Launch of the New FSV SEAL System Service Product
– Entelios First Marketer in Germany –
Munich, October 15, 2024: Until June 2022, the German “Abschaltbare Lasten Verordnung (AbLaV)” (Interruptible Loads Ordinance) was an important instrument for using industrial flexibility to stabilise the grid, particularly in southern and western Germany. Disconnectable loads are electrical systems whose operation can be temporarily interrupted without significantly affecting their main function or operation. They include a wide range of equipment such as electrolysers, paper machines, mills or liquefaction circuits. Since the AbLaV expired for reasons of European law, a large part of this potential has remained untapped, as the specific requirements of the loads hardly allowed them to be used in other flexibility products.
On 22 May 2024, the new market-based instrument “real-time system service product from interruptible loads” (SEAL) was launched. SEAL covers services aimed at ensuring the stability and reliability of the electricity system by quickly switching off loads (electrical consumers) when necessary. These measures are particularly important to balance fluctuations in electricity supply and demand and to keep the grid frequency within permissible limits. The requirements are similar to those of the former „Sofort Abschaltbaren Lasten“ (SOL) (instantaneous switch-off loads), with a switch-off gradient of less than one second. However, this strict cut-off criterion prevents many of the previously active loads from participating. The theoretical potential is estimated at only 400 MW, which means that a large part of the industrial flexibility potential remains unused.
The main purpose is to ensure grid stability as an emergency measure (when all other means are not available or not available in time). The use of redispatch is completely excluded.
Entelios Begins Flexibility Trading with Alzchem
At the end of July, transmission system operator Tennet gave Entelios AG the green light for the successful prequalification of two carbide furnaces from Alzchem, a long-standing customer of Entelios AG. Both plants have a total capacity of 50 MW and have recently been actively trading flexibility.
“We are proud to continue to break new ground in the commercialisation of industrial flexibility with Entelios. Participating in SEAL allows us to actively contribute to grid stability while optimising our operating costs,” says Klaus Englmaier, COO of Alzchem.
A central control system continuously monitors the grid and identifies situations where intervention is required. This is usually done automatically when the grid frequency reaches a certain threshold. Alternatively, the control system could send signals to the control units of the identified loads. In times of high grid load or in the event of a fault in the European electricity grid, these loads can be switched off at short notice to relieve the grid. As soon as stability is restored, the loads are switched back on. This shutdown process must be fast and reliable, taking less than a second.
“The commercialisation of the Alzchem systems in the FSV SEAL is an important milestone for us. It demonstrates our innovation and pioneering spirit as a leader in industrial load flexibility. We look forward to continuing to find new ways to harness the flexibility potential of our customers to stabilise the grid and integrate renewable generators. We are the only provider to offer all system service products of the German TSOs in addition to short-term trading,” said Fabian Becker, CEO of Entelios.
Image source: Alzchem Trostberg GmbH
About Alzchem Group AG
Alzchem is a leading German chemical company based in Trostberg, Bavaria. For more than a century, Alzchem has stood for innovation and quality in the chemical industry. The company offers a wide range of products and solutions for various industries, including agrochemicals, nutrition, metallurgy and pharmaceuticals. With a strong focus on sustainability and continuous development, Alzchem strives to make a positive contribution to society and the environment through state-of-the-art technologies and processes.
About Entelios AG
Founded in 2010, Entelios is a European pioneer in industrial demand response services with extensive experience in optimising the flexibility of complex plants in control reserve markets and intraday trading. Using proprietary systems, Entelios maximises its customers’ revenues by trading flexibility on all relevant short-term markets and intelligently shifting energy capacity between FCR, aFRR and intraday markets. Customised advice and identification of flexibility potential play a key role at Entelios. As a full service provider for the ancillary services, we support our customers in every step of the pre-qualification process and guarantee collateralisation through our balancing pools.
Press contact Entelios AG: Benjamin Dausch Marketing & Sales Manager benjamin.dausch@entelios.de
