Redispatch en capaciteitsbeperkingscontract
shape background

How does GOPACS work?

GOPACS matches supply and demand of flexible capacity. Grid operators must have the ability to handle capacity flexibly, such as reducing or increasing consumption. This is how they maintain balance on the electricity grid. GOPACS is not a trading platform. For GOPACS, grid operators work together with various energy trading platforms, such as ETPA and EPEX SPOT.

Through these platforms, participants can submit their flexible capacity offers to GOPACS via a congestion service provider (CSP). If you have a capacity restriction contract, you can also participate directly on the GOPACS platform without going through a trading platform.

What is flexible capacity?

You have flexible capacity if you can temporarily or structurally adjust your consumption or generation (feed-in) of electricity. If you want to know whether your flexible capacity can contribute to congestion management, you can fill out the form via Partners in Energy. Your grid operator will contact you as soon as possible. If you have a personal relationship manager at your grid operator, you can also contact them.

solar power

How does it work in practice?

Suppose there is congestion somewhere in the electricity grid. To resolve this congestion situation, grid operators might want less electricity production in this part of the electricity grid. The congestion situation is entered into GOPACS and a market message is sent to indicate that there is congestion in the grid.

There are several possibilities, depending on when the capacity is needed:

Intraday, meaning on the day itself


Day ahead, meaning day-1

  • Capacity restriction contract (day ahead, so day -1)
  • Alternative Transport Rights (ATOs) – this is not yet facilitated via the GOPACS platform

 

The relevant market parties generate additional income with capacity they didn’t need at that time, and the grid operators can resolve congestion situations in the Dutch electricity grid.

If you want to participate, you must meet certain conditions.

 

electric_meter
What is GOPACS?

GOPACS reduces capacity shortages in the grid for a stable and reliable power supply.

About GOPACS
traffic_jam
Information about congestion

During grid congestion, grid operators distribute the limited space. This is called congestion management.

How it works
wind_power
Participation requirements

If you want to participate on the GOPACS platform, you must meet certain requirements.

Requirements for participation

There are 3 ways to participate in GOPACS

  1. Directly
    • For asset owners with a capacity restriction contract. With this type of contract, you trade day ahead.
  2. Via a trading platform
    • For parties who want to make free market bids intraday, or want to participate in redispatch.
    • For this access, you need an account on a trading platform and you trade through or as a CSP.
  3. Via a congestion service provider (CSP)
    • A CSP is a mandatory intermediary if you participate intraday via a bidding obligation contract (mandatory redispatch) or via free market bids (redispatch).
    • For day ahead, a CSP is not a mandatory intermediary.

 

arrow_forward_ios
When to use which product?
shape background
background shape

By contributing to solving the congestion problem through GOPACS, I have an extension to get more out of my CHP. This offers me a better return.

Rob Oostrom Eigenaar - Kwekerij Lijntje

GOPACS creates a win-win situation. The flexible purchase or provision of power by customers, energy suppliers/generators and market participants allows grid operators to make better use of the current power grid. This way we avoid expensive investments and therefore an increase in energy bills. And at the same time, new earning opportunities arise for parties participating in GOPACS. This makes GOPACS a unique initiative, born of intensive cooperation between the Dutch grid operators.

Logo Stedin
David Peters CTO - Stedin

GOPACS is the platform through which grid operators jointly unlock, tune and coordinate flexible capacity in the electricity grid. By leveraging the flexibility of our customers and market participants, we can maximize the use of the current energy infrastructure. This is how market forces contribute to an affordable and reliable energy supply

Alliander
Daan Schut CTO - Alliander