Automatic Frequency Restoration Process (aFRR/R2)
By offering balancing flexibility for automatic activation, Balancing Service Providers (BSPs) enable Elia to restore frequency.
Elia uses the secondary reserves (R2/aFRR) on a continuous basis in both directions to restore a frequency of 50 Hz.These reserves have a fast response time is quick and remains active as long as necessary.
Product design
The flexibility used for automatic frequency restoration must comply with the aFRR design. It differs from the FCR and the mFRR balancing services primarily in the fact that Elia activates aFRR automatically by sending a set-point every four seconds and that the requested energy is to be activated within 7.5 minutes in case of selection of the full volume of the aFRR energy bid.
A grid user supplying secondary reserves must therefore be equipped to communicate with the Elia dispatching center.
Reserved and non-reserved flexibility
A BSP must at least offer aFRR energy bids corresponding to its aFRR obligations (i.e. reserved volume). A BSP also has the possibility to offer non-reserved energy bids.
How can European mechanisms contribute to balance on the Belgian grid?
With that in mind, Elia joined the IGCC platform in 2012 and is member of the PICASSO platform that is currently being established.
IGCC: The current European platform for imbalance netting
PICASSO: The future European platform for the exchange of aFRR balancing energy
