Transmission System Operators (TSOs) are responsible for continuously maintaining the balance between electricity production and consumption within their control areas.
Transmission System Operators (TSOs) are responsible for continuously maintaining the balance between electricity production and consumption within their control areas. To this end, they rely on various types of balancing reserves, which differ in terms of activation principles and response times. The transmission networks of Creos and Amprion operate as a common load-frequency control (‘LFC’) area. Since the Luxembourg network does not have sufficient balancing capacity, Amprion provides the required balancing reserves for this LFC area.
Types of Balancing Reserves by Activation Time:
There is also a distinction between:
Illustration 1: Balance between generation and consumption
Illustration 2: Types of Balancing Reserves
For a successful participation of a Balancing Service Provider (BSP) in the FCR, aFRR and mFRR balancing energy market with technical units connected to the Luxembourg grid, the following steps are required, as well as knowledge of the general principles of the DE-LU cooperation model:
1 Bestätigungserklärung des Anschlussnetzbetreibers
Note: The distribution system operator confirms that the grid connection, the use of the connection, as well as the technical requirements of the connection are regulated, and that there is nothing preventing the provision of balancing services.
2 Präqualifikationsportal > Start
As of January 1, 2025, facilities with a grid connection in Luxembourg can be prequalified and used for the marketing of all balancing energy products — now including secondary balancing reserve (aFRR) and minute reserve (mFRR) in Germany. Until now, since June 1, 2020, this was only possible for primary balancing reserve (FCR).
The marketing of balancing energy from facilities with a grid connection in Luxembourg is open to both existing balancing energy providers in Germany and other market participants in Luxembourg and Germany (after concluding a framework contract). To this end, the two transmission system operators, Creos and Amprion, have developed a cooperation model.
For example, in order for power plant operators or aggregators to participate as potential suppliers in the tenders for the three reserve types, they must meet several requirements. These are reviewed as part of the prequalification process by the TSO. The standardized prequalification documents are available for download at the following link: Regelleistung > Anbieter werden > Präqualifikationsverfahren. Amprion carries out the prequalification on behalf of Creos and is the framework contract partner for providers wishing to market balancing energy from facilities with a grid connection in Luxembourg.
ACTIVATION SPEED
Full activation within 30 sec.
Full activation within 5 min., first reaction after 30 sec.
Full activation within 12.5 min.
ACTIVATION
Automatically, decentralized by providers based on the grid frequency
Automatically, according to target value specifications from the TSO (?)
Manually, via MOLS
MAXIMUM ACTIVATION TIME
15 min.
60 min.
60 min.
SYMMETRICAL/ASYMMETRICAL
Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
Asymmetrical
For the purpose of marketing and providing balancing reserves, providers can offer Reserve Units (RE), Reserve Groups (RG), and Pools composed of RE and/or RG:
For Creos and Amprion, which operate a joint Load-Frequency Control (LFC) area, the following specific rules apply:
Dynamic pooling assignment of prequalified units between pools within the grid area* of Creos and Amprion is not allowed for aFRR and mFRR. (* Including the respective underlying distribution networks.)
For the prequalification, marketing, and delivery of such units, the provider must establish and operate a separate pool for each case (under the same or different framework contracts).
All types of balancing reserves in the German market are tendered via Regelleistung.net. While aFRR and mFRR are tendered on a daily basis, FCR is typically auctioned weekly in four-hour blocks. The minimum bid volume and bid increment for all products is 1 MW.
Primary control reserve (FCR) is contracted exclusively based on the offered capacity price using the uniform pricing method.
With the introduction of the Regelarbeitsmarkt (RAM) (balancing energy market) in 2020, the procurement of balancing capacity and balancing energy has been separated. The introduction of RAM serves as the national foundation for the European internal market for balancing reserves and fulfills the requirement of Article 16(5) of the EB Regulation (EB-VO). RAM offers balancing service providers the opportunity to:
For secondary reserve (aFRR) and minute reserve (mFRR):
PRODUCT LENGTH
4 hours
4 hours
15 minutes
4 hours
15 minutes
CALL FOR TENDERS
daily
daily
quarter hourly
daily
quarter hourly
GATE OPEN
D-7
D-7
D-1, ca. 9 a.m.
D-7
D-1, ca. 10 a.m.
GATE CLOSURE
D-1, 8 a.m.
D-1, 9 a.m.
T-25 min.
D-1, 10 a.m.
T-25 min.
PRODUCTS
symmetrical
pos. + neg.
pos. + neg.
pos. + neg.
pos. + neg.
MINIMUM OFFER SIZE
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
OFFER INCREMENT
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
1 MW
DIVISIBILITY
Only divisible bids
Only divisible bids
Only divisible bids
Non-divisible bids up to 25 MW permitted
Non-divisible bids up to 25 MW permitted
REMUNERATION
Pay as Cleared
Pay as Bid
Pay as Cleared
Pay as Bid
Pay as Cleared
The activation of the procured balancing capacity differs depending on the type of the balancing services.
While the FCR is activated decentrally in the entire synchronous area on the basis of the frequency deviation in accordance with the solidarity principle, aFRR and mFRR are activated in accordance with the polluter-pays principle. This means that aFRR and mFRR is activated by the TSO who is responsible for the LFC area which causes the imbalance. aFRR is activated automatically to replace the FCR, whereas the TSOs request the use of mFRR manually.
Tender results (e.g., volumes and prices) are published on www.regelleistung.net.
In addition to the cooperation between the German TSOs at the national level, there are also various cooperation projects at the European level. Further information about the individual platforms can be found at:
Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions.
General information on the German and European balancing energy market can be found at the following link: https://www.regelleistung.net/
For questions regarding the participation of Luxembourg-based facilities in the balancing energy market, Creos Luxembourg will be happy to assist you.
Please send your inquiry to: info@creos.net
To participate in the balancing energy market, a minimum capacity of 1 MW is required — either through a single facility or via a pool of installations.
Example: For participation in the FCR market, a Luxembourg-based facility can be pooled with units in the Amprion grid area. After successful prequalification, participation in tenders is possible.
For aFRR and mFRR, however, only facilities within the Luxembourg grid area may be pooled together.
Participating facilities must meet the currently valid German prequalification criteria.
Further information can be found here: Regelleistung > Anbieter werden > Präqualifikationsverfahren
Participation is only possible via a Balancing Service Provider (BSP). The BSP handles the registration, marketing, and settlement of the balancing energy for your installation.
The settlement of the balancing energy service is carried out by Amprion, the responsible contractual transmission system operator (TSO).
Yes, balancing service providers based in Germany can also market technical units in Luxembourg, provided they comply with regulatory and technical requirements.
