ENTSO-E celebrated today in Brussels the successful Go-Live for the balancing platforms MARI (Manually Activated Reserves Initiative) and PICASSO (Platform for the International Coordination of Automated Frequency Restoration and Stable System Operation). They will ensure common principles, harmonised products and methodologies for balancing markets functioning in Europe. These two platforms, alongside with the existing TERRE (Trans European Replacement Reserves Exchange) and IGCC (International Grid Control Cooperation) platforms, completes the implementation of the European target market design for balancing.

These platforms will help to increase the liquidity of those markets and will also help to prevent distortion.

ENTSO-E will hold a dedicated workshop to balancing platforms on 8 December 2022.

Keeping the equilibrium of generation and consumption at every point in time is the basis for system security in every power system. This process is called balancing. It is a vital cornerstone for operating the transmission systems for electricity in Europe.

The liberalisation of the national electricity markets in Europe started in 1998 with the development of a European domestic market for scheduled energy and was achieved in 2018.

However, balancing has widely remained a national process with national markets. The entry into force of the Electricity Balancing (EB) regulation in 2017 was the starting point for the creation of a European market for balancing energy.

Today marked the Go-Live of two new platforms each of them dedicated to exchange balancing energy that will provide greater liquidity for balancing markets and prevent distortions. Ultimately this will also ensure security of supply and strengthen the European electricity market.

These two platforms, alongside with the existing TERRE and IGCC platforms, completes the implementation of the European target market design for balancing. This has resulted in benefits for balancing markets and overall social welfare.

As the cooperation among European TSOs using TERRE and IGCC already shows significant improvements in efficiency and monetary savings as well as social welfare gains, similar results are expected for MARI and PICASSO. As foreseen in the EB Regulation, the cooperation that was made possible with the implementation of the platforms will lead to effective competition, non-discrimination, and transparency in balancing markets, ensuring that the procurement of balancing services is fair, transparent and market-based.

TSOs consider such Go-Live steps as evidence of successful TSO cooperation and look forward to further developments with the subsequent economic benefits of MARI, PICASSO, TERRE and IGCC in the following years. ENTSO-E Stakeholders’ Workshop on 8 December 2022 will take place online.

Contact: Christelle.verstraeten@entsoe.eu – Head of Section Policy, Communication and Stakeholder Management at ENTSO-E