The energy system is delicate. "To ensure that the power supply works smoothly at all times, the grid must always be operated at a frequency of 50 hertz. However, electricity is a just-in-time product, thus this task is very challenging. That’s why we always keep a certain reserve that we can call up at short notice at any time should the need arise. This is necessary to balance unavoidable deviations between supply and demand," explains Matthias Eder, MARI project manager at APG. More information on how grid control works in Austria can be found on the APG website at https://markt.apg.at/netz/netzregelung/.
The new MARI (Manually Activated Reserves Initiative) platform facilitates a Europe-wide optimization regarding the availability of control energy. "If we have to balance the grid at short notice, we can draw on the lowest-priced control reserves, provided there is sufficient cross-border capacity," says Eder. “On June 22, the first cross-border activation took place, making APG officially part of MARI.”
MARI platform plays a Europe-wide role
From now on, when a European transmission system operator (TSO) needs balancing energy, it no longer sends its request to its local suppliers, but first to the MARI platform. On the platform, a central algorithm determines (taking into account the available cross-border capacities) where in Europe the demand can be met at the lowest price, and tells the individual TSOs which bids they must activate; to meet their own demand or the demand of a cooperation partner.
The concept of joint activation optimization of control reserves has already proven its worth since June 2022 with the launch of the PICASSO platform, where the same principle has already been implemented for secondary control energy.
"With the two platforms implemented, Austria, together with Germany and the Czech Republic, is one of the first European countries to have implemented this new product standard in accordance with EU requirements and is already using the cross-border exchange. This illustrates that a successful energy transition without jeopardizing the security of electricity supply can only be achieved if it is also considered and implemented at European level. Such showcase projects are part of our DNA," emphasizes Christoph Schuh, company spokesperson for APG.
The lead time of six years shows how complex the implementation of such solutions is. With the go-live of MARI in Austria, Austrian market participants in the tertiary control energy market now have access to the European market. In addition, the platforms also enable access to resources in neighboring countries if the control energy that is available in Austria is not sufficient, thus contributing to grid quality and security of supply.
About Austrian Power Grid (APG)
As independent transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG) is in charge of ensuring the security of electricity supply in Austria. With our high-performance and digital electricity infrastructure and the use of state-of-the-art technologies we integrate renewable energies, we are the platform for the electricity market, and we provide access to reasonably priced electricity for Austria’s consumers and thus create the basis for Austria as supply-secure industrial and business location and place to live. The APG grid totals a length of about 3,400 km and is operated, maintained and continuously adapted to the increasing challenges of the electrification of businesses, industry and society by a team of approximately 733 specialists. Also in 2022 Austria had a security of supply of 99.99 percent and thus ranks among the top countries worldwide. Our investments of 490 million euros in 2023 (2022: 370 million euros) are a motor for the Austrian economy and a crucial factor in reaching Austria’s climate and energy targets. Until 2032 APG will invest a total of approximately 3.5 billion euros in grid expansion and renovation projects, which amounts to approximately 19 percent of the total of 18 billion euros which the energy industry will invest in the grid infrastructure over the next ten years.
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