Methodology for flexibility needs assessment in Europe proposed
Image: 123RF
ENTSO-E and the DSO Entity have prepared and submitted to ACER a joint methodology on flexibility needs assessment in Europe.
The document, which was prepared with various stakeholder input, defines the type and format of data and the methodology for the analysis of flexibility needs at the national level by TSOs and DSOs.
The goal is to contribute to fostering system flexibility amidst the rapid growth of renewable energy sources, while also addressing increasing network flexibility needs.
A requirement of the electricity market design reform, the methodology is planned to ensure consistency and comparability across member states with the presentation of their data and analyses.
Also of interest
The EU Energy Projects Podcast: Next gen control rooms for TSOs and DSOs
UK Power Networks flexibility market delivers 4.4GWh in a year
The methodology states that the quantification of system needs is carried out at bidding zone(s) level and includes needs associated with both the transmission and distribution network without localising them.
Recognising that the relevance of flexibility needs may vary by member state, TSOs and DSOs have the discretion to consider additional aspects of such needs, for example investigating as part of the renewable energy sources integration needs the prolonged periods of renewable shortage.
Moreover, consistency between scenarios considered by TSOs and DSOs is ensured since they use common national energy climate plan targets in their scenarios and national grid planning processes.
For DSOs, given the diversity of those operating, any or all of the assessment tasks may at a national level be delegated to one or more DSOs, a TSO or a representative third party.
Turning to data, to ensure consistency between the flexibility needs assessment and the European and national resource adequacy assessments, the data and analyses must rely on the same definitions of terms and on data belonging to one of the reference scenarios.
To consider more specific national conditions, TSOs can run the analyses for additional scenarios and where applicable, they may conduct the analyses of system needs on a separate economic dispatch simulation.
In view of the need to achieve cost effective security and reliability of supply and to decarbonise the electricity system, DSOs should estimate for a period of at least the next 5 to 10 years their flexibility needs, including the curtailment of generation that would appear in case of lack of flexibility resources.
In addition to these and other details, the methodology highlights the need for TSOs and DSOs to cooperate to provide complete and accurate data and analyses.
ACER has reported receipt of the proposed methodology and has three months, until 16 July 2025, to approve or amend it.
Based on the national assessments, due to be delivered by the national designated entities by July 2026, member states must set their national non-fossil flexibility targets within six months, i.e. by January 2027.
ACER will then review the national reports by July 2027 and may provide recommendations on issues of cross-border relevance to ensure sufficient non-fossil based flexible capacity is in place.
In parallel, to complement the national assessments, ACER is working on an EU-wide flexibility needs assessment, planned to be published by July 2027.
Originally published on Enlit World.
