Which type of flexibility suits me?
Not every business process can be adjusted easily. For some companies, being flexible requires more effort — but often there’s more room to manoeuvre than expected. The potential savings or compensation make that effort even more worthwhile.
That’s why it’s valuable to explore, together with your grid operator or a Congestion Service Provider, which form of flexibility your company can offer. This way, you’ll discover what’s practically achievable — and what it can yield.
Flexibility creates space on the grid. This can allow you to do more with your current connection, or get a (temporary) larger connection sooner.
Grid congestion creates uncertainty. By participating in congestion management now, you help define the terms and stay in control.
Smart management of your electricity usage brings financial benefits. Think of compensation for flexibility or lower costs during negative or peak prices.
Flexible power products can be divided into three groups. Start by seeing which group best fits your company, and then find the right product within that group. By exploring now which flexible contract types suit your business, you’ll be better prepared for the future.
You agree in advance to always provide flexible capacity at specific times. This makes your contribution predictable and ensures you know exactly what to expect. This category includes the CBC-T.
You’re only called upon when the grid is really busy. This way, you contribute when it’s needed most. The products in this group include the CBC-A, the TDTR, and the mandatory bidding contract.
You decide when to offer flexible capacity. This allows you to benefit from compensation without fixed obligations. You do this through redispatch.
Flexibility is delivered at fixed, pre-agreed moments. This provides certainty and yields a fixed availability fee.
With every market request you are obliged to place a flex-bid. The income depends on market prices.
You offer flexibility whenever it suits you. Successful bids generate a fee per activated megawatt hour.
Your grid operator can inform you about all flexible contract types and products they offer. Ask your account manager about the possibilities or consult a flexibility specialist. For some products, you will also need a CSP. Your grid operator can tell you more about this.
Prefer independent advice or a party that takes all the work off your hands? Then consult a Congestion Service Provider (CSP) about the possibilities of flexible capacity. Not all CSPs offer the same level of support or services. TenneT’s CSP register provides an overview.
Whether you’re a producer or a consumer, we’re happy to think along with you. We’ll support you in taking the first steps, help you quickly connect with the right contacts, and guide you through the rules and opportunities of flexible capacity.
Fill out the form on the right, and our case manager will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
For free market bids via redispatch, GOPACS uses orders on the existing energy market platforms ETPA and EPEX Spot. Participating parties trade electricity by placing buy orders and sell orders on a trading platform. Bids can be transacted across trading platforms. We call this Cross-Platform activation.
If congestion is expected, GOPACS calculates at lightning speed whether orders meet the following conditions: 1. Does the order include location information 2. Does it solve the congestion situation 3. Does not cause new congestion at another location in the power grid
The price difference (the spread) between the buy order and a sell order is paid by the grid operators. This creates a match between the orders on the market platform and thus solves the congestion situation.
If the supply of or demand for electricity is greater than the electricity grid in a given region can handle, the grid operator calls on the market to use or generate more or less electricity. The market includes parties such as energy suppliers and aggregators and wholesale customers.
These companies then indicate the price at which they wish to do so, called flex bid (also called congestion bid). If the flex bid is taken, the market participant receives a fee for it.
Grid operators increasingly face grid congestion. GOPACS allows participants to easily help resolve congestion situations with their available flexibility. Participating in GOPACS also provides additional earning opportunities with your flexible assets.
The ability of parties in the congestion area and parties outside it is needed. This is because grid operators must maintain balance on the grid at all times. GOPACS thus provides a win-win situation: grid operators can solve congestion situations and participants can generate additional revenue.
Unfortunately, that is not possible. The grid operators use the date of entry for all applications to determine the order of priority.
Whether or not to participate in making flex bids is separate from that. However, it is of course true that our goal with the flex bids is to reduce congestion situations c.q. fix it and that all customers benefit from it.
