No.53/09 Ramping rules in the Elbas market

Nord Pool Spot has received the following information from Nordel:

The Nordic transmission system operators have harmonized the so-called ramping rules for commercial trade between the Nordic synchronous system and the Continent (UCTE). Ramping means a restriction of how much the planned flow is allowed to change between two hours. The restriction of max 600 MW difference from one hour to the next is applied separately on each HVDC connections between the two systems. Please see exchange information no 53/07 for further information.

The ramping rules were implemented in the Elspot market in the Nord Pool Spot SESAM system in October 2007. Up to now, however, the restriction has not been applied to the Elbas market. The ramping rules will be implemented in the Nord Pool Spot Elbas system as soon as possible. Nord Pool Spot estimates that this will take a few months. Until then, transmission system operators (TSOs) have to do manual corrections in the capacity allocated to the Elbas market for the concerned DC-links. Given the expected short duration for manual routines, a simple solution has been implemented.

The capacity in Elbas is reduced for hours when the ramping restrictions have influenced the flows and prices in the Elspot market. In the two adjacent hours before and after an hour-shift where the Elspot flow changes 600 MW, the Elbas capacities in both directions are set to 0.

Lysaker, 15 May 2009

For further information, please contact:

Ole Jan Olesen, Energinet.dk, phone +45 4487 3911

Bjørn Rydell, Svenska Kraftnät, phone +46 8 739 7767

Gunnar Nilssen, Statnett, phone +47 2252 7422