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automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve

automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve

The automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) covers small system imbalances. Providers of automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve offer services automatically as requested. Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve activates to decrease the use of Frequency Containment Reserve.

Historical development of automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve

Since December 1, 2007, the German TSOs have been procuring their automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve demands via a joint tender on the internet platform regelleistung.net. This platform provides tenders, the submission of bids, and informs bidders of allocations and rejections.

On 18/10/2011, the market design that applied until then was revised for the first time and updated again on 13/06/2017. The new market design was introduced in two stages as of 12/07/2018 and 12/07/2019.

As of 02.11.2020 (delivery date 03.11.2020) the balancing energy market was introduced with separate procurement of balancing capacity at the balancing capacity market and balancing energy at the balancing energy market.

The introduction of the balancing energy market is the national basis for the European domestic market for control reserve and corresponds with the requirement in article 16 (5) EB-VO. At the end of the tendering of balancing capacity the BSPs have the possibility to adjust the accepted bids and/or can offer new bids.

The design of the balancing energy market is outlined in § 38 of the modalities for BSPs (MfRRA).

Overview of current business rules:

DateDevelopment of the automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve
01.12.2007The German TSOs procure their requirements for frequency containment reserve via a joint invitation to tender on the Internet platform regelleistung.net. This platform is also used to publish the invitation to tender, process the submission of bids, and inform all bidders of awards and rejections.
27.06.2011Introduction of weekly tendering / changeover from monthly to weekly tendering.
12.07.2018Introduction of calendar day tender with 4h products.
01.07.2020Introduction of the balancing power market (RAM), which for the first time entails separate procurement of balancing power on the balancing power market (RLM) and balancing power on the RAM.

Historical development of automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve

Capacity MarketGate-Opening-Time: 10 o'clock, d-7

Gate-Closure-Time: 9 o'clock, d-1

Product length: 4 hours
Energy MarketGate-opening-Time: approx. 12 o'clock, d-1

Gate-Closure-Time: t-25

Product length: 15 minutes
Core ShareCountries provide the core share and cross border capacities, no core share within Germany
Minimum offer capacity1 MW
PoolingPossible inside control area
Indivisible offerIndivisible offer not possible
ActivationAutomatic activation through TSO
Activation periodFull activation within 5 minutes
BackupBackup possible
Symmetrical/AsymmetricalAsymmetrical

The bidding takes place every calendar day.

Additional information

The prerequisite for participation in the joint tender is the conclusion of a framework agreement between the supplier and the connecting TSO following successful prequalification. The prequalified reserve must be at least 1MW.

The connection TSO is the TSO in whose control area the technical units to be marketed by the supplier are connected to the grid, irrespective of the voltage level. This TSO carries out the prequalification of technical units (e.g. generation units or controllable consumer loads) in its control area and is the contractual partner of the supplier whose technical units are located in the control area of the connecting TSO. If a supplier markets technical units in several control areas, a framework agreement must be concluded with the relevant connecting TSO in each case.

Each bidder has access to an individual secure bidder area on the Internet platform for the submission of bids and collection of results. The invitation to tender takes place every calendar day.