Prequalification
In order to participate in the balancing markets, a provider of FCR or FRR shall demonstrate that the technical requirements for the reserve are met by performing a prequalification with an approved result.
Information about the prequalification process
Before an application for prequalification is made, we recommend you to have a look at the page Information about ancillary services.
A new prequalification is required for
- every unit or group you want to use to provide reserves
- for each unit or group, one application is required for each reserve market
FCR providing units or groups shall be re-assessed
- at least once every 5 years.
- in case the technical requirements, endurance requirements or the equipment have changed
Units with a maximum capacity less than 0.1 MW can be type qualified and added to a prequalified group. The possibility of type qualifying units to a group is evaluated in the initial prequalification of the group.
In order for a unit type to be type qualified, the individual units must have technical characteristics that Svenska kraftnät considers to be equivalent to those units already included in the prequalified group. In addition, the new groups total technical ability shall be equal to or better than the group’s ability in the original prequalification. This means that the added units should not adversely affect the group's ability.
Units that are type qualified can be added in two ways:
1. Increased flexibility
The provider can freely expand the group by adding type qualified units, as long as the maximum capacity is not increased. This means that the maximum volume that the group is prequalified for delivering does not change. Svenska kraftnät does not need to be informed in this case.
2. Increased capacity
The provider can expand the group with type qualified units, thereby increasing the maximum capacity of the group in steps of 0.1 MW, up to a maximum of 1 MW, without performing a new prequalification. Svenska kraftnät should be informed every time capacity is increased. When the maximum capacity has increased by 1 MW compared to the original prequalification and the provider wishes to increase the capacity further, new tests are required and a new prequalification application needs to be submitted.
As usual, units that are aggregated in a group must be in the same bidding area and have the same balance responsible party.
Summary of the prequalification process
- The operator in question notifies Svenska kraftnät about the scheduled date for the tests required in order to prequalify the unit/group, to ensure that Svenska kraftnät is able to attend during the tests. If required, Svenska kraftnät may request a change of the date of the tests.
- Tests are performed in accordance with the “Test Program Template”.
- A formal application is submitted to Svenska kraftnät. The application shall include the following documents:
a. Application Document Template, and
b. Test Report Template (the results of the completed test)
c. Test data and additional attachments. - Svenska kraftnät makes an assessment of the application. The application is rejected or approved. If the application is rejected, the operator is informed about the decision including information on any measures required in order for the unit or group to be approved.
Svenska kraftnät may request additional information during the assessment.
You can find the flowchart of the entire process:
The prequalification process as document (.pdf) Opens in a new window
More information:
Provision of ancillary services
Questions and answers about reserves
Guidance on the provision of reserves (.pdf) Opens in a new window
A reserve providing unit or group has the possibility to undergo a limited prequalification that is valid for a period of six months. During this time, the unit/group is allowed to adjust some of its parameters for optimization while delivering reserves at the same time. When these six months have passed an ordinary prequalification application has to be submitted in order to continue providing reserves.
Document about limited prequalification (in Swedish) (.pdf) Opens in a new window
Sending an application for limited prequalification
To initiate a limited prequalification the applicant first need to send an application to initiate a limited prequalification to Svenska kraftnät via Alfresco or Deaddrop.
The application to initiate a limited prequalification should state and make the case for why a limited prequalification is necessary and what parameters need to be optimized and problems solved.
When submitting the application to initiate limited prequalification Svenska kraftnät shall be notified via e-mail. The subject should be marked with “Application to initiate limited prequalification” and the email shall specify the following:
- basic info on the resource in question (name, technology, energy source, etc.)
- the ancillary services covered by the application.
- the Balance Responsible Party.
- if the application is sent via Alfresco or Deaddrop.
Svenska kraftnät will assess if the resource will fulfill the technical requirements during the six month optimization period and notify the applicant by e-mail if the application to initiate limited prequalification is approved or denied.
If the resource is approved, the provider plan for tests and prequalifies their resource according to the standard prequalification procedure.
To provide reserves, one must be a certified Balance Responsible Party (BRP) and fulfill the requirements stated in the Balance Responsibility Agreement (in Swedish).
If a subcontractor is the one providing the reserves and is doing it through a BRP, it is ultimately the BRP who has responsibility towards Svenska kraftnät. The BRP must therefore vouch for the subcontractor and their IT-security, ensuring Svenska kraftnät that the subcontractor is reliable and trustworthy.
For example, the BRP must ensure that the subcontractor can provide the reserves while having systematically implemented security procedures related to IT. For example, the subcontractor should be able to present the work they have done to ensure correct data reporting and availability during operation.
Please notify Svenska kraftnät by e-mail at least three weeks in advance to the intended date for the prequalification tests. This is to allow Svenska kraftnät to send an observer to be present during the tests. The message should contain information on:
- the name of the unit or group
- BRP
- electricity area where the unit or group is located
- type of technique
- ancillary services that will be tested
- place where the tests are to be performed
Note that Svenska kraftnät has the right to demand a change in test date if needed.
Use the following e-mails for each respective reserve:
FFR: ffr@svk.se
FCR-N and FCR-D (up and down): fcr@svk.se
aFRR: afrr@svk.se
mFRR: mfrr@svk.se
The prequalification tests are described in the test programs attached at the bottom of this page.
Submitting your application for prequalification
The application should include
- Application form for each respective unit/group and reserve category (FCR, aFRR, mFRR & FFR).
- Test report where the results of the prequalification tests are summarized for each respective reserve and unit/group (test report templates found below).
- Logged data from the prequalification tests.
- Additional attachments in the appendix.
How long does it take?
You will receive feedback on your application within eight weeks after it was submitted.
If the application is not immediately approved, you will need to answer the feedback and submit a revised version within four weeks after the feedback was received.
If your unit or group fulfills the criteria, the final decision will be issued within three months after you’re notified that your application is complete.
Reporting data to Svenska kraftnät
A provider of ancillary services is required to log and save certain measurement data for at least 14 days in accordance with the Balance Responsibility Agreement is only available in Swedish.
The provider can choose the format in which the data is logged during operation. However, when data is sent to Svenska kraftnät it must use the units and format given in the relevant documents for each reserve. In these documents it is described which measurements should be conducted and ready to be provided. In addition, the documents clarify the correct format for reporting these measurement data.
Company secrecy
The application and all related documentation shall be sent to Svenska kraftnät by using Svenska kraftnät’s services for safe sharing of documents: Alfresco or Deaddrop. In the case of using Deaddrop, the applicant will receive a temporary Deaddrop link after notifying Svenska kraftnät that the application is complete and ready to be sent in.
As a general rule, all documents that are submitted to Svenska kraftnät are public, but in some cases information may be classified.
The applying company is therefore recommended to state which information in the application can be considered as sensitive from a secrecy point of view, and for what particular reason the company may be harmed if the information is disclosed.
Svenska kraftnät is not bound to follow the assessment of the applying company but will do an independent review in each case.