Flexibility Provider engagement to test local markets able to alleviate network congestions at medium and low voltage network levels

Cluster / Demo area
Western cluster / Spanish Demo

The Spanish Demo has the commitment to test a system that enables flexibility services providers (FSPs) to provide services to DSOs to manage congestion problems. For this scope the demonstration needs to engage customers and make available for the market their flexibility services developing the appropriate communication and interaction tools.

Flexibility can serve as an alternative to network reinforcement when it is more cost-efficient than traditional reinforcement of the network.

Specific service:

Flexibility Service Providers that offer different type of flexibility resources to test new local markets able to alleviate network congestions at medium and low voltage level. A Flexibility Service Provider (FSP) is either an aggregator, providing flexibility services, or the owner or the representative of large-scale or small-scale assets, which are connected to the distribution network and which can provide flexibility services to DSOs.

FSP will be able to communicate with DSO and MO and is expected to provide the flexibility upon the DSO’s call. The communications will be done through DSO and/or MO specific platforms.

The FSP must specify the kind of resource/s and the volume of available flexibility.

Addressed to:

Any entity able to provide flexibility services for DSO, as an owner, individual distributed energy resource, or aggregator, and develop the necessary tools for communications and interactions to be involved in the demos.

FSPs participating should have resources connected to medium or low voltage levels at DSOs networks participating in Spanish demo, with at least 0.1MW of capacity for flexibility.

The resources have to be connected to medium voltage or low voltage level in some of the following areas:

  • Murcia:
    • North of Murcia, close to Espinardo neighborhood
  • Madrid:

Prioritary:

  • Cantoblanco, in the north of Madrid
  • Alcalá de Henares

Secondary:

  • Torres de la Alameda, or
  • Downtown Madrid

Recipients are requested to demonstrate clearly in their expressions of interest that they are very aware of the areas in which their specific services fit best the project goals and the ongoing developments.

Description of the scenario

The FSP will be able to participate in local markets to alleviate network congestions as flexibility service provider role, being involved in the following scenarios:

  • Prepare/Pre-qualification: process to ensure that a particular FSP can deliver a given product
  • Market phase: FSP is expected to provide the flexibility upon DSO’s call to procure availability or availability and activation. Markets are cleared and FSPs are nominated to deliver the product.
  • Monitoring and activation: The DSO will monitor the conditions of the grid in real time and send the activation signals to the FSPs committed in the market phase, in accordance to the type of procured product. 
  • Measurement phase: the MO and/or DSO will verify if the FSP flexibility was provided in accordance to the product procured in the market phase.

Important information for applicants:

FSPs participating should have resources connected to medium or low voltage levels at participant DSOs networks in some of the areas indicated above.

Potential aggregators must attach documentation evidencing commitment of resources from the FSPs that they represent.

Minimum required flexibility capacity of 0,1MW

The FSP will be evaluated considering the following aspects:

  • Type of resources commitment
  • Geographical location
  • Availability and capacity for resources activation
  • Price for availability and activation
  •  Agree to communication and cooperation activites
  • Viability of technical solution for monitoring and receiving set points
  • Innovation degree

Third Parties benefit from getting involved in the scenario:

Third parties involved will learn from the Project how to join flexibility markets and identify potential benefits and issues to overcome.

They could develop and test new tools and technologies to be ready to participate in the future markets.

Incorporation of Third Parties for network operators and household consumers:

The participation of flexibility providers would demonstrate the capacity of the pilot to open the market to external actors (household consumers) to collaborate to manage network problems.

Added value on OneNet project:

The third parties involved will help the Project to:

  • Demonstrate the provision of flexibility services and analyse the behaviour of different type of flexibility resources.
  • Improve innovation capacity of the project supporting preparation and project implementation.
  • Increase the amount and value of the collected market results information to be sent from the Local Market Platform to the OneNet system.
  • Strengthen the OneNet community.