PAMETNA HRVATSKA Marko Lasić

Guest Marko LasićHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026

Marko Lasić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

What does a power plant look like when it isn't a single physical structure? For Marko Lasić, director of KOER, it’s a network of industrial facilities and infrastructure, all connected by a digital platform. His company built Croatia's first 'virtual power plant,' a system that aggregates scattered energy consumers and producers to act as one cohesive unit, providing crucial balancing services to the national grid. Lasić explains how KOER developed both the software and hardware to manage this complex ecosystem, transforming passive energy consumption into a revenue stream for businesses. This conversation unpacks the initial market skepticism, the shift in perception after energy prices surged, and why the future of grid stability relies on turning every major consumer into a flexible partner. You'll gain a new perspective on how distributed technology is redefining energy production and consumption.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

A traditional power plant produces electricity from one location, but a virtual power plant achieves the same grid-balancing effect by digitally managing diverse sources and loads spread across the system. The power is in the coordination, not the physical site.

Industrial partners joining KOER's virtual power plant earn revenue in two ways: first, for reserving their capacity to adjust consumption, and second, for every actual reduction or increase they make. The business model pays for both the potential and the execution of flexibility.

The Croatian transmission system operator (HOPS) is KOER's primary client, purchasing auxiliary services for grid balancing that were once exclusively provided by large hydro or gas power plants. Virtual power plants decentralize grid stability by integrating the collective flexibility of end-users.

KOER is a technology company, developing both the cloud platform and the hardware for connecting participants, alongside a central control center. To effectively aggregate and manage distributed energy assets, you must control the entire technology stack, from physical connection to real-time monitoring.

When KOER first approached clients, they were met with disbelief at the idea of being paid for energy flexibility, but after electricity prices surged, clients began actively seeking them out. A novel business model that pays customers needs an external market shock to move from skepticism to urgent demand.

KOER operates on a revenue-share model, acting as an aggregator that combines individual flexibilities into a capacity large enough to access auxiliary services markets. Aggregation is not just about scale; it's about opening up entirely new revenue streams that individual players could never reach alone.

Virtual power plants are a direct consequence of the energy transition, addressing the increased grid instability brought by more renewable sources. End-users are no longer just passive consumers; they are becoming essential, flexible contributors to grid stability.

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