Balancing services market is changing as ČEPS auctions show rise of aggregators and pressure on flexibility prices

The results of ČEPS's long-term auctions for balancing services (SVR) for the second half of 2026 confirm that the Czech flexibility market is entering a new phase. The issue is no longer merely how much balancing capacity traditional large-scale assets can provide, but increasingly also how quickly aggregators, battery storage, cogeneration units and demand response are gaining ground in the system.

Balancing services are used to maintain the balance between electricity generation and consumption in real time. ČEPS procures both upward and downward services. An upward service, such as aFRR+ or mFRR+, means the ability to increase generation or reduce consumption. A downward service, such as aFRR− or mFRR−, conversely represents the ability to reduce generation or increase consumption.

aFRR stands for automatic frequency restoration reserve, while mFRR is manual frequency restoration reserve. On its website, ČEPS publishes annual statistics on provider shares in individual balancing services as well as overviews of weighted average ancillary-service prices.