​​​​​​Most energy conversion technologies have not yet reached an efficient scale. They are likely to develop with an effective price signal, investments in research and development, and a system integrated network planning and operation.

Decarbonised gases, electrolysers, demand side response mechanisms and increased flexibility are likely to develop with more distributed generation and integrated market signals. 

The energy efficiency-first principle, together with the role of energy storage (thermal, gas, electricity, chemical) and the need for an improved access to and operation of the energy flexibility mechanism, are key elements to reach the decarbonisation and other energy system integration targets.

From a regulatory perspective, all technologies must be guaranteed a level playing field, so they can compete on the merits. Any obstacles or barriers to their equal treatment should be identified and removed, following an integrated energy system perspective.

​The Network Code on Emergency and Restoration (NC ER) provides the rules and standards for safeguarding a good level of operational security, preventing the propagation or deterioration of an incident to avoid a blackout, as well as allowing for an efficient and rapid restoration of the electricity system. The NC ER entered into force on 14 September 2017.

The NC ER's development was closely coordinated among ENTSO-E, ACER and the stakeholders.

As the NC ER does not foresee approvals by more than one regulatory authority, ACER will not be called upon to adopt decisions when regulatory authorities cannot agree on terms, conditions and methodologies. ​

​​​​​ACER and ENTSO-E have established the System Operations European Stakeholder Committee (SO ESC), to organise stakeholders' involvement on the implementation of the operation codes.

The SO ESC meets regularly to:

• Contribute to a more informed decision-making process regarding the implementation's methodologies and rules;

• Monitor the progress in the implementation, as well as in the operation and functioning of all the processes – at local, regional and pan-European level;

• Serve as a platform to share general views on the implementation, fostering stakeholders' engagements, receiving feedback and proposing amendments.

​​ACER and ENTSO-E monitor the implementation of the SO Regulation and of the NC ER​.The purpose of these tasks is generally twofold. 

First, ACER and ENTSO-E monitor the implementation of the operation codes in terms of requirements and provisions by TSOs. 

Second, once the specific req​​​​uirements have been implemented, ACER must monitor and analyse the implementation of the network codes and their effect on the harmonisation of applicable rules aimed at facilitating market integration, as well as on non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient functioning of the market, and report to the Commission. 

ACER and ENTSO-E will publish different monitoring reports addressing the implementation.

​​​​​Network codes and guidelines are binding rules governing connection requirements to the electricity networks in an effective and transparent manner. They were established in 2009 by the EU Regulation on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity  and recast in 2019 by the Regulation on the internal market for electricity .

The codes are crucial for ensuring the safety of system operation and the efficiency of the European Union's power grid.​

​Development and amendments to the FCA Regulation

The FCA Regulation has been developed in close cooperation with the Agency, ENTSO-E and stakeholders, in order to adopt effective, balanced and proportionate rules in a transparent and participative manner. In accordance with Article 18(3) of the Regulation (EC) No 714/2009, the Commission will consult the Agency, ENTSO-E and other relevant stakeholders, before proposing any amendment to the FCA Regulation.

Development of terms and conditions or methodologies

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Every proposal for the terms and conditions or methodologies should be submitted to public consultation before its submission for regulatory approval, in accordance with Article 6 of the FCA Regulation. The entities responsible for performing the consultation should duly consider the views of stakeholders resulting from the consultation, prior to its submission for regulatory approval. In all cases, a clear and robust justification for including or not the views resulting from the consultation should be developed and published in a timely manner before or simultaneously with the publication of the respective proposal.​

Implementation of the FCA Regulation​

​

Pursuant to Article 5 of the FCA Regulation, the Agency, in close cooperation with ENTSO-E, has established the Market European Stakeholder Committee (MESC), in order to organise stakeholder involvement regarding the aspects of the implementation of the FCA Regulation and holds regular meetings with stakeholders to identify problems and propose improvements notably related to the operation and development of the issues described in the FCA Regulation.

Details of the activities of MESC can be found here.​

​​The FCA Regulation together with Regulation (EU) 2019/942 sets out the obligations for TSOs, ENTSO-E, regulatory authorities and ACER regarding the development and approval of terms and conditions or methodologies. The terms and conditions or methodologies should be consulted on, contain a timescale for implementation and the expected impact on the objectives of the FCA Regulation.

While terms and conditions or methodologies developed by all TSOs are directly submitted to ACER for approval, regional terms and conditions or methodologies are submitted to the relevant national regulatory authorities for a regional approval process. Once submitted, the relevant regulatory authorities or ACER should take decisions concerning the proposed terms and conditions or methodologies within six months after the receipt of the proposal. 

Where the regulatory authorities are not able to agree on the approval of the proposal, they can request an amendment, which gives TSOs an extra two months for amending the proposal and another two months for the regulatory authorities to approve the amended proposal. If, in case of a regional approval process, the regulatory authorities are not able to reach unanimous agreement or upon their joint request, ACER shall adopt a decision within six months from the referral.

After the adoption of the terms and conditions or methodologies, the TSOs responsible for developing the respective proposals or the regulatory authorities responsible for their adoption, may request amendments of these terms and conditions or methodologies. In that case the proposals for amendment to the terms and conditions or methodologies shall be submitted to consultation and follow the approval procedure as described above.​

​​Generation and load data provision (GLDP)

What is it about?

The generation and load data provision methodology sets out the requirements for the delivery of generation and load data required to establish an EU-wide common grid model to facilitate the coordination and harmonisation of capacity calculation and allocation in the long-term timeframe. The methodology takes into account and complements the generation and load data provision methodology according to Article 16 of the CACM Regulation.

Legal basis: Article 17 of the FCA Regulation

Responsibility: all Transmission System Operators (TSOs)

Current status: The generation and load data provision methodology was approved by all regulatory authorities in March 2018

Implementation: The methodology is implemented.

Read more on the latest approved generation and load data provision methodology for long-term time frames.

Documentation on the approval process of this methodology.

Common grid model (CGM)

What is it about?

The  long-term time frames provides the best forecast of perspective network states (“scenarios”) used for the forward capacity calculation.

The methodology follows the respective methodology for day-ahead and intraday pursuant to the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM) Regulation. It provides rules and procedures for developing and merging the individual models, including the parameters of network elements, generation and load pattern, net positions of modelled areas and network topology. Since the long-term common grid model needs to simulate different forward time frames (e.g. year-ahead, month-ahead), it allows the definition of  multiple sets of scenarios (such as season, peak/valley market time unit).

Legal basis: Article 18 of the FCA Regulation

Responsibility: all TSOs

Current status: The Common Grid Model (CGM) methodology for long-term time frames was approved by all regulatory authorities in May 2017

Implementation: The implementation deadline foresees an operational and available CGM for the long-term time frames by June 2018. However, its implementation is still ongoing.

Read more on the latest approved CGM methodology for long-term time frames.

Documentation on the approval process of this methodology.

Capacity calculation methodology

What is it about?

The long term capacity calculation methodology (LT CCM) describes the rules  of  each capacity calculation region on how to calculate the amount of capacity available for trading between bidding zones at long-term time frames. The methodology is also used to calculate the amount of capacity  that complies with network security standards.

The calculation process

• TSOs of each capacity calculation region define capacity calculation inputs, such as the long-term scenarios and corresponding common grid models

• Inputs  are used by regional coordination centers to calculate the available amount of cross-zonal capacities either by using  the flow-based or coordinated Net Transmission Capacity (NTC) approach, depending on the respective region.

• The final cross-zonal capacities are then made available for allocation, enabling transmission among bidding zones.

• This methodology shall be fully compatible with the capacity calculation methodology for the day-ahead and intraday time frames.

Legal basis: Article 10 of the FCA Regulation

Responsibility: all TSOs in each capacity calculation region

Current status: The methodology was approved for most capacity calculation regions. The LT CCM for some regions are currently under approval or still need to be submitted.

Implementation: Different regions have different implementation timelines. The implementation of LT CCM for all regions is expected by the end of 2025.

Read more on the latest approved LT CCMs of the respective capacity calculation region.

Documentation on the approval processes for each capacity calculation region’s LT CCMs.

Methodology for splitting cross-zonal capacity

What is about?

This methodology defines how to split the calculated long-term cross-zonal capacity among the different long-term time frames for allocation. The long-term cross-zonal capacity needs to be allocated at least to annual and monthly time frames and should be split to meet the hedging needs of market participants.

Legal basis: Article 16(1) of the FCA Regulation

Responsibility: all TSOs in each capacity calculation region

Current status: The methodology was approved in all capacity calculation regions. Some capacity calculation regions also approved amendments.

Implementation: The implementation is  connected with the implementation of the capacity calculation methodology within their respective capacity calculation region (Article 10). Some regions have already implemented the methodology, whereas some others are expected to do so by 2025.

Read more on the latest approved methodologies for splitting long-term cross-zonal capacity of the respective capacity calculation region.

Documentation on the approval processes of this methodology  for each capacity calculation region.