D.TRADING, the trading company and a subsidiary of the DTEK energy group, and Finnish technology company Capalo AI, which specializes in optimizing the operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) using artificial intelligence, have signed a strategic partnership agreement. This was reported on September 3, 2026, by RBC-Ukraine, citing a D.TRADING press release. The joint offering is aimed at BESS developers and owners in Europe and combines long-term revenue predictability with the ability to capture additional margin on dynamic short-term segments of the energy market.

Commercial model: from merchant to tolling

Under the partnership, the parties will offer several commercial models: a classic merchant model, agreements with a guaranteed minimum income and profit sharing (floor-and-upside-share), as well as tolling agreements. The offering will be available for both standalone storage systems and hybrid projects that include renewable energy sources. Asset owners will have a single contractual relationship with D.TRADING while simultaneously gaining access to the combined capabilities of both partners. According to the company's assessment, this structure addresses one of the key challenges of the rapidly growing European BESS market — providing a revenue model that meets the requirements of bank financing while preserving owners' ability to earn additional income on volatile electricity markets.

Division of roles: finance versus algorithms

D.TRADING takes on the contractual and financial components: it acts as the offtaker, structures revenue models suitable for attracting project finance, and provides the necessary credit support. Capalo AI, in turn, provides market access and optimizes asset performance on the day-ahead market, the intraday market, and the ancillary services markets using its own Capalo Zeus VPP™ platform. This division of functions, as designed by the partners, allows BESS owners to obtain long-term revenue predictability while simultaneously adapting trading strategies to changing market conditions without losing flexibility.

Context: a shift in YASNO's portfolio and a bet on flexible capacity

For D.TRADING, the cooperation is another step in expanding its offering for energy storage and renewable generation projects. The company combines the role of an energy trader and commercial counterparty with structuring revenue models that help attract financing for the creation of new flexible energy capacity. Notably, it was previously reported that around 65% of the energy equipment that Ukrainian YASNO (also part of DTEK) installs for business clients is dedicated to energy storage systems, whereas solar power plants previously dominated the order structure. This indicates a structural shift in demand toward flexible solutions, which is precisely what the new partnership is designed to address.

Management assessment

"In our partnership with Capalo AI, we combine our strengths: D.TRADING's ability to structure long-term revenue models that meet the requirements of bank financing, and Capalo AI's technological capabilities to maximize revenue from asset operation on energy markets," said D.TRADING CEO Dmytro Sakharuk. According to him, the partnership opens the possibility to provide developers and investors with greater revenue predictability without limiting the market potential of their assets. "This is an important step in creating the commercial infrastructure needed for the next wave of investment in energy storage systems in Europe," he added.

Contradictory data

No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or the wording of the parties' roles were found in the provided sources. RBC-Ukraine (Ukrainian and Russian versions) and the specialized industry publication ESS-News (September 3, 2026) convey the content of the D.TRADING press release consistently and without contradictions. The only point worth noting is that the materials do not disclose the specific volumes of assets to which the model will apply, nor the geography of the first pilot projects — these details are likely to be announced in subsequent communications from the partners.