GEN-I Partner Event: shaping an active energy future together
How companies can become active participants in the energy market was the key question at the 18th GEN-I Partner Event. This year, we welcomed our guests in the green surroundings of the Brdo Congress Centre near Kranj.
From GEN-I’s International Achievements to Current Energy Market Conditions
The event was opened by the President of the Management Board, Maks Helbl, who highlighted the broader context of the company’s development. He reminded attendees that with our entry into the U.S. market this January, we became a global company. He also took the opportunity to share exceptional news with the partner event participants: in the prestigious international Energy Risk Commodity Rankings 2026, GEN-I was named the best power dealer in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe for the second consecutive year. At the same time, we achieved remarkable success by securing second place in the ‘Best Overall Energy Dealer’ and ‘Best Overall Power Dealer’ categories.
The first part of the programme focused on current conditions in the energy markets and European guidelines for affordable energy and competitiveness. Jan Bohinec and Polona Batagelj presented the latest market developments, while Robert Feri from Borzen provided an overview of national RES incentives.
In a period of significantly increased geopolitical risks – driven primarily by the war in Iran and the near-total disruption of oil and LNG supply routes – companies are facing one of the largest supply shocks in decades. The loss of more than 20% of global oil supply, reduced production in the region, and multi year disruptions in Qatari LNG supply are sharply increasing energy price volatility. In such conditions, as competition for gas between Asia and Europe intensifies, an active approach to energy management becomes essential for maintaining stability and controlling costs.
What Can Companies Do?
The central part of the event featured a roundtable discussion illustrating how companies can transition into a more active role in the energy market in a structured way. Matija Berra, Blaž Krese, Gašper Rugelj and Tomaž Rakar – our experts in sales, analytics, trading and development – emphasised the importance of understanding a company’s own energy profile and development plans, as these elements determine which technologies and market approaches make sense for each business.
A special emphasis was placed on the role of battery storage systems, which can deliver significant operational and market benefits when properly sized and managed with advanced analytical tools. The process includes both technical verification of the metering point and simulations of the economic performance, giving companies a clear view of the optimal model – whether for their own needs or as part of broader aggregation in a virtual power plant.
The speakers also highlighted the growing interest in dynamic procurement models and the increasing desire of companies to access the market directly. GEN I supports them with analytics, digital insights and advisory services that help partners identify their real opportunities – from short term price signals to system services. Matija Berra, Head of Key Account Sales and Purchase, stressed:
“Digital tools we offer to clients are primarily support instruments; personal advisory remains essential. We provide clients with relevant data for decision making – from price movements and forecasts to a clear view of the process from purchase decision to consumption realisation. We see that many companies still react situationally rather than strategically, so we hope to see more proactive, forward looking planning in the future. Long term partnerships are key, and we continue to upgrade our offering with new solutions and additional services that were not available in previous years.”
Transitioning into an Active Market Participant as a Competitiveness Imperative
The discussion made it clear that becoming an active participant in the energy market is no longer just an opportunity – it is becoming a necessity for companies that want to remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic environment. Thoughtful, long term planning supported by appropriate cooperation models and advanced energy solutions is coming to the forefront. “The right path is to choose, together with us as your partner, a model that ensures long term price stability and effective cost management. A key element for customers are long term procurement agreements, enhanced with advanced energy solutions such as solar power plants, battery storage systems, and integrated management of BESS and PV systems,” concluded Sales Director Vito Panič.
The unified conclusion of the 18th GEN-I Partner Event remains clear: GEN-I’s characteristic structured, data driven approach enables companies not only to optimise their energy infrastructure but to transform it – together with our support – into a significant competitive advantage.
