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White Papers

The Ex-Post Market by Stefano Zambotti

 

 

THE EX-POST MARKET

 

Etpa's platform stands out as the Netherlands' leading marketplace for Ex-post trading, recognized for its liquidity and persistent growth. With a remarkable 111% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in volume growth from 2020 to 2023, Etpa enhances trading opportunities and bolsters overall market efficiency. In 2022 alone, market participants have collectively saved over 30 million euros through Ex-post trading on Etpa's platform, underscoring its significance in the Dutch power market landscape. Through this white paper, we delve into the tangible benefits of Ex-post trading, exploring its role in optimizing market dynamics and participant outcomes.

 

Introduction

Ex-post trading is a pivotal post-delivery market mechanism that enables market participants to adjust nominated positions after delivery, aligning contracted energy volumes with actual consumption or production. Market participants have the chance to trade out their imbalances before being invoiced by TenneT, the Dutch TSO. They have until 9:30 a.m. on the day following delivery, to make necessary corrections to their positions. Operating within the broader power trading framework alongside the Day-Ahead and Intraday markets, Ex-post trading minimizes risks and costs associated with imbalances.

Understanding Ex-post trading

Imbalances in power grids pose significant challenges to grid operators and market participants, occurring when there's a mismatch between forecasted and actual electricity consumption or production. In response, Transmission System Operators (TSOs) like TenneT must conduct regulation activities to ensure grid stability. The regulation state (direction of the regulation) is determined by TenneT for every Programme Time Unit (PTU)

TenneT in any PTU (96 per day) regulates:

    • Neither upward nor downward: 0,
    • Exclusively upward: +1,
    • Exclusively downward: –1,
    • Both upward and downward: 2.

 

Regulation state 2

Regulation state 2 is the one creating an incentive for trading Ex-Post as there is a spread between buy and sell prices (dual pricing). Below is an example (24.01.2024) of the price ladder that TenneT publishes (Table and PTU graph).

 

 

Incentive to trade Ex-post

Ex-post provides an efficient mechanism for risk mitigation and cost reduction related to imbalance settlement. This approach creates a mutually advantageous scenario for all parties involved, fostering a win-win situation. The selling party benefits from receiving a higher price, while the buying party pays a lower price compared to what would be invoiced by TenneT. The first table shows the outcome of the imbalance market (using values of PTU 41), while the second one shows the outcome after two market participants have traded out some of their imbalances using the Ex-post market.

 

WITHOUT Ex-post

MP A

MP B

Imbalance

+20 MWh

-50 MWh

Imbalance price

Ramping down: -264,36 EUR/MWh

Ramping up: 2.499 EUR/MWh

TenneT invoice

20*- 264,36 = - 5.287,2 EUR

(received by TenneT from MPA – because of the negative price)

50*2.499= 124.950

(received by TenneT from MPB)

Total imbalance cost

Paid: 5.287,2 EUR

Paid: 124.950 EUR

 

WITH Ex-post

MP A

MP B

Imbalance

+20 MWh

-50 MWh

Ex-post trading assuming trade for mid-price (1.117,32 EUR/MWh)

1.117,32*20 = 22.347,2 EUR

(Received from BRP B)

1.117,32*20 = 22.347,2 EUR

(Paid to BRP A)

Imbalance (compared to E-program + SST’s)

0 MWh (corrected for -20 MWh ETPA SST)

-30 MWh (corrected for +

20 MWh ETPA SST)

Imbalance price

 

Ramping up: 2.499 EUR/MWh

TenneT invoice

No invoice

30*2.499 = 74.970 EUR

(this is going to be paid by B to TenneT)

Total imbalance costs

Received: 22.347,05 EUR

Paid: 22.347,2 + 74.970 = 97.317,2 EUR

 

Ex-post trades on 24.01.2024

The trades represented in the graph below have taken place on our platform to trade out the imbalances occurred on delivery date 24.01.2024.

 

Overall savings in 2022

Our market participants have collectively saved more than 30 million euros trading ex-post on Etpa's platform. Explore 2022 with the bubble chart below to witness how diverse company types navigated the terrain. The chart reports traded volumes and achieved savings per market participant.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Etpa's platform stands as the Netherlands' premier marketplace for Ex-post trading, offering liquidity and consistent growth. Through this white paper, we've explored the tangible benefits of Ex-post trading in optimizing market dynamics and participant outcomes. Etpa's role in enhancing trading opportunities and market efficiency underscores its importance in the Dutch power market landscape. As market dynamics evolve, leveraging Ex-post trading mechanisms will continue to be crucial for navigating the complexities of the power market effectively.