Public consultation on the request for derogation from implementation of the intraday cross-zonal gate closure time 30 minutes ahead of real time

Context

The European Commission proposed a reform of the existing electricity market design (EMDR) in March 2023 with the goal to boost the adoption of renewables, to better protect consumers and to enhance industrial competitiveness. The new electricity market design rules were adopted on 21 May 2024 and entered into force on 16 July 2024.

In this context, the Commission considers well-functioning and efficient short-term markets as a key tool for the integration of renewable energy and flexibility sources into the electricity market and enable energy system integration in a cost-effective manner. Especially the intraday markets are important for market parties to take into account variable renewable energy sources and trade shortages or surplus of electricity closer to real time. Production from renewable energy sources is only accurately estimable close to the delivery time. The gate closure time of the cross-zonal intraday market (ID CZ GCT) should therefore be shortened and set closer to real time in order to maximise the opportunities for market participants to trade shortages and surplus of electricity and contribute to better integrating variable renewable energy sources into the electricity system.  

The intraday cross-zonal gate closure time balances two main objectives outlined in Article 59(2) of the CACM Regula-tion (EU) 2015/1222:

1. Maximise trading opportunities for market participants as close to real-time as possible
2. Provide TSOs and market participants with sufficient time for their scheduling and balancing processes, ensuring grid security and reliability

Regulation (EU) 2024/1747 amended Regulation (EU) 2019/943 article 8 to allow market parties to trade closer to real time by requesting an ID CZ GCT at the earliest at 30 minutes before real time. Further, it includes the possibility for transmission system operators (TSO) to request from the regulatory authority a derogation from this requirement. It states the regulatory authority can grant a derogation until 1 January 2029 and includes the possibility for further derogation until 2031.

The EMDR triggered analysis for all EU TSOs on their local readiness to facilitate a shorter cross-zonal gate closure time on their borders by 1 January 2026. The outcomes vary between the different TSOs. In case it shows it is not feasible to facilitate moving the ID CZ GCT closer to real time by 1 January 2026, a derogation shall have to requested from the national regulator, accompanied by an impact assessment and an action plan. These must also be consulted with market participants in advance.

In the document for consultation Elia acknowledges why moving the ID CZ GCT closer to real time is important for more cost efficient grid operations and integration of renewable energy sources, and commits to keeping the derogation as limited as possible. Elia also explains why going live 1 January 2026 is not deemed feasible taking into account system operations and system security. The main requirements necessary to guarantee reliable operations are identified and explained. Next, in an action plan Elia addresses these requirements and commits to keeping the derogation limited to a minimum. In the last section some important dependencies are highlighted.

Consultation Period

Elia invites all stakeholders to submit any comments and suggestions they may have on the document submitted for consultation.

The consultation period runs from May 12th 2025 to June 12th 2025.

After the consultation period, Elia collects all comments and feedback from the market parties. Elia will analyse these comments and integrate them into a consultation report together with Elia’s responses. In addition to the consultation report, Elia will publish the reactions of the market parties (including names) on the website, unless it is explicitly stated that the contribution is to be considered confidential. The consulted document and the consultation report will be annexed to the letter with the derogation request, to be submitted to the CREG for approval.