Volkswagen starts energy trading

Infrastructure Volkswagen Starts Energy Trading

2026-03-10 From Thomas Günnel | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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Volkswagen has started active energy trading. VW boss Blume sees opportunities for growth.

Volkswagen Group Charging, Elli, has connected its first electricity storage system to the grid.(Image: Elli) — Volkswagen Group Charging, Elli, has connected its first electricity storage system to the grid.
(Image: Elli)

Volkswagen launches its business model with stationary energy infrastructure. The subsidiary Elli has connected the first large-scale storage facility to the electricity grid in Salzgitter. The storage facility has an output of around 20 megawatts and a capacity of 40 megawatt hours. Elli is thus officially entering the energy storage and energy trading market. At the same time, the company begins performance tests for trading on the European Power Exchange EPEX.

The project is part of the Volkswagen Group's e-mobility strategy. "The ramp-up of electromobility requires not only vehicles and batteries, but also a stable, flexible and marketable energy infrastructure," says Volkswagen. The car manufacturer is therefore planning further storage projects. According to VW CEO Oliver Blume, "energy storage and energy trading are a new strategic business area with growth opportunities" for the car manufacturer.

Memory Based on the Unit Cell

Batteries from the Group's own battery subsidiary Powerco form the technical basis. The Energy Storage Solutions division develops and produces the large industrial storage systems. The company's standard cell is used for this. Volkswagen brings together all aspects of e-mobility in Salzgitter: Cell production, stationary storage, and the market-based marketing of energy.

From Charging Provider to Energy Company

The virtual power plant in Salzgitter is integrated into 13 storage containers. A team at Elli trades and optimizes the facilities around the clock algorithmically and with its own market access. This makes the company the first active storage operator in the European energy market.

"This is the start of our Managed Battery Network: a platform that intelligently links large-scale storage systems, vehicle batteries and other assets in the future," says Elli CEO Giovanni Palazzo, describing the plans. The charging provider is to become an energy company. According to the company, it currently offers access to over one million charging points in 28 European countries.

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