Home page › Battery storage › Contracting
Contracting · Industry & Commerce · 750 kW and up
Battery storage Contracting – revenue without own investment
€0 invested. 25% of the net market revenue – for you.
Most providers sell hardware or electricity. CUBE CONCEPTS builds the system behind it.
€0
Own investment
CUBE bears CAPEX in full
25%
Net Market Revenue after OPEX
Your Profit Share
January 1st, 2027
Section 118: investment cut-off date
AgNes draft · commissioning by August 4, 2029
- 0 € own investment – CUBE bears the entire CAPEX
- Off-balance-sheet treatment possible – CUBE CONCEPTS remains the owner; review under HGB or IFRS 16
- Profit sharing – 25% of the net market revenue after OPEX, open book
§118: Investment decision in accordance with the AgNes draft before January 1, 2027 – will be calculated …
Free · Within 5 business days · No commitment
The Contracting Model
How BESS Contracting works
The basic logic: You have the grid connection and the location. CUBE CONCEPTS has the capital, technology, and operational experience.
Your role
- Provide space and site
- Provide grid capacity
- RLM (interval-metered) load profile data for sizing
- Decision on purchase option at end of term
CUBE CONCEPTS
- Total investment – planning to operation
- Manufacturer-independent tender, at least 3 offers, LCOS-rated
- Automatic Multi-Market Optimization
- Operation: CUBE EfficiencyUnit
- Individual billing – not pooled
Definition
The contracting model: CUBE CONCEPTS builds and operates the system at its own cost. The customer receives 25% of the net market revenue – with no investment of its own. Transfer of ownership is optional (purchase option).
Contracting or purchase – what fits your situation?
Contracting
CUBE invests – you benefit
- €0 upfront investment – CUBE covers the CAPEX
- Operation, maintenance, monitoring: fully handled by CUBE
- Off-balance-sheet treatment possible (subject to HGB/IFRS 16 review)
- 25% of net market revenue from the start of operation
- CUBE bears investment, operational, and market risk
- Option to buy at maturity
BESS Purchase
You invest – you keep all the revenues
- Full ownership and maximum control
- 100% of the net market revenue stays in your company
- ROI typically 2–4 years (benchmark CUBE CONCEPTS)
- Highest total return in the long term with own operation
- No term commitment to a third-party investor
- System within your own capital and operational planning
Value Stacking
How the energy storage generates revenue
The battery storage system unlocks two independent revenue streams simultaneously. The multi-market optimization automatically decides which market is currently the most profitable.
Balancing energy market
FCR · aFRR · mFRR as an ancillary channel
Function
System service for stabilizing grid frequency
Revenue type
Capacity price (availability) + energy price (activation)
Character
Predictable – capacity is paid for regardless of activation
Spot markets
Day-Ahead · Intraday
Function
Arbitrage – taking advantage of price differences between buying and selling
Revenue type
Difference between purchase price and selling price
Character
Fills capacity between balancing energy activations
Flexible operating strategy: Switching between FTM and BTM operation without new hardware. Since October 2026, the allocation of electricity volumes has been governed by the MiSpeL determination of the Federal Network Agency.
FTM revenue potential 200,000–300,000 €/MW/year gross (CUBE CONCEPTS guideline). aFRR was the strongest revenue channel in 2025 (ISEA Battery Revenue Index).
Profitability
Profit sharing – how the Contracting revenues are split
Four stages, fully disclosed – before signing.
01
Gross revenue
Balancing energy (FCR, aFRR, mFRR as a supplementary channel) + spot market arbitrage. Fully automated optimization via CUBE EfficiencyUnit.
02
OPEX deduction
O&M, marketing, IT, monitoring – each item disclosed individually. No lump-sum margin.
03
Net market revenue
Residual profit after all operating costs – basis for the distribution between you and CUBE CONCEPTS.
04
Profit Sharing – project-specific, open book
Agreed before signing. Every assumption open to inspection.
Individual billing: No pool model – your system is billed separately. You can see exactly what your battery storage system has generated.
Open-book: Transparency within the business relationship – no public cost reporting.
Example calculation – 1 MW battery storage system
FTM Gross Revenue
200,000–300,000 €
OPEX deduction
− 55,000 €
Net market revenue
€145,000–245,000
Their share (25 %)
36,000–61,000 €/year
CUBE CONCEPTS benchmark values for gross revenue and OPEX. Specific to the location: grid connection, storage duration, and BTM/FTM split affect the result.
up to €25,000
per month
Gross market revenue remains unused at 1 MW without battery storage
Risk distribution
Risk allocation in Contracting – contractually fixed
Who bears what risk? In the Contracting model, the answer is clear: CUBE CONCEPTS.
| CUBE CONCEPTS bears | You provide |
|---|---|
| Total Investment Risk (CAPEX) | Space on site |
| Technical operational risk | Grid connection capacity |
| Failure risk of the storage facility | Load profile data for design |
| Component Selection and Supplier Risk | Operating permit (coordination by CUBE) |
| Operating costs (O&M, insurance) | – |
| Market risk of FTM marketing | – |
Weaker market phases reduce the shared net revenue – but they do not generate costs for the customer. This is structurally different from buying, where the market risk is entirely internal.
Common Objections
Common objections to the Contracting model – direct answers
“€0 investment and still 25% of the revenue – what’s the catch?”
There is no hidden catch. CUBE CONCEPTS only earns when the system performs – 75% of the net market revenue. No performance, no earnings. That is how both sides’ interests are structurally aligned.
“How can I check the revenues billed – I don’t have my own access to the trading data?”
Open-book: monthly individual billing for your location – not pooled. Every revenue channel, every OPEX item, every billing period can be viewed. Agreed before signing.
“What if the balancing energy markets collapse – will we still incur costs?”
No. You bear no CAPEX and no OPEX, and you make no guaranteed payments. Weaker market phases reduce the shared revenue – but they don’t generate any costs for you.
References
References – Energy projects implemented across Europe
Over 150 realized energy projects (PV so far), multi-site rollouts across Europe. Now battery storage – on the same foundation, with the same ambition.
TI Automotive
Magna International
Valeo
Voestalpine
Tenneco
ITW
Energy projects Europe-wide
For your company
What the Contracting model can do for your business
01
Invest capital elsewhere
- Allocate CAPEX for core business, expansion, or other investments
- Still get the battery storage system up and running promptly
- Profit sharing from start-up – 0 € in own investment
02
Outsource operations completely
- Marketing, monitoring, and O&M by CUBE EfficiencyUnit
- No internal team, no new hires needed
- No market risk in-house
03
Support for balance sheet and rating targets
- CUBE CONCEPTS remains the owner – Off-balance sheet possible, review according to HGB or IFRS 16
- Profit share booked as ongoing income
- Relevant for balance sheet total targets and covenant requirements
04
Make use of the §118 cut-off date of January 1, 2027
- 20 years of exemption from grid fees on electricity drawn from the grid, insofar as fed back: according to the AgNes draft, only with an investment decision before January 1, 2027, and commissioning by August 4, 2029
- No internal investment process – the investment decision is made by CUBE CONCEPTS
- Quick implementation without budget approval in-house
Regulatory Highlight 2026
Battery storage as a reinvestment under the industrial electricity price
Companies in sectors on KUEBLL sub-list 1 receive relief down to the target price of 5 ct/kWh for 50% of their consumption (2026: 3.744 ct/kWh). The application for 2026 is filed with BAFA in 2027, deadline 31 March 2027.
Prerequisite
Reinvest at least 50 % of the granted amount within 48 months in measures that reduce the costs of the electricity system; energy storage is explicitly mentioned (Directive No. 4.1, CISAF, paragraphs 121–122). CUBE CONCEPTS Contracting implements the measure as a third party and finances it. According to Chapter 3.5 of the BAFA leaflet and the applicant remains responsible.
§118 para. 6 EnWG
20 years of exemption from grid fees on electricity drawn from the grid, insofar as the electricity is fed back, if commissioned by August 4, 2029. According to the AgNes draft of August 6, 2026, only if the investment decision is made before January 1, 2027. Time-limited by law; cannot be obtained retroactively.
Procedure
BESS Contracting in 4 steps – from analysis to commissioning
01
Economic analysis
Submit load profile data. CUBE CONCEPTS calculates sizing, FTM revenue potential and profit-share ratio. Free, 5 business days, no commitment.
02
Drafting of contracts
Fix the profit-share ratio, term and purchase option. Off-balance-sheet check. Open-book calculation fully disclosed before signing.
03
Tendering & Award
Manufacturer-independent tender, at least 3 comparative offers, LCOS-rated. CUBE CONCEPTS coordinates the entire process.
04
Construction & Commissioning
6–12 months from contract signing. Grid registration, construction, commissioning, and operational start by CUBE CONCEPTS.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Most Important Questions About the Contracting Model
How much does BESS Contracting cost?
For you: €0. CUBE CONCEPTS bears CAPEX, construction, commissioning and operation. You receive 25% of the net market revenue after deducting OPEX.
Who owns the storage?
During the term: CUBE CONCEPTS. At the end, there is a purchase option at a pre-agreed price.
Is the inventory on my balance sheet?
Generally not: CUBE CONCEPTS is the owner during the term, and you receive a share of the revenues. Whether a lease exists under IFRS 16 or whether economic ownership is attributable to you under the German Commercial Code (HGB) is examined by your auditor on the basis of the specific contract, for example with regard to the purchase option. The profit share is booked as ongoing income. Relevant for companies with balance sheet total targets, rating requirements or covenant requirements.
How are the revenues calculated?
Four steps: Gross revenue → OPEX → Net market revenue → 25% to you, 75% to CUBE. Every item is fully disclosed before signing.
What is the minimum size?
CUBE CONCEPTS implements Contracting projects starting at 750 kW / 1,500 kWh. At this scale, FTM marketing and multi-use applications become economically viable.
How long does the commissioning take?
6–12 months from signing the contract – including planning, tender, construction, and grid registration.
What is the contract duration?
Typically 10–15 years, depending on the size of the installation and the operating model. A purchase option at the end of the term is a standard part of the contract.
Does the §118 exemption apply in the Contracting?
Yes. The exemption is linked to the storage system, not to the owner: 20 years without grid fees on electricity drawn from the grid, insofar as the electricity is fed back, if commissioned by August 4, 2029. According to the AgNes draft determination of August 6, 2026, the final investment decision must be made before January 1, 2027; with Contracting, it is made by CUBE CONCEPTS.
Does it count Contracting as an investment in the industrial electricity price?
Yes. Energy storage is explicitly mentioned in the guideline, and according to the BAFA, a third party may implement and finance the measure, “not only in material terms but also in financial terms”. The applicant remains responsible; the third party must agree in writing to comply with the disclosure and transparency obligations of the guideline.
What is the difference between BESS Contracting and BESS Kauf?
With Contracting, CUBE CONCEPTS invests and you receive 25 % of the net market revenue without any own investment. When you buy, you invest yourself and keep 100 % of the net market revenue. More: Buy battery storage.
Next step
Calculating profit share – location-specific, free of charge
CUBE CONCEPTS calculates based on your load profile: storage dimensioning, FTM revenue potential (FCR, aFRR, mFRR), and your individual profit-sharing ratio. Open book, before your decision. No commitment.
§118: Investment decision in accordance with the AgNes draft before January 1, 2027 – only 83 days
Free of charge · Within 5 working days · §118: Investment decision before 1.1.2027 (AgNes draft)
Sources: Section 118(6) of the EnWG · BNetzA, AgNes draft determination of 06.08.2026 · BNetzA, MiSpeL determination of 01.10.2026 · BAFA leaflet on decarbonization measures, Chapter 3.5 · CISAF paras. 121–122 · ISEA Battery Revenue Index 2025 · IFRS 16 Leases
As of: 09.10.2026. AgNes information based on the draft determination; the final determination is planned for the end of 2026.
All topics at a glance
Battery storage – all topics at a glance
Battery storage that cuts energy costs. Make regulation a lever. Activate the revenue potential at your grid connection – today.