Requirements for participation in tenders for balancing services

The approval of tenders in the APG control area is divided in two steps: technical prequalification and framework agreement.

Technical prequalification

Technical prequalification is the first step in the accreditation process for providers of balancing services. It determines whether the provider’s facilities – or its pooling concept – fulfil the technical requirements for the relevant type of reserves (FCR, aFRR or mFRR). In principle, a provider can prequalify for all types of reserves, whereby each type requires separate prequalification. 

1. Technical prequalifications for primary control (german only)
2. Technical prequalifications for secondary control (german only)
3. Technical prequalifications for tertiary control (german only)

The technical requirements in the APG control area are based on international legal requirements as well as supplementary requirements of ENTSO-E and are set out in detail in APG’s prequalification conditions. Prequalification is carried out based on the documents submitted by the applicant, who has to disclose the required data about themselves and their facilities. The application together with the documents shall be sent by post for evaluation.

The provider will be notified of the evaluation’s results as soon as they become available.

Prequalification is generally valid for three years and must be renewed in a timely manner. For this, the provider must confirm that the individual requirements are still met by carrying out a self-assessment. The validity of the prequalification for the corresponding facilities is then extended by three more years. Significant changes to the provider’s facilities, for example a change in the maximum electrical capacity, requires renewed prequalification, at least for the facilities in question. The application for technical prequalification for other facilities of the same type can be submitted at a later date with an abridged procedure; the prequalification expires however on the same date as the originally prequalified facilities. APG will decide on the possibility of using the abridged procedure after reviewing the operational conditions.

Framework agreement

The second condition for being permitted to participate in control power tenders is the conclusion of a framework agreement. The contract, which is identical for all providers, sets out details of the legal relationship between the provider and control area manager. The conclusion of the framework agreement does not yet oblige the provider to provide FCR, aFRR and mFRR. Nevertheless, as soon as the agreement has been signed by both partners, the provider is designated as an accredited provider and has the opportunity to take part in the corresponding control power tenders for the APG control area. For each type of control power, a separate framework agreement needs to be signed.

Access to APG’s Tendering and Trading System (TTS)

Access to APG’s Tendering and Trading System (TTS) is required in order to take part in tenders. Furthermore, the provider has to be designated as accredited provider and registered in TTS using the company master data sheet. Addditionally, the employee master data sheet has to be completed, signed and returned to APG.

More information on control power tenders are available in sections on Frequency Containment Reserve, Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserves and Manual Frequency Restoration Reserves.