A new Capacity Calculation Region (CCR): Central Europe

On 19 March, EU regulatory authority ACER approved a request to amend the definition of the Core & Italy North Capacity Calculation Regions (CCRs). Thereby, creating a new CCR: Central Europe. Capacity Calculation Regions are essentially designated areas within the EU. In these areas, TSOs collaborate to develop methodologies for capacity calculation and other key processes for operational planning. Until now, there were 8 CCRs in the EU: Nordic, Baltic, Hansa, Core, Italy North, Greece-Italy (GRIT), South-West Europe (SWE), and South-East Europe (SEE). With Central Europe, there are now 9.

Well-defined CCRs have several advantages for European consumers and producers:

• They enable TSOs to conduct regional processes more efficiently, particularly capacity calculation, coordinated security assessment and coordination of remedial actions.
• Elevated levels of cross-zonal capacity allow more trade and increase the security of supply.

Figure 1. The new Central Europe Capacity Calculation Region

Why merge regions?

Core & Italy North (including Switzerland) are highly meshed grids (i.e. many grid elements forming a dense network). Therefore, there are significant interdependencies of power flows and remedial actions within this area. The benefit of a common CCR is therefore:

• Improved operational security: improved coordination and greater efficiency of (eventual) Regional Operation Security Coordination (ROSC) and cost-sharing.
• Improved capacity calculations: greater accuracy in capacity calculation processes and lower reliability margins, higher operational security
• Improved capacity allocation: more granular optimisation of cross-zonal exchanges in a larger area

Next steps for the Central Europe CCR

The next step for the Central Europe region is to submit a methodology for capacity calculation in the day-ahead timeframe to the regulatory authorities of the Central Europe CCR.  This methodology is due in January 2025. The go-live of the day-ahead capacity calculation process in Central Europe CCR is expected in 2027. Merging of all other CCR-related obligations will be done in a stepwise approach. The timeline for this will be determined based on how the existing regional implementation of these projects is progressing. Read more here.