Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) informs that it has successfully completed the first phase of tests with market participants for the Day-ahead market coupling with Romania.
Thanks to the high physical interconnectivity on this border, the project, which is a priority for our country, will significantly increase competition on the segment and reduce market concentration. The market coupling with Romania will at the same time increase to a large extent price predictability and will thus contribute to levelling hourly price peaks. In addition, the project will complete the process of full integration of Bulgaria into the common EU market for electricity. Therefore, it is under the focus of EC monitoring on the implementation of the EU market integration target model.
The next two test phases, namely market coupling simulation both with the project parties and all other Nominated Electricity Market Operators (NEMOs) in EU together will all transmission system operators (TSOs), are scheduled for the current and the following week.
The management of IBEX makes every effort required for the successful completion of the tests and go-live of the market coupling as planned on 27th October.
Background
Pursuant to Regulation 1222/2015 (CACM), all Nominated Electricity Market Operators have to work towards completion and proper functioning of the single day-ahead and intraday coupling and they are also bound by an agreement along with all transmission system operators (TSOs) which stipulates the objectives and tasks of all entities in relation to completion of the EU target model.
In this regard, in October 2019, at the initiative of the management teams of IBEX and ESO, a meeting with EC (DG ENER) was held where the parties involved in the Day-ahead market coupling project on the Bulgaria-Romania border committed to launching it within the shortest terms possible.
In accordance with the commitments made by the parties, the management of IBEX together with its partners from Nord Pool Group SA, having considered all limitations due to the summer period, the technical and human resources required for preparation and conducting the tests on an additional border which involve all other market and transmission operators on the single EU market, and giving major priority to this project, have set 20th September as the date for starting tests on the Bulgaria-Romania border and
27th October as the go-live date.
About SDAC
SDAC allocates scarce cross-border transmission capacity in the most efficient way by coupling wholesale electricity markets from different regions through a common algorithm, simultaneously taking into account cross-border transmission constraints, thereby maximising social welfare.
The aim of SDAC is to create a single pan European cross zonal day-ahead electricity market. An integrated day-ahead market increases the overall efficiency of trading by promoting effective competition, increasing liquidity and enabling a more efficient utilisation of generation resources across Europe.
For additional information on SDAC go to:
http://www.nemo-committee.eu/sdac
https://www.entsoe.eu/network_codes/cacm/implementation/sdac/