Completed consultations and workshops

To make the balancing capacity market more flexible and to facilitate market entry for new technologies, the TSOs (Transmission System Operators) intend to introduce shorter product time slices for aFRR (automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve) and mFRR (manual Frequency Restoration Reserve) in addition to the existing 4-hour product time slices. For providers who do not wish to make use of the shorter product time slices, nothing will change, as 4-hour bids can still be submitted as before.

The TSOs' proposal, which also includes the feedback from the market survey regarding 15-minute products, is presented in detail in an accompanying document. This document can be downloaded along with the planned adjustments to the modalities for balancing reserve providers (MfRRA) from the adjacent download box. The accompanying document contains all relevant information, including the adjustments to the modalities.

Consultation

Before submitting the amendment request, the TSOs are required under the EB Regulation to conduct a one-month consultation with stakeholders. All stakeholders are hereby invited to participate in the consultation until April 14, 2025. The consultation can be accessed via the QR code below or through the following link: Consultation Form. The questions to be answered as part of the consultation are also included in the application document in advance.

Result

The TSOs would like to thank all participants (34) for their constructive contributions to the consultation. With an approval rate of 85%, a clear vote was cast from the industry.                                                    

Based on this positive feedback, the TSOs have taken the next step and submitted the corresponding amendment application to the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA). The consolidated results of the consultation are available in the published consultation report.                                                    

The TSOs will provide information on the further course of the procedure in due course.

Contact

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the following contact at any time:

modalitaeten@regelleistung.net  

On September 14, 2017, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 of August 2, 2017 establishing a guideline for transmission system operation (hereinafter “SO GL”) entered into force. The TSOs have implemented the requirements of this regulation in specific prequalification conditions (“PQ conditions”) for the control reserve types FCR, aFRR and mFRR.

Due to the scope and complexity of the issue, the TSOs decided to divide the consultation on the revised PQ conditions (carried out without a corresponding legal obligation) into two phases. In the first phase, the TSOs initially provided market participants and other interested parties with the content of the revised PQ conditions and received comments and suggestions for changes as part of a “pre-consultation” in January / February 2018. This first phase was expressly not intended as a formal consultation, but rather to enable all stakeholders to present and discuss the content in a more informal setting.

Following this “pre-consultation”, the TSOs carried out the formal consultation in phase 2 in April / May 2018. As part of this consultation, in addition to the revised PQ conditions, the modalities for balancing service providers pursuant to Article 18(5) of Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 were also discussed.

The transmission system operators have developed a proposal for the further development of SRL settlement with the aim of taking account of the changes in the balancing power market, in particular the price, cost and system structure of the supplier pools. The main changes compared to the previous model are the introduction of acceptance and tolerance bands for the provision of secondary balancing capacity and a second-based allocation of provided capacity to the respective underlying bids. Pre-consultation has begun with the publication of the description of the SRL billing model.

This pre-consultation is expressly not a formal consultation in the sense of the European regulation (GL EB), but is rather intended to enable all parties involved to discuss the content in an informal setting. Following this pre-consultation, the TSOs are expected to conduct a formal consultation in April 2018, which will cover other topics in addition to the SRL settlement model.

It goes without saying that comments and suggestions for changes from both consultations will be carefully examined, evaluated and taken into account as part of the formal application process.

The transmission system operators (TSOs) are striving to further develop the specifications for determining control reserve values. The aim of this further development is to determine the control reserve list values as appropriately as possible, especially when several types of control reserve are marketed at the same time. In addition, the TSOs are striving for a uniform solution that enables several providers to market different types of balancing capacity from one TSO.

The German TSOs have drawn up a proposal for the specifications, which is to be consulted with the market. Due to the complexity of the issue and in order to obtain an assessment of the feasibility of the requirements, the TSOs would like to carry out a preliminary consultation. Subsequently, after evaluating the feedback, a consultation may take place that meets the requirements of the Guideline on Electricity Balancing.

The pre-consultation will last from 01.03.2018 to 30.04.2018. Furthermore, a workshop with market participants will be held at the beginning of April 2018. 

It should be noted that the determination of the standard benefits and the aFRR settlement are two related but different topics. The aFRR actual value, which is subsequently used in the aFRR settlement, is determined as part of the determination of the control reserve actual value.

As part of Article 10 of the Guideline on Electricity Balancing (EBGL), the German transmission system operators (TSOs) have carried out public, written consultations on the further development of the balancing energy price (AEP).

The consultations took place consecutively between 2019 and 2022 and each covered one of the AEP modules listed below.

• AEP module 1: AEP determination based on the prices and volumes of balancing energy and implementation of the ACER specification of 15.07.2020 Imbalance Settlement Harmonization Methodology (ISHM)
• AEP module 2: Exchange price coupling
• AEP module 3: Scarcity component

On September 14, 2017, EU Regulation 2017/1485, also known as the System Operation Guideline (SOGL), entered into force. According to Article 6(3)(e) of the SOGL, the transmission system operators (TSOs) of an LFC block must submit the following methodologies to the relevant regulatory authorities for approval:

Ramp restrictions on active power output according to Article 137(3) (gradient restrictions for HVDCs) and Article 137(4) (gradient restrictions for generation and demand facilities)

Coordination measures to reduce FRCE according to Article 152(14)

Measures to reduce FRCE by requesting to change the active power production or consumption of generation and demand facilities according to Article 152(16)

FRR dimensioning rules according to Article 157(1).

According to Article 11, these proposals shall be subject to public consultation, with a minimum consultation period of one month.

The German TSOs form a common control block together with the Luxembourg TSO CREOS and the grid area of the Danish TSO Energinet.dk, which is synchronously connected to continental Europe. These TSOs are therefore obliged to jointly consult on the above-mentioned proposals and submit them to the competent regulatory authorities for approval.

This consultation gives market participants the opportunity to comment on the proposal for measures to reduce the FRCE in accordance with Article 152(14) and Article 152(16):

The proposed measures correspond to the status quo and must therefore be formally applied for under the SOGL.

The regulations in the national energy laws on the right of TSOs to adjust generation or consumption remain unaffected by the applications.

The consultation starts on 31.07.2018 and ends on 31.08.2018.

On September 14, 2017, EU Regulation 2017/1485, also known as the System Operation Guideline (SOGL), entered into force. According to Article 6(3)(e) of the SOGL, the transmission system operators (TSOs) of an LFC block must submit the following methodologies to the competent regulatory authorities for approval:

• Ramp restrictions on active power output pursuant to Article 137 Paragraph 3 (gradient restrictions for HVDCs) and Article 137 Paragraph 4 (gradient restrictions for generation and demand facilities)
• Coordination measures to reduce the FRCE pursuant to Article 152 Paragraph 14
• Measures to reduce the FRCE by requesting changes to the active power production or consumption of generation and demand facilities pursuant to Article 152 Paragraph 16
• FRR dimensioning rules pursuant to Article 157 Paragraph 1.

Pursuant to Article 11, these proposals shall be subject to public consultation, with a minimum consultation period of one month.

The German TSOs form a common control block together with the Luxembourg TSO CREOS and the grid area of the Danish TSO Energinet.dk, which is synchronously connected to continental Europe. These TSOs are therefore obliged to jointly consult on the above-mentioned proposals and submit them to the competent regulatory authorities for approval.

This consultation gives market participants the opportunity to comment on the proposal for ramping restrictions for active power output in accordance with Article 137 Paragraph 3 for HVDCs:

• The proposed gradients correspond to the status quo and must therefore be formally applied for in accordance with the SOGL.
• The TSOs do not make use of the right enshrined in the SOGL to apply for ramp restrictions for generation and consumption facilities in accordance with Article 137 Paragraph 4. The corresponding consultation is therefore no longer necessary.

The consultation starts on 31.07.2018 and ends on 31.08.2018.

On September 14, 2017, EU Regulation 2017/1485, also known as the System Operation Guideline (SOGL), entered into force. According to Article 6(3)(e) of the SOGL, the transmission system operators (TSOs) of an LFC block must submit the following methods to the competent regulatory authorities for approval:

• Ramp restrictions on active power output in accordance with Article 137(3) (gradient restrictions for HVDC) and Article 137(4) (gradient restrictions for generation and demand facilities)
• coordination measures to reduce the FRCE pursuant to Article 152(14)
• measures to reduce the FRCE by requiring the active power production or consumption of power generating modules and demand facilities to be modified in accordance with Article 152(16)
• the FRR dimensioning rules referred to in Article 157(1).

According to Article 11, these proposals must be publicly consulted, with a minimum consultation period of one month.

The German TSOs form a common control block together with the Luxembourg TSO CREOS as well as with the grid area of the Danish TSO Energinet.dk which is synchronously connected to Continental Europe. These TSOs are therefore obliged to jointly consult on the above-mentioned proposals and submit them to the competent regulatory authorities for approval.

This consultation gives market participants the opportunity to comment on the proposal for dimensioning rules in accordance with Article 157(1).

The consultation starts on 31.07.2018 and ends on 31.08.2018.

As part of the Guideline on Electricity Balancing (EBGL) pursuant to Art. 10, the German transmission system operators are conducting a public consultation on the modalities for balancing service providers pursuant to Art. 18.1 (a). The consultation starts on 13.04.2018 and ends on 13.05.2018. In addition, a workshop with market participants is planned for 23.04.2018 in Nürnberg.

This consultation gives market participants the opportunity to comment on a wide range of content. The consultation covers the modalities for FCR reserve providers, aFRR reserve providers and mFRR reserve providers pursuant to Art. 18.1 (a) EBGL. Furthermore, the consultation documents include the exemption from publication of non-awarded bids pursuant to Art. 12.4 EBGL, the exemption from mFRR forward reserve obligations pursuant to Art. 34.1 EBGL and the introduction of the balancing market. The topics aFRR settlement model and PQ conditions have already been presented to the market in the preliminary consultations of the German TSOs and are now also part of this consultation.

It goes without saying that comments and proposed changes will be carefully examined, evaluated and taken into account in the formal application process. The TSOs hope for a lively participation in the consultation and look forward to the discussion.

As part of the secondary control power cooperation between Germany and Austria, a stakeholder consultation on the design of a cross-border exchange and procurement of secondary control power (SCP) is being carried out in accordance with Article 33 (1) in conjunction with Article 10 of the Guideline on Electricity Balancing (EBGL). In addition, an exemption from the approval of the cross-border transfer of control reserve between SRL providers in accordance with Article 34 (1) of the EBGL will be applied for in this context. This transfer should continue to take place in the respective control areas.

Cross-border procurement is to start at the same time as the introduction of capacity allocation at the border between Germany and Austria, on October 1, 2018.

The introduction of cross-border exchange and procurement of SRL is aimed at procuring SRL as efficiently as possible and thereby further intensifying the existing control reserve cooperation between Germany and Austria. A corresponding cooperation for the cross-border exchange and procurement of SRL would be unique in continental Europe and represents a pilot project with regard to the EBGL, which recently came into force.

The consulting TSOs are aware that stakeholder feedback is a decisive factor in creating a well-functioning market design.

The long-term capacities at the German-Austrian border of at least 4.9 GW according to the press release issued by the regulatory authorities Federal Network Agency and E-Control on May 15, 2017 should in principle be available for the allocation of long-term capacities.

With this consultation, market participants have the opportunity to comment on the possible reservation of up to 280 MW for the exchange of balancing reserve within the 4.9 GW and to comment on the proposed procedure for the possible reservation of long-term capacities for the exchange of balancing reserve.

APG, CEPS and the German TSOs would like to expand the joint procurement of aFRR - here you will find the consultation documents.

ALPACA - Allocation and Procurement of aFRR Balancing Capacity Cooperation Agreement, pursues the goal of joint procurement of secondary control power (SRL) at the CZ-DE and AT-CZ borders. The existing German-Austrian cooperation for the joint procurement of automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR)/ SRL will remain in its existing form.

In this context, the German TSOs, APG and CEPS have submitted proposals in accordance with:

• Art. 33.1 - “Common harmonized provisions and procedures for the exchange and procurement of balancing capacity”,
• Art. 33.6 - “Methodology for calculating the probability that cross-border transmission capacity will be available after the time of closure of the cross-zonal intraday market” and
• Art. 58.3 - “Principles for balancing algorithms”

of COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on balancing in the electricity system.

No workshops are currently planned.