Exchange members: The rise of the robots
The companies trading on EPEX SPOT are a special mix. Several global trends have brought a bunch of new exchange members.
In 2020, the number of members on EPEX SPOT grew only by 1, to reach 303 companies in total. But this is not the whole story: a wave of mergers and acquisitions led to consolidation in the energy sector, reflected also in the structure of EPEX SPOT’s membership – while 22 new companies joined the exchange. More and more smaller companies, e.g. suppliers wanting to act independently, are becoming members of EPEX SPOT; but there are also some fundamental changes in the sector going on.
new companies joined the exchange in 2020
companies are trading on EPEX SPOT
Rising robots
New startups as well as well-established trading companies are bringing the power trading sector to a new level. Many of the newcomers are spin offs from energy trading companies and are founded by traders who are starting their own businesses, a trend accelerated by the 
Covid pandemic. Both new and well-established trading companies have a stronger digital and financial background: they are focused on automation and algorithmic trading, e.g. using digitally connected assets which automatically communicate with trading systems.
Nordic newcomers
Many innovative companies from the Nordics are entering EPEX SPOT markets, and Danish companies are contributing greatly to that trend. They connect to the EPEX SPOT Intraday system M7 through the advanced API automating their trading processes. Some of the Nordic newcomers manage growing assets of renewable energy sources and take advantage of the liquid and agile 
European Intraday market. Through their digital solutions, they combine being part of the energy transition with clever trading opportunities.
Innovative industries
There are also some new types of brands joining the electricity markets of EPEX SPOT – providing access to new asset classes. In 2020, Tesla entered the European energy market with an automated trading solution. In combination with EPEX SPOT’s price signal, Tesla’s solution could unfold the power of tens of thousands of different battery assets across Europe.
British challenges
Although heavily impacted by 
Brexit, the UK power market continues to be highly dynamic and more competitive than ever. The British government introduced the Net Zero Emissions objectives by 2050. This is one reason for the creation of many new startups: companies are being launched to market 
flexibilities, to manage the growing renewable assets and to integrate battery storage. Robot trading has also picked up in the UK, even though a bit later than in the rest of Europe.
Grown over the past decades through investments in APIs and system performance, EPEX SPOT’s Intraday market has become by far the most liquid one in the UK. Due to its short lead time and high liquidity, it is the ideal starting point for these new members. And thanks to the world-class API solutions, many of the small, but innovative newcomers stick with EPEX SPOT. Heading into 2021, EPEX SPOT counts the highest number of prospects for its UK markets in history – an exciting outlook for the years to come.
We launched our business with a clear goal: digitise electricity trading as much as possible, while contributing to the facilitation of the energy transition in Europe. EPEX SPOT is the right place for us, thanks to the high level of liquidity and the possibilities of their world-class API solution.
