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0 pointscrote1y ago0 comments

> Meanwhile, there is no centralized capacity market or centralized incentives for black start and grid forming functionality.

There absolutely is. Look up terms like "Frequency Containment Reserve" and "automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve". The European energy market takes transport capacity in account, and there is separate day-ahead trading to supply inertia and spare generating capacity. Basically, power plants are being paid to standby, just in case another plant or a transmission line unexpectedly goes offline.

Similarly, grid operators offer contracts for local black start capacity. The technical requirements are fixed, and any party capable of meeting those can bid on it.

It's quite a lucrative market, actually. If during the summer a gas plant is priced out of the market by cheap solar, it can still make quite a bit of money simply by being ready to go at a moment's notice - and they'll make a huge profit if that capacity is actually needed.

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cyberax1y ago

No, there isn't. FCR market is not pan-European, and even where it's in place, it's basically in the name only. It's basically only countries that already use rotational generation, so it's not really a stretch for them to participate.

Spain and Portugal are not members, btw.

And the same applies to capacity markets. I believe, there is a plan to come up with a plan for it by 2027.

> Similarly, grid operators offer contracts for local black start capacity. The technical requirements are fixed, and any party capable of meeting those can bid on it.

And I don't believe there are ANY solar/wind plants that have black start capacity in Europe. The current incentives structure makes that a near certainty.

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