InterviewPower, strategy and a good feeling for tomorrow. Energy management at Commerz Real. 

Time to read5 min.
updated at04/21/2026
CategoryInterview
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Anna Ekimova has been an Energy Manager in the Green Deal Infrastructure unit at Commerz Real since June 2025. After studying economics, she joined the renewable energy industry around thirteen years ago - a job that didn't exist at the time. The career profile of the energy manager has only emerged in the last five to six years. Anna has grown with him. 

Interview with Anna Ekimova

Senior Commercial Energy Manager 

"My working day starts with a cup of tea and a look at the energy markets. Then comes my analysis.

What does an energy manager do for renewable energies? 

"I monitor developments in the energy markets on a daily basis and follow energy policy issues. This allows me to recognise trends or risks ahead of us at an early stage. For existing projects, I analyse optimization opportunities in electricity sales. For new projects, I check what the best marketing option is and when the right time comes for price hedging. For example, if a PPA, i.e. an electricity purchase agreement, can be signed for a new solar or wind power project.

As an electricity producer, we benefit from high electricity prices. Therefore, in times of high prices, it makes sense to hedge the electricity price via an electricity purchase agreement for several years in order to protect us against possible price falls."

What is the electricity marketing strategy for the portfolio?  

"We hedge most of our total portfolio at a fixed price - through government tariffs or PPAs. We market the remaining part via the spot market (electricity exchange for short-term electricity deliveries), which offers us high revenue potential, but also entails risks. because the energy markets are volatile and stock market prices change daily.

I look at each solar and wind project separately and from a portfolio perspective. For each project, I analyse the appropriate marketing options and recommend which strategy makes the most sense. In addition, I negotiate the commercial aspects of the electricity purchase agreements and make sure that the conditions match our goals." 

Why is energy management particularly relevant right now?  

"State fees will gradually be replaced by free trade in the energy markets and bilateral electricity purchase agreements. Those who don't have this in mind will be surprised by the market development. For our wind and solar farms, this means: We need to be able to react quickly to changes, and that requires a clear strategy, not a reaction in the long term.

This is exactly what makes this job so exciting: Tasks are often redefined by short-term market developments and you help shape how the industry handles this transformation."  

What makes asset management at Commerz Real special? 

"What I find most exciting: the breadth of the portfolio. Wind, solar, different markets, different regulatory frameworks and electricity marketing channels - no two days are the same. Anyone who is not curious about this job is wrong here." 

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Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ 

There are basically three ways. 1.: State remuneration systems that set a fixed price over a defined period of time. 2.: PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements), i.e. bilateral electricity purchase agreements with defined price structures over several years. 3.: The sale via the electricity exchange at current market prices. In practice, portfolio managers like Commerz Real combine all three approaches - depending on the project, market situation and risk assessment. 

A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) is an electricity purchase agreement that specifies the price conditions for the generated electricity for several years. It protects system operators from price volatility on the energy markets and ensures planning security in the fund portfolio.

Energy managers are responsible for the strategic marketing of the renewable energy portfolio. They monitor market developments, identify trends and opportunities, evaluate marketing options for individual projects and the overall portfolio, negotiate PPAs and develop the hedging strategy against price risks.

The job profile is characterised by various entry paths. Whether economics, engineering or energy technology - understanding energy markets, pricing mechanisms and regulatory framework conditions is crucial. 

With the gradual phasing out of government remuneration systems, market-based instruments such as PPAs and marketing through stock exchanges are gaining in importance. Energy managers are actively managing this transition: through market analyses, price hedging and a cross-portfolio marketing strategy.
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