11.4.2023

ACER amends the electricity capacity calculation regions to include Norway

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Electricity pylon in Norway

ACER amends the electricity capacity calculation regions to include Norway

What is it about?

On 31 March 2023, with its Decision 08/2023, ACER approved for the European Union a proposal from 13 October 2022 by Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to include the Norwegian bidding zone borders into the electricity capacity calculation regions (CCRs).

What are the amendments about?

Norway is part of the internal energy market through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). In 2021, following the Capacity allocation and congestion management (CACM) Regulation becoming binding for Norway, TSOs proposed the inclusion of the Norwegian bidding zone borders in the Hansa and Nordic CCRs.

Before approving the TSOs’ proposal for the EU, ACER assessed whether the changes would contribute to market integration, non-discrimination, effective competition and the proper functioning of the EU electricity market. The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) is conducting in parallel its assessment to prepare its decision for Norway.

To make an informed decision, ACER also consulted stakeholders across the EEA through a public consultation between 28 October and 25 November 2022.

What are the capacity calculation regions and why are they important?

CCRs define the geographic areas (i.e. by listing bidding zone borders) across Europe in which the task of capacity calculation and other processes are coordinated by the TSOs (i.e. subject to regional methodologies).

There are 8 CCRs in Europe: Nordic, Hansa, Core, Italy North, Greece-Italy (GRIT), South-west Europe (SWE), Baltic and South-east Europe (SEE).

Forming CCRs benefits European consumers, as it:

  • allows TSOs to run regional processes related to capacity calculation, re-dispatch and countertrading more effectively;
  • facilitates the optimal provision of cross-zonal capacity, which allows more cross-zonal trade while ensuring security of supply; and
  • further facilitates welfare increases by integrating Norwegian bidding zone borders in European and regional processes.

What are the next steps?

ESA, responsible for overseeing the application of the EEA rules in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, has been asked by the Norwegian Energy Regulatory Authority for (NVE-RME) to decide on the CCR methodology for Norway.

The amendments of the CCRs decided by ACER for the EU will become applicable provided that ESA and NVE-RME adopt their respective decisions on the CCR methodology.

Access the ACER Decision on the amendment to the determination of capacity calculation regions and its annexes: