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What is GOPACS?

GOPACS is a marketplace for ancillary services in the field of congestion management. The name stands for Grid Operators Platform for Ancillary Services. The platform is the tool used by grid operators to reduce capacity shortages on the electricity grid, also known as congestion.

The platform helps keep the electricity grid reliable and affordable. GOPACS is a collaboration of the Dutch grid operators working together on congestion management. This form of cooperation is unique within Europe.

Benefits for Grid Operators

GOPACS offers several advantages for grid operators:

  • While the electricity grid is being strengthened and expanded, GOPACS helps grid operators better align supply and demand for electricity to reduce congestion.
  • The collaboration through the platform ensures that solving a transport problem in one part of the electricity grid does not cause issues in another part of the grid under another grid operator.

Benefits for Market Participants

GOPACS offers several advantages for market participants:

  • With GOPACS, both large and small market players can help solve congestion and voltage issues using their available flexibility. Check with your grid operator to see if you can e.
  • If you can manage your capacity flexibly and register on GOPACS, you will receive financial compensation. This compensation is market-based, meaning the amount is determined by supply (urgency) and demand.
  • When enough market participants join the platform to reduce congestion, market forces will apply, and participants will not be forced to take part in congestion management. The advantage of this free-market operation is that, as a market participant, you can determine the size and price of your offer.
Geld verdienen met WKK
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More Information on Participating as a Congestion Service Provider (CSP)

As an accredited CSP, you can participate in congestion management in various ways. For example, through redispatch (with or without bidding obligation) or with a capacity reduction contract (CBC). To participate, you must have the appropriate contract with your grid operator, except for free redispatch. This can be done directly through a trading platform.

Participate as CSP
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More Information on Participating Through a Trading Platform

Participation in the congestion market via affiliated trading platforms allows large businesses to actively contribute to managing the electricity grid on the day the volume is needed (intraday). This can be done through a bidding obligation contract or through free redispatch.

Participate via a trading platform
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In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the cost of solving congestion. TenneT is increasingly deploying the GOPACS platform, making it an important means of preventing congestion. The purpose of this platform is to give more parties with flexibility easy access to a growing market for congestion services. Orders on the GOPACS platform contribute to the most cost-effective resolution of congestion and solutions can come from all grid planes, from all conceivable assets and from across the country.

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Maarten Abbenhuis COO - TenneT

We embrace the transparency that GOPACS brings us in several areas: GOPACS clearly identifies where network problems are located and thus where we cannot further upgrade or tune our plants. They also clearly indicate the volumes sought and traded. This transparency benefits competitiveness.

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David Leo Head of Short Term Trading - Engie

Congestion is a major social problem that is only increasing. That’s why we were one of the first to get in. Powerhouse is convinced that with Gopacs’ platform and our customers’ ability, we can provide a solution to the transportation problem.

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Bernard Wilmet CEO - Powerhouse

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

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.

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David Peters CTO - Stedin

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

Optimax Energy is very excited about GOPACS because it allows us, as a young trading company, to participate in a congestion management mechanism in the Netherlands through a very transparent and well-defined process. Energy markets are changing rapidly and we believe that these mechanisms must also evolve to meet the challenges ahead in a more innovative and clear-cut way.

Vitor Campos Power trader - Optimax Energie

Ready to help build a future-proof grid?

Sign up with GOPACS with your flexibility options.

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