[CWE Flow-Based Market Coupling] ALEGrO go-live approach
Dear Market Parties,
The ALEGrO project parties would like to detail the go-live approach for the upcoming 1GW HVDC interconnector between Germany and Belgium. The commissioning of the cable is scheduled to take place in October, followed by the commercial operation mid of November. These dates are subject to change given the nature of the infrastructure project and the potential impact of COVID-19. The first day of the commercial operation will be announced at a later date.
The commercial operation of the interconnector will follow a stepwise approach. First capacity will be provided in the Day-Ahead time frame, followed by the Intra-day and Long Term. Since the HVDC interconnector will be integrated in the meshed AC grid, the capacities are going to be released in a stepwise manner as indicated in the table attached (with the start of the commercial operation indicated as day D). The allocation of long term rights is foreseen to start beginning of 2021.
In order to prepare for the commercial go-live certain market coupling system will be upgraded a few weeks before. This date is set to Business day 4th of November with Allocation day 3rd of November. At this time, the following changes will take place in the CWE region:
1. Application of Flow Based Plain during market coupling
2. Application of improved Virtual Branches during capacity calculation
3. Addition of the Alegro interconnector during the capacity calculation. Until the commercial go-live the capacity will be restricted to 0MW.
4. Start of Shadow Allocation on the BE-DE border. Until the commercial go-live the capacity will be restricted to 0MW.
The changes introduced on the 3rd of November are needed in preparation for the commercial operation of the ALEGrO interconnector. The first day of commercial operation is scheduled for mid of November, during the intermediate period no capacity will be provided on ALEGrO. The exact date for the start of commercial operation and Long Term allocation will be announced at a later date.
Best regards,
Amprion and Elia