A capacity steering contract with time (CSC-T) is a contract in which a large consumer or producer agrees to actively increase or decrease electricity consumption or production at fixed moments. The goal is to relieve the electricity grid during peak periods.
The grid operator determines the time windows for capacity steering, usually during periods when the electricity grid is heavily loaded.
Participants therefore know in advance when adjustments are required. During these periods the company adjusts consumption or generation according to the contract terms. This creates additional capacity on the grid exactly where and when it is needed.
In return, the company receives a fixed compensation for making flexibility available and deploying it during the agreed periods.
CSC-T is suitable for companies that can temporarily adjust their consumption or production without interrupting their operations.
Examples include:
• industrial companies that can shift processes in time
• data centres or cold storage facilities with flexible energy use
• energy installations that can ramp production up or down
• companies with energy storage or an energy management system (EMS)
The product is particularly interesting for organisations that can actively steer their energy use but prefer predictable moments of activation.
A CSC-T comes with clear advantages and considerations.
Indicate your interest via the website or account manager of your grid operator. GOPACS can help guide you through the registration process.
Together with the grid operator you agree on volumes, time windows and compensation.
Ensure installations and the energy management system (EMS) can steer power during the agreed periods.
The grid operator verifies that the steering is technically feasible and measurable.
During the agreed time windows the company adjusts consumption or production according to the contract terms.
You receive the agreed compensation for making flexibility available and deploying it during the agreed periods.
Are you interested in a CSC-T contract? Let us know. We will ensure that your grid operator contacts you.
Together we create space on the electricity grid, with flexibility as the key.
A cold storage facility enters into a CSC-T agreement with its grid operator. On every working day between 14:00 and 16:00, the company temporarily increases its electricity consumption by 1 MW. Between 18:00 and 20:00, it reduces its electricity consumption by 1 MW.
Between 14:00 and 16:00, the facility runs its cooling systems at a higher capacity to increase electricity consumption by 1 MW. In addition, it pre-cools before 18:00 to build up sufficient cold storage. During the agreed time window, fewer compressors are running, and the load automatically decreases by 1 MW.
The energy management system (EMS) ensures that consumption stays within the agreed bandwidth. The metering chain continuously verifies whether the control actions comply with the contract.
During off-peak hours, the load on the connection increases; during peak hours, it decreases. This creates grid capacity exactly when and where it is needed.
At the end of the contract period, the facility receives the agreed compensation for providing flexibility.
Transport capacity is the amount of electricity that can be safely and reliably transported via the grid of the grid operator to and from a connection or area.
Congestion management is the set of measures used to prevent and resolve congestion on the electricity grid. When a local transport constraint occurs, due to deviations from the planned schedule (e-programme), grid operators actively adjust to keep the grid safe and balanced.
A congestion situation occurs when, at a specific moment, the electricity grid needs to transport more power than is technically safe. There is temporarily insufficient transport capacity, and the grid reaches its local limit.
A flexibility bid is a proposal from a Congestion Service Provider (CSP) to temporarily make flexible capacity available via redispatch on the congestion market, helping to prevent or resolve grid congestion. A flex offer follows a market announcement and consists of several standard components.
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.
