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In an interview with Energy Review, Green Cloud Platform CEO László Pokol and commercial director Ildikó Varga-Futó discuss how domestic solar capacity, long-term corporate power purchase agreements, and energy storage integration can strengthen supply security while delivering predictable, bankable returns in an increasingly complex energy market.
What role does domestic renewable energy capacity play in strengthening Hungary’s energy independence, and how does Green Cloud contribute to this goal?
László Pokol: Domestic renewable capacity is one of the most effective ways to improve energy independence because it reduces exposure to imported fuels and the price volatility that comes with them. In Hungary, the rapid build-out of solar has already proven how quickly local generation can strengthen supply security—especially when it is paired with market-based offtake structures that make new projects financeable and predictable.
Green Cloud contributes by creating a professional bridge — and virtual marketplace — between renewable producers and corporate consumers. We help to bring new and existing domestic renewable generation to the market through structured, transparent offtake solutions (including corporate PPAs), while supporting clients with forecasting, balancing, and risk management.
How does the joint ownership structure with E.ON and Solar Markt Group shape Green Cloud’s strategy and competitive positioning in Hungary’s energy market?
LP: Our joint ownership brings together two highly complementary strengths: E.ON’s deep international, system-level experience in energy supply, customer operations, and market know-how; and Solar Markt Group’s renewables and project-side expertise. This synergy is directly reflected in our unique operational model.
In practice, physical green and clean electricity generated by domestic solar power plants—such as Solar Markt Group’s assets in Szihalom and Hódmezővásárhely—is integrated into E.ON’s balancing group. When solar generation is unavailable, E.ON supplements the supply with conventional energy as needed. This integrated structure allows us to provide our clients with a scalable solution that is truly green, predictable, and competitively priced, ensuring a continuous energy supply 24/7. For the Hungarian market, this represents a major competitive advantage: we bridge the gap between intermittent renewable production and the constant energy needs of industrial and corporate consumers in a flexible way.
Green Cloud emphasizes long-term partnerships with both producers and corporate consumers. What makes a successful partnership in this ecosystem?
Ildikó Varga-Futó: Successful partnerships in this complex ecosystem are built on three fundamental pillars:
• Transparency and shared market intelligence: We help our clients and partners understand the inner workings of the energy market to the exact depth they need. This transparency ensures that every decision is well-informed, creating a foundation of trust that sustains the cooperation over the long term.
• Operational excellence: Renewables are not “set-and-forget.” Accurate data, reliable metering, scheduling discipline, and proactive portfolio management are essential, especially in a market where imbalance costs and profile risks matter.
• Tailor-made, individual solutions: We recognize that no two companies have the same energy needs. A successful partnership is not about off-the-shelf products; it’s about designing a solution that fits the specific consumption profile, risk appetite, and sustainability goals of each client. We make green energy transitions available without system risks.
What opportunities do you see for investors interested in renewable energy projects connected to the Green Cloud platform?
IV-F: Investors are increasingly looking for renewable projects with strong revenue visibility and credible counterparties. Projects connected to the Green Cloud ecosystem can benefit from:
• Long-term corporate offtake potential, improving bankability and reducing merchant exposure.
• Portfolio-based approaches, where multiple assets and multiple buyers can be structured to diversify volume and credit risk.
• Value optimization beyond simple generation, such as profile management, aggregation, and—going forward—storage-enhanced offerings.
How important is energy storage integration for the future of Green Cloud’s operations, and what developments can be expected in this area?
LP: Energy storage is becoming a key enabler for the next phase of renewables growth. As solar penetration increases, value increasingly shifts from “producing energy” to “managing energy supply seamlessly.” Storage helps manage intraday variability, reduce imbalance exposure, support peak-shaving strategies for the producers, and improve the firmness of green supply.
For Green Cloud, storage integration is strategically important because it strengthens our ability to offer solutions that are not only green but also predictable and economically optimized.
As corporate energy consumption patterns become more complex, how does Green Cloud tailor solutions to different industries’ specific consumption profiles?
IV-F: Successful partnerships are built on three pillars: Corporate consumption is increasingly shaped by operational variability, electrification, and sustainability targets—so “one-size-fits-all” supply no longer works. Green Cloud tailors smart green energy solutions by starting with the load profile and the business reality of each client:
• Profile-based design: We analyze intraday and seasonal consumption patterns, predictability, and sensitivity to peak prices and imbalance costs.
• Industry-specific structuring: For manufacturing, we focus on stability, peak exposure management, and operational continuity. For commercial real estate and retail, we optimize for daytime vs. evening load and multi-site aggregation. For data-driven or 24/7 operations, we prioritize firmness, risk hedging, and portfolio diversification to support round-the-clock demand.
• Scalable implementation: Multi-site customers need standardized onboarding, transparent reporting, and auditable green claims (e.g., guarantees of origin), not additional administrative burden.
Our goal is to translate complexity into a manageable, long-term energy strategy – one that aligns cost, risk, and decarbonization outcomes in a way that decision-makers can confidently commit to.
This article was first published in Energy Review 2026 / 1.
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