Economic control room

An Economic Control Room optimises the utilisation of energy assets by bringing together operational data, forecasts, and optimisation tools in one integrated solution.

The objective is to provide a clear overview of the current status of production assets and identify the most economically advantageous operating strategy in the short and medium term.

Date

Sep. 22. 2026

Optimal operations and better decision-making

Utility companies operate in an increasingly complex environment where production assets, energy markets, and security of supply must be balanced on a daily basis.

An Economic Control Room provides operations personnel with a powerful decision-support platform that enables optimal use of production facilities while ensuring the best possible operational economics.

Key benefits for utility companies

Ensures that production assets are utilised in the most efficient way, balancing security of supply, operational costs, and revenue opportunities across different electricity markets.
Provides a clear overview of operational plans for individual assets, enabling operators to respond effectively to unplanned events and changing conditions.
Delivers performance insights through KPIs and other metrics, allowing operators to proactively identify inefficiencies and make informed operational decisions.
Facilitates efficient execution of load schedule adjustments, ancillary service activation, and imbalance management, helping maximise revenue without compromising reliability or increasing asset wear.

Optimising asset utilisation

An Economic Control Room consolidates operational data, forecasts, and optimisation tools into a single platform. It provides a comprehensive overview of both current asset performance and the most profitable operating strategy in the short and medium term.

The solution gives operators insight into both the technical and financial consequences of alternative actions, enabling fast and informed decision-making.

For example, an energy-from-waste combined heat and power (CHP) plant may require a temporary load reduction due to limited fan capacity. The resulting shortfall in electricity and heat production must then be replaced in the most cost-effective way. Possible alternatives may include operation via turbine bypass, starting peak-load boilers, utilising thermal storage capacity, or adjusting the fuel mix.

Managing such situations effectively requires both an advanced production scheduling tool and a master controller at the highest automation level.

The Economic Control Room enables operators to evaluate these alternatives based on both operational and economic parameters.

Our project approach

Added Values provides end-to-end project management and ensures close customer involvement throughout the entire process.

A project typically includes:

Mapping business-critical operational processes, including market activities, operations, and maintenance.
Assessing existing systems and tools that support operational optimisation.
Developing a comprehensive concept for the Economic Control Room based on current solutions and future requirements.
Implementing, integrating, and commissioning the required systems and tools, including the procurement of production scheduling solutions and implementation of a master controller where relevant.

Ensuring operational and commercial performance

An Economic Control Room provides confidence that:

District heating obligations are fulfilled with the required quality and reliability.
Revenue opportunities in the day-ahead electricity market are fully optimised.
Additional earning potential in ancillary service and other electricity markets is identified and realised.
Marginal production costs are transparent and continuously available across different operating scenarios.
Production schedules are continuously adjusted and optimised in response to unforeseen events.
Operational and maintenance considerations are incorporated into day-to-day production planning and asset utilisation.
The Result

The result is an Economic Control Room that provides utility companies with a strong foundation for optimising production, reducing costs, and ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply in an increasingly complex energy landscape.

An Economic Control Room is a vital part in most of our customer solutions

FACT BOX:

An Economic Control Room encompasses the activities required to optimise the operation of production and supply assets on a day-to-day basis.
It is typically supported by a range of specialised tools, including:

Production scheduling tools for optimising generation across individual assets.
Forecasting tools for predicting factors such as heat demand and energy consumption.
Performance management tools for monitoring efficiency, production, and operating costs.
Master controllers for automated execution of production schedules and ancillary services.
Balancing and regulation tools that automatically adjust production plans when deviations occur.

These tools are typically based on advanced modelling and analytics. Achieving the best results requires a consistent, quality-assured data foundation and close integration between the Economic Control Room and the physical production assets.

Get free insight into our expertise in the energy sector