The eBADGE approach to an intelligent pan-European balancing mechanism

Abstract

eBADGE is a European research project co-funded under the 7th Framework Programme and aiming at proposing an intelligent pan-European balancing mechanism also able to integrate bidding from Virtual Power Plant Systems (VPPs) by means of an integrated “smart” communication infrastructure. In order to achieve this goal, the first step (described in the present paper) consists in studying optimal mechanisms of a cross-border balancing market optimizing the allocation of the cross-border transmission network capacities and suitable to incorporate bids from VPPs located on the distribution network. In parallel, opportune communication infrastructure characteristics able to allow its implementation are studied as well. Finally, a pilot simulator is developed for a region encompassing Austria, Italy and Slovenia allowing to analyze different implementation details and to appraise the economical convenience of a cross-border exchange of balancing resources as well as the ICT needs for its implementation. Methodology and approach are designed so as not to limit the scope to the region studied into the pilot, but permitting a gradual extension to wider regions of Europe. The simulator will be implemented in a “cloud” environment allowing to experiment a distributed participation in the three countries object of the study.The paper starts from an overview of aims and methodologies of the eBADGE project and then focuses on the issue of creating a cross-border balancing market. First, the regulatory background is clarified and then the modeling approach is illustrated in detail. First results, calculated on the basis of historical bids for the three investigated countries, are shown. These results give a rough idea of the economic advantage that the system could draw from a shared balancing market management.