), we get paid for not charging and for discharging, both at the much higher imbalance price of €850.
That’s the effect of trading simultaneously on both markets. You don’t take on any extra risk by still taking a day-ahead position, because that position remains the baseline plan. But as soon as the imbalance market consistently yields higher returns, we adjust that plan. Two markets, one decision point, and two opportunities for returns. That’s Flex Trading Pro!
Ready to get started?
Would you like to know what Flex Trading Pro can do for your site? Contact us or schedule a no-obligation consultation.
You, too, can profit from imbalance trading. Take the first step today.
We'll work with you to figure out how your system can be more efficient—with no obligations and quick to get started.
