Czechia’s ČEPS responds to market calls, enables batteries to provide balancing services independently

Czech transmission system operator ČEPS, a.s. proposes allowing battery systems to provide balancing services (SVR) independently from 2021. Until now, large batteries could provide SVR only as part of a so-called fictitious block formed with a turbogenerator at steam power plants or combined heat and power plants. 

ČEPS, a.s. last week announced the launch of a consultation process on amendments to the Transmission System Operation Rules (the Transmission System Code). As the company stated in a press release, the aim of the amendments is to enable wider deployment of new technologies and expand the pool of suppliers in the balancing services (SVR) market. The transmission system operator is proposing these changes from 1 January 2021.

The most significant changes, which should help remove barriers to the independent provision of SVR using battery storage, include expanding the options for an integrated aggregator and lowering the Code's minimum thresholds for providing SVR.

“We are proposing these changes, which will contribute to expanding the pool of suppliers with a positive impact on consumers, from 1 January 2021. At the same time, the Transmission System Code includes changes to introduce standard SVR products for the cross-border sharing of balancing energy during 2022,” said Zbyněk Boldiš, a member of the ČEPS Board of Directors responsible for the Energy Trading, Regulation and Dispatch division.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be able to provide SVR as part of a so-called aggregation block, which replaces the previously used terms fictitious block and commercial block. Under the Transmission System Code, an aggregation block is a set of energy facilities grouped into a single unit for the purposes of providing reserves.

To ensure the smooth provision of SVR using battery storage, each provider will have to ensure that SVR from its units or groups providing these reserves with limited energy storage is continuously available during normal operation. For this purpose, the provider will have to ensure a so-called charging strategy, which will subsequently be assessed by ČEPS, a.s.

“The charging strategy must be ensured using a specific charging/discharging source or sources. These sources must demonstrably be capable of ensuring continuous charging/discharging of BESS during normal operation. The charging strategy must ensure coordination of the ramping of changes in the output of BESS and the specific charging/discharging source or sources,” states the amended Transmission System Code.