CSP registration
Since the changes to the Dutch Netcode, only authorised Congestion Service Providers (CSP) can submit flex offers via GOPACS. Interested parties can register as a CSP via the website of the Dutch TSO TenneT. Each CSP will be included in the central register of recognised Congestion Service Providers.
Congestion management and the new market role of CSP
Due to the energy transition, the demand for electricity has grown considerably. At the same time, more and more electricity is also being fed back into the grid. This requires more and more capacity from the power grid, as much of this electricity has to be transported across the grid. Increasingly, the demand for this transmission capacity exceeds the available capacity. The grid operators are doing everything they can to expand the electricity grid, but this cannot be done overnight. And sometimes another solution is possible: better distribution of the available grid capacity. This is because almost always, the maximum capacity of a wholesale electricity connection is only used a few days a year. That part between the maximum capacity and the actual capacity needed on the other days can be redistributed to reduce congestion situations elsewhere in the electricity grid.
Companies that have capacity surplus (the maximum capacity recorded as contracted transmission capacity minus the actual off-peak capacity actually needed on a day) can trade this through, for example, GOPACS.
Since the new Grid Code, it has been legally stipulated that this trading can in principle only be done through a Congestion Service Provider, or CSP for short. Therefore, since the new Grid Code, in order to place your own bids on GOPACS, you must register as a CSP on TenneT's website.
Of course, you can also choose not to submit the flex bids yourself, but to have this done by a CSP. The CSP will then submit the bids to GOPACS on your behalf. You receive a market-based fee for this when the bid is called and the grid operator can reduce the congestion situation in the electricity grid. A win-win situation.
In Europe, the market role of Congestion Service Provider has existed for some time; in the Netherlands, the role of CSP is new.
Becoming an approved CSP?
If you want to become a CSP to submit flex bids through GOPACS there are three steps to take:
1. Apply for recognition as a CSP
You can register as a CSP via TenneT's website. TenneT is the national grid operator that carries out the assessment for CSP recognition on behalf of all grid operators (and GOPACS). CSPs are recognised after successfully completing a National Assessment. No connection needs to be pre-qualified for CSP recognition.
2. Registering as a market party
After obtaining CSP approval through TenneT, you can register yourself as an CSP in the central Market Parties Register. This is done via the Partners in Energy website.
3. Prequalifying connections via GOPACS
If you are registered as a CSP in the Market Parties Register, you can register for GOPACS. To be able to submit flex offers yourself via GOPACS, the last step is to go through prequalification for your connections. For this, you provide the EAN codes of the connection(s) for which you want to submit flex offers (bids) via GOPACS. After verification of the connections by the grid operator, you can submit your own flex bids for GOPACS.
GOPACS helps to keep the electricity grid reliable
Maarten Abbenhuis - COO, TenneT
What People are saying about GOPACS
Vitor Campos
Power trader - Optimax Energy
"Optimax Energy is very enthusiastic 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 these mechanisms also need to evolve to meet the challenges ahead in a more innovative and clear way."
David Leo
Head of Short Term Trading - Engie
"We embrace the transparency that GOPACS brings us in various areas: GOPACS clearly indicates where there are network problems and thus where we cannot further fine-tune our power stations. It also clearly indicates which volumes are sought and traded. This transparency benefits competitiveness."
Bernard Wilmet
CEO - Powerhouse
"Congestion is an important social problem that is only increasing. That is why we were one of the first to join. Powerhouse is convinced that we can offer a solution to the transport problem with the Gopacs platform and the power of our customers."
GOPACS is an initiative of the Dutch grid operators:
Flex available?
Join GOPACS! Participating in GOPACS is interesting for every market party with the ability to influence electricity consumption or the generation of electricity, which can offer this flexibility to trade.
