ATC Capacities

ATC capacities constrains how much power can flow in between two areas. The matching algorithm takes these capacities into account when optimizing power flow from low price to high price areas. Note that for some regions in some markets, flow based capacity constraints are used instead or in combination with ATC capacities.

Capacities are given for each delivery period for the delivery date in question, and are separated into import and export capacities.

Response field descriptions

importsByConnection

• area: the area imported from
• connection: the named connection to the import area. In some cases, multiple capacity values exist in between two areas - if that's the case, then connection will be used to distinguish the values.
• capacity: the max MW that can be imported on this connection
• lossFactor: in case there is a loss on the cable, then the loss factor tells how much power will be lost. Given a loss factor of 0.02 then 2% of the power gets lost in transit. If we put in 100 MW on the exporting side then 98MW arrives in the import area.
• rampingRestriction: some connections can't change the power flow too quickly. In these cases, a ramping restriction will be present. Ramping restrictions are given in MW, telling how much capacity can change from the previous period. If we have a ramping value of 100 MW, then going from delivery period 01:00 to 02:00, then the flow value can only change +/- the ramping value from the previous period.
• alreadyAllocatedCapacity: capacity which is already in use. If ramping restrictions exist, then the already allocated capacity needs to be taken into account. This is mostly relevant for intraday auctions where there is planned flows already in place.

exportsByConnection

• area: the area exported to
• connection: the named connection to the export area. In some cases, multiple capacity values exist in between two areas - if that's the case, then connection will be used to distinguish the values.
• capacity: the max MW that can be exported on this connection
• lossFactor: in case there is a loss on the cable, then the loss factor tells how much power will be lost. Given a loss factor of 0.02 then 2% of the power gets lost in transit. If we put in 100 MW on the exporting side then 98MW arrives in the import area.
• rampingRestriction: some connections can't change the power flow too quickly. In these cases, a ramping restriction will be present. Ramping restrictions are given in MW, telling how much capacity can change from the previous period. If we have a ramping value of 100 MW, then going from delivery period 01:00 to 02:00, then the flow value can only change +/- the ramping value from the previous period.
• alreadyAllocatedCapacity: capacity which is already in use. If ramping restrictions exist, then the already allocated capacity needs to be taken into account. This is mostly relevant for intraday auctions where there is planned flows already in place.

importGroupRestriction

• areas: the areas affected by this restriction
• capacity: the total import capacity that is possible when summing together all area capacities. This is generally larger than a single area capacity, but smaller than the sum of areas.

exportGroupRestriction

• areas: the areas affected by this restriction
• capacity: the total import capacity that is possible when summing together all area capacities. This is generally larger than a single area capacity, but smaller than the sum of areas.

externalImportConstraint: external import constraints limit the bidding zone net position which represents the total net exchange of the BZ with its neighbors both in FlowBased and ATC network models. The net position is defined as sum (export flow) - sum (import flow), and must be higher or equal to -(external import constraint).

externalExportConstraint: external export constraints limit the bidding zone net position which represents the total net exchange of the BZ with its neighbors both in FlowBased and ATC network models. The net position is defined as sum (export flow) - sum (import flow), and must be less or equal to (external export constraint).

totalImport: the total available import capacity, taking into account import group restrictions if any exist.

totalExport: the total available export capacity, taking into account export group restrictions if any exist.

maxNtcValues: a list of the maximum capacity value possible for certain connections.

• areaFrom: area which electricity is flowing from
• areaTo: area which electricity is flowing to
• connection: name of connection, if multiple connections exists in between two areas
• maxNtc: the net transfer capacity max value for this connection