TransnetBW promotes weather-dependent line operation

20.01.2020

The energy transition requires the transport of increased amounts of electricity and thus more efficient grid usage. TransnetBW, the transmission system operator (TSO) from the southwest of Germany, intends to take greater account of the fact that overhead lines have different maximum loads depending on the weather conditions. On a cool, windy day, for instance, considerably more electricity can be transported than on a hot, windless day. To make optimum use of this effect, the TSCNET shareholder is currently implementing a system that provides the necessary detailed information about the specific line capacity for improved network management.

The project, which the TSO is carrying out together with Energy & Meteo Systems GmbH, a provider of power predictions and virtual power plants, is called “Witterungsabhängiger Freileitungsbetrieb 3.0” (weather-dependent overhead line operation 3.0 – WAFB 3.0). Together, significant locations for the real-time monitoring of overhead lines in the TransnetBW control area were defined and weather stations and sensors are now being installed at 250 pylons and 48 substations to detect the weather-dependent transmission capacity of the respective lines. This will give TransnetBW much more accurate data on the utilisation of the grid to better avoid bottlenecks.

Alexander Hofmann, WAFB 3.0 project manager at TransnetBW, explains the approach: “Up to now, we have only considered the temperature at regional level for our grid operation. With WAFB 3.0, we record not only the temperature but also the wind on a small scale, which opens up much more options for our daily grid operation. Initially, the system helps us to check the forecast values used and to adjust them if necessary. From 2023 on, it will determine for each line individually and in real time which transmission capacities will be available when required.”

TransnetBW collects and utilises data on the weather-dependent transmission capacity of overhead lines (picture: analogicus)

Linkup
> See TransnetBW press release, in German (html)

See article on single page

Congestion management on Austro-German border

10.09.2018

Congestion management will be introduced on the border between Austria and Germany on 1 October 2018. This go-live date was approved by the competent regulatory authorities at the beginning of September and has now been confirmed by all responsible decision-making bodies of the Nominated Electricity Market Operators (NEMOs) and the affected transmission system operators (TSOs), which are all shareholders of TSCNET: APG from Austria and the four German TSOs 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT, and TransnetBW.

Electricity exchange between Austria and Germany has increased in recent years. In order to ensure safe operation of transmission systems in Austria, Germany and neighbouring countries, and to reduce congestion management costs, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) included the introduction of a bidding zone split between Austria and Germany in the new design of the European Capacity Calculation Regions (CCRs). Following successful testing of the systems, the operational procedures as well as the scheduling and nomination processes, the TSOs concerned now will implement this decision.

To ensure safe operation of transmission systems, congestion management will be introduced on Austro-German border on 1 October 2018

Linkup
> See APG market information (html)
> See TenneT communication to market participants (html)
> See TransnetBW communication to market participants, in German (html)

See article on single page

Croatian-Slovenian market coupling in June

30.04.2018

A significant step towards an integrated European power market is expected to be taken on 19 June 2018, the scheduled launch date for the Croatian-Slovenian market coupling project. Since spring 2017, the TSCNET shareholders ELES, the Slovenian transmission system operator (TSO), and HOPS from Croatia have been preparing the market integration to establish day-ahead capacity allocation and congestion management at the Slovenian-Croatian border in accordance with the respective specifications of the European Commission.

In May and June, the partner TSOs will be performing trial runs on the market coupling processes and procedures. From the launch date onwards, capacity for the Croatian-Slovenian border will be implicitly allocated through the Price Coupling of Regions (PCR) solution for the day-ahead markets. This makes the border a part of the Multi-Regional Coupling (MRC) and for the first time, the Croatian bidding zone will be included in the internal European market via the Slovenian bidding zone.

> See ELES press release (html)
> See HOPS press release, in Croatian (html)
> Open joint press release (pdf, 505kb)

Picture: Croatian-Slovenian boundary river Kupa/Kolpa by Miroslav Vajdic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

See article on single page

EU proposal on capacity calculation criticised

02.02.2018

With the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package, the European Commision pursues the goal of providing a stable legislative framework for a sustainable European energy future as well as a reliable bundle of regulations for the market players. In December 2017, the Council of the European Union adopted the General Approach on package-related pieces of legislation, including article 14 of the Regulation on the internal market for electricity, which comprises capacity calculation provisions. On 2 February, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has issued a critical statement on the Council proposal.

ENTSO-E fears that Article 14, if implemented, will put the well-functioning of the internal market and the secure operation of the power system at risk. In particular, ENTSO-E criticises the target value for cross-zonal trade that obliges transmission system operators (TSOs) to offer at least 75% of capacities on interconnectors. To achieve this target, the TSOs might have to perform significantly more redispatch measures. Instead of the Council’s approach, ENTSO-E considers regionally differentiated minimum capacity targets more appropriate. In addition, the targets should be based on economic and physical analysis and must allow TSOs to occasionally deviate in favour of system security. On the basis of careful considerations, ENTSO-E calls on policy-makers to rethink the provisions to the benefit of the European electricity market and the consumers.

TSCNET shareholder PSE, the Polish TSO, has released a similar statement already on 18 January. PSE also criticises the capacity calculation provisions of Article 14 and is apprehensive of a further separation of market and system operation as a possible result of the calculation rules. PSE has thoroughly analysed the complex matter and suggests, that the TSOs themselves should define capacity calculation details through research and design activities, supervised by the national regulatory authorities and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

Picture: Jennifer Jacquemart / EC-Audiovisual Service

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release (html)
> See PSE press release, issued 18 January (html)

See article on single page

CCM proposal for the Baltic CCR

23.08.2017

The Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM) Regulation of the European Union lays down “detailed guidelines on cross-zonal capacity allocation and congestion management in the day-ahead and intraday markets”. Together with the five other transmission system operators (TSOs) of the Baltic Capacity Calculation Region (CCR), TSC member PSE, the Polish TSO, has launched a public consultation via ENTSO-E on the common proposal for Capacity Calculation Methodology (CCM) for the Baltic CCR in accordance with Article 20 of the Regulation. The proposal covers both the day-ahead and intraday timeframes . The consultation is open until the 11th of September 2017.

> See PSE press release (html)

See article on single page

Croatian-Slovenian market coupling

30.06.2017

The TSC members ELES, the Slovenian transmission system operator (TSO), and HOPS from Croatia are making a substantial move towards the pan-European power market integration. In collaboration with power exchanges BSP and CROPEX and with support from the respective national regulatory authorities, the two TSOs have initiated an ambitious cross-border project.

The main objective of the TSO cooperation is to establish day-ahead capacity allocation and congestion management at the Slovenian-Croatian border in accordance with the specifications of the European Commission on this matter. A design project phase started in April 2017 and the definite implementation of the market coupling is scheduled for the second quarter of 2018.

> See ELES press release (html)
> See HOPS press release, in Croatian (html)
> Open joint press release (pdf, 447 kb)

See article on single page

Long term transmission rights in the Core CCR

14.03.2017

The European Core capacity calculation region (CCR) consists of sixteen central European transmission system operators (TSOs). Ten TSC members are among the partner TSOs: APG (Austria), ČEPS (Czechia), ELES (Slovenia), HOPS (Croatia), MAVIR (Hungary), PSE (Poland), the Dutch-German TSO TenneT, and the three further TSOs from Germany 50Hertz, Amprion, and TransnetBW. They are supported by other Central European TSOs, such as SEPS from Slovakia.

The respective TSOs have mapped out a proposal for the regional design of long-term transmission rights in accordance with Article 31 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1719. This includes the implementation of the first version of the Flow Based Intraday Capacity Calculation methodology in the Core CCR. Additionaly, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has opened a public consultation on the TSO proposal for stakeholders and concerned parties. The consultation will be open until 10 April.

> See HOPS press release, in Croatian (html)
> See SEPS press release (html)
> See TenneT press release (html)
> Open Core CCR TSO’s proposal document (pdf, 229kb)
> Access to ENTSO-E consultation webform (html)

Picture: Edited detail of an illustration by Arnaud Gilon / European Union, EC-Audiovisual Service

See article on single page

Core CCR expedites market integration

21.02.2017

A total of sixteen central European transmission system operators (TSOs) cooperates in creating a European core capacity calculation region (CCR). This considerable high number of participants results in a Core CCR covering the largest part of central continental Europe. Among the associated TSOs are ten TSC members: APG (Austria), ČEPS (Czechia), ELES (Slovenia), HOPS (Croatia), MAVIR (Hungary), PSE (Poland), the Dutch-German TSO TenneT, and the three further TSOs from Germany, 50Hertz, Amprion, and TransnetBW.

CCRs are conceived as geographical areas in which coordinate cross-border capacity calculation, capacity allocation and congestion management is applied. With their CCR cooperation, the TSOs follow a decision by the European Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) from November 2016 on merging regional coordinations to an enlarged European core region in order to promote the integration of Europe’s energy markets.

The fulfillment of CCR-related obligations in accordance to the respective European Commission Network Codes implies that the TSOs are committed to the developement of common methodologies for three principal tasks: day-ahead flow-based capacity calculation of cross-border transmission, capacity calculation for intraday and long-term time-frames, and the coordination of redispatching and countertrading to minimise congestions. Common methodologies in these fields will ease cross-border trade and optimise transmission capacities without endangering the security of supply.

> See ČEPS press release (html)
> See TenneT press release (html)
> See ENTSO-E press release (html)
> Visit Core CCR project page (html)

See article on single page

German TSOs on implementing GLDPM

12.02.2017

The Generation and Load Data Provision Methodology (GLDPM) of the European transmission system operators (TSOs) is a key element for meeting the EU-specifications on capacity calculation and for implementing the Common Grid Model which is part of the EU Commission regulation on Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM guideline, Commision Regulation 2015/1222). The purpose of GLDPM is to establish a uniform and standardised method of collecting production and load data of the amount of electricity traded on the day ahead and intraday markets.

After the competent national regulatory authorities had approved the GLDPM without modifications in January, the four German TSOs and TSC members 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT, and TransnetBW introduced their suggestions for the implementation of the GLDPM in Germany on 10 February. All parties concerned are invited to comment on the TSO suggestions until 7 April. With this consultation, the four TSOs are striving for the most efficient implementation of the GLDPM in close cooperation with the affected market participants. In the course of two workshops on 26 April and 27 April respectively, the German operators will present their joint assessment of the comments. The legal deadline for the full implementation of the GLDPM is 11 January 2018.

> Open joint press release on GLDPM, in German (pdf, 114kb)

Picture: Screenshot taken from video “EU Common Grid Model” (ENTSO-E, YouTube)

See article on single page

Italy on a daily basis

03.08.2015

The D-2 NTC capacity calculation project for the transmission grid at the northern Italian borders has reached a major milestone with the start of the so-called external dry run phase: The values of the daily capacity calculation performed by experts of TSCNET Services and Coreso now get published on the website of the Capacity Allocation Service Company (CASC). The calculations are based on the inputs of the five transmission system operators (TSOs) involved (RTE, Terna, and the TSC members APG, Eles and Swissgrid). Congratulations to all involved!

> See CASC project website (html)

> See CASC values website (html)

See article on single page