prokon | Smarter tailwind for the energy transition: Prokon drives digital innovations forward

Renewable energies are experiencing a digital revolution: intelligent networking, powerful storage systems, and efficient control mechanisms are driving development forward. Smart technologies are essential to successfully mastering the energy transition and unlocking the full potential of modern facilities like wind farms and solar installations.

These advancements not only influence the technology of the facilities themselves but also the digitalisation of planning, construction, and operation. Digital upgrades make it possible to achieve long-term efficiency gains and cost optimisations — key factors for project success.

‘We are deliberately focusing on digital technologies to strengthen our competitiveness,’ explains Katharina Beyer, a member of the executive board at Prokon. Prokon is therefore heavily investing in digital transformation to optimise internal processes and intelligently utilise data.

The "Prokon Energy Park File

In the "Prokon Energy Park File", all information from Prokon's energy plants across different IT systems is brought together. This includes quite a lot: electricity production, status, feed-in revenue and operational data, as well as written contractual agreements with operators and lessors, stored reports, information on cable routes from individual parks, and even important discussion notes.

All of these key data points for the individual parks are clearly presented in a modern dashboard system. The system evaluates this information and generates individual daily updated reports for employees in various specialised departments. These could be data series on the performance of wind farms, the development of membership numbers, or the structure of Prokon’s customers.

Precision and Competitive Advantages through Data Intelligence

The intelligent analysis of operational data from wind turbines gives Prokon a clear competitive advantage. Using modern data intelligence tools enables precise forecasting of power yields, allowing Prokon to negotiate more attractive terms for commercial electricity customers.

Efficiency improvement through cloud technology
Switching to powerful cloud services such as 'Powercloud' offers additional benefits. By transferring data from physical servers to online storage solutions, Prokon not only optimises internal processes but also contributes to sustainability.

Greater sustainability through digital communication
The introduction of 'Powercloud' has significantly strengthened paperless communication: almost 70% of customer communication is now conducted digitally. 'This change enhances efficiency and supports our sustainable corporate strategy,' explains Ulf Güstrau, Marketing Manager for Prokon's energy trading division."

Virtual Power Plant: Efficiency through Digitalisation

Prokon's planned virtual power plant is 100 per cent digital. The concept: A fully digital model integrates all operational data, weather data, and load forecasts into a centralised system. This creates a comprehensive 360° view of all facilities – from wind and solar energy systems to future biomethane plants as well as storage and transformer stations.

By optimising the use of real-time data and adopting a holistic management approach, efficiency gains of around 10 per cent can be achieved in wind farms alone, explains Dr Yousef Farschtschi, IT Director at Prokon. This progress not only supports Prokon in advancing the energy transition but also unlocks additional potential in intraday trading on the Leipzig electricity exchange.

Digital innovation for the service team

While the virtual power plant is still in the planning phase, the digital upgrades in the various departments are already in full swing. With the new 'Field Service' tool, employees can complete work orders on the go using tablets, significantly increasing efficiency. This digital solution is continuously optimised using an agile approach: users actively provide feedback and decide on additional features. IT Manager Dr Yousef Farschtschi emphasises: 'This modern approach is an essential building block for our digital development.'

AI and remote solutions for greater efficiency
The digitalisation efforts are also benefiting the remote monitoring of facilities. Around the clock, data such as vibrations, wind speeds, and temperatures are recorded and analysed. Already, up to 70% of faults can be resolved via remote access. Prokon plans to utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to generate precise fault diagnoses from the fault database. The main goal remains the harmonisation of IT. A centralised system is intended to optimise the management of all facilities and enable more precise performance billing.

Critical infrastructure with the highest security

The security of sensitive control systems is a top priority at Prokon. Particularly in the area of critical infrastructure, strict regulatory requirements are in place to prevent unauthorised manipulation or access. 'Since April of this year, we have been required to implement a comprehensive information security management system,' explains IT Manager Dr Yousef Farschtschi. This includes clear access regulations, secure multi-factor authentication, and raising employee awareness of security risks.

24/7 protection by IT experts
To ensure system integrity, an external IT service provider continuously monitors system access. Potentially dangerous anomalies are detected early, effectively preventing cyberattacks. 'We cannot do everything on our own, but we rely on strong partners while also consolidating as much IT expertise as possible in-house,' emphasises Dr Farschtschi.

Discover our business areas on the Prokon website

Four business areas form the pillars of the Prokon Group. Move across the fields and you will learn more about them.

Project development

Planning, construction and operation of wind and solar parks. For us and others.

We are not only the leading German developer and operator of onshore wind farms with a total of 400 installations in 71 European wind parks – we also build solar parks, drive the use of various battery storage systems, and are active in the field of biomethane. Regional proximity, close collaboration with all project stakeholders, and local contracting are important to us. We pay fair lease income to landowners and their contracting partners, and also offer citizen communities the opportunity to plan, build, and hand over their project on a turnkey basis.

To the project development for renewable energy

Cooperative

Effective Together: The Cooperative

As one of the largest German energy cooperatives, together with around 40,000 members, we make a significant contribution to the energy transition - and benefit from it. In recent years, we have been able to pay out dividends between 3 and 5 percent to our members. The principle we follow is: we are a community, pursuing a common goal, and treat each other as equals. Every voice counts the same, regardless of the amount of ownership. Transparency is also a must: we consistently publish all relevant key performance indicators about our performance.

To the citizens' energy cooperative

Green electricity

Our Prokon wind power: 100% clean and self-generated

Father with child and a wind turbine model

"As a green energy provider, we supply our private and business customers - currently around 20,000 households - with self-produced electricity that comes 100% from renewable sources. This is also confirmed by the independent and non-profit association EnergieVision, which has awarded us the rare premium certification 'ok-power-plus Seal' for our electricity product. In addition, we are increasingly planning, building, and operating solar parks. It is important for us that we work completely independently of large energy companies and major investors."

To green electricity from Prokon

Service & Maintenance

Our Professional Wind Service: Professionals working around the clock.

The smooth operation of wind turbines is also ensured by us with our own service personnel. For this purpose, we have set up a total of five bases near the wind parks, which are reachable around the clock. The manufacturer-independent "Professional Wind Teams" also carry out remote data monitoring and necessary maintenance work. The expertise of the experts, who have around 30 years of experience and ensure an operational performance of 97% at our own plants, is also offered to other wind farm operators.

To service & operation wInd

Smarter tailwind for the energy transition: Prokon drives digital innovations forward

More efficient work processes

The "Prokon Energy Park File

Precision and Competitive Advantages through Data Intelligence

Virtual Power Plant: Efficiency through Digitalisation

Digital innovation for the service team

Critical infrastructure with the highest security

Successful relaunch of the Prokon website

Discover our business areas on the Prokon website

Smarter tailwind for the energy transition: Prokon drives digital innovations forward

More efficient work processes

The "Prokon Energy Park File

Precision and Competitive Advantages through Data Intelligence

Virtual Power Plant: Efficiency through Digitalisation

Digital innovation for the service team

Critical infrastructure with the highest security

Successful relaunch of the Prokon website

Discover our business areas on the Prokon website

Business hours