Berlin-based Elli, the Volkswagen Group’s charging and energy subsidiary, has launched Energy Trading as a Service (ETaaS) for external customers, marking a key step in its evolution as a comprehensive European energy provider. By structuring renewable electricity procurement on behalf of businesses via the EPEX SPOT exchange, Elli aims to lower overall energy costs and help companies meet sustainability targets.
Since January, Elli has been managing the renewable power supply for a major industrial client, using targeted purchases and sales to balance fluctuations in wind and solar generation. The company secured its trading license on Europe’s largest electricity exchange in 2023 and completed an intensive pilot phase before extending services to third parties.
Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli, emphasizes: “With the step from proprietary trading to energy services, Elli and the Volkswagen Group are opening up new business areas in a rapidly growing market environment. We will show how flexible and market-oriented electricity procurement works for energy-intensive companies and how we can support them in optimizing their energy use, for example through structured portfolio management, demand-side management, or the marketing of large-scale storage systems.”
Elli’s 24/7 short-term market trading on the spot market provides the flexibility needed in today’s volatile energy environment. Many manufacturers face challenges in securing competitively priced renewable power; Elli’s offerings seek to address this by supporting both sustainability goals and future load optimization, ultimately driving cost savings. The company highlights the importance of partnering with creditworthy energy providers to manage energy portfolios and market-price risks effectively.
Since joining EPEX SPOT in July 2023, Elli has operated its smart energy platform in pilot mode, automating the integration of flexible assets such as stationary battery storage into market trading. Based on these successful tests, the trading team was expanded. Elli now trades 24/7 in the short-term market.
“With the creation of the organizational structures, the personnel expansion of the Elli Trading Team, and the new rollout of retail-related products for partners, a new phase is starting for us. Live operations have shown that our systems and processes work in the energy market: they are secure, stable, and scalable,” adds Tobias Canz, CFO of Elli.
At IAA Mobility 2025, Elli will present its latest charging and energy solutions at the Volkswagen Group stand in Hall B1. Highlights include a special stage presentation during the Volkswagen Group Tech Day on September 10, showcasing further innovations in the energy business.
Source: Volkswagen Group
