Provide FCR, aFRR or mFRR
The ancillary services FCR-N, FCR-D, aFRR and mFRR are regulated in the BSP agreement. You must therefore either be, become, or cooperate with a BSP (Balancing Service Provider) in order to provide ancillary services.
Read the BSP agreement (in Swedish)
Read more about the different ancillary services.
The resource owner or technical subcontractor may establish contact with Svenska kraftnät and proceed in several steps of the process but must ultimately cooperate with a BSP to finalize the application process.
The BSP is our legal counterpart through the BSP agreement and has therefore the final responsibility for the delivery of ancillary services. To become a BSP yourself, you also need to be a BRP (Balance Responsible Party) at the delivery point you intend to use to provide the ancillary services.
The steps in the process of becoming a provider
Access the content of the image as a document (.pdf) Opens in a new window
Firstly: explore your possibilities
If you are unsure of what you can offer or have questions on the process of becoming a provider, contact one of our e-mails: fcr@svk.se, afrr@svk.se and mfrr@svk.se.
About BSP and BRP
The actor roles BSP and BRP were introduced on May 1, 2024, replacing the previous role of balance responsible.
Read more about the implementation here (in Swedish) (Införande av aktörsrollerna BSP och BRP | Svenska kraftnät (svk.se))
Step 1: BSP requirement
The BSP requirement can be fulfilled by either:
- Collaborate with a company that is already BSP in the delivery point
- Be or become a BSP yourself. To become BSP, you also need to be BRP at the delivery point you intend to use to deliver ancillary services
The responsibility of a BSP is formalized in the BSP agreement and the associated appendices. The BSP agreement is signed at the end of the process (see step 4) when prequalification and relevant tests have been conducted.
A list of BSPs that are approved on our markets for ancillary services: Providers of ancillary services (in Swedish). (.pdf) Opens in a new window
A list of all registered BSPs are available on eSetts webpage.
[Här kommer snart en länk till den engelska sidan för BSP-avtalet]
Step 2: Prequalification
In order to participate on our markets for ancillary services, the provider shall demonstrate that the technical requirements for the ancillary service are met. The process is called prequalification.
The resource owner or the technical subcontractor may participate in many of the steps during the prequalification. They can also ask if their BSP wish to participate during the process. It is the BSP who will receive a decision on the prequalification from Svenska kraftnät. The BSP must therefore be informed and approve that the prequalification can be initiated.
Submit a prequalification application
The prequalification application must contain
- Application form for each respective unit/group and reserve category (FCR, aFRR, mFRR & FFR).
- If relevant - test report where the results of the prequalification tests are summarized for each respective reserve and unit/group (test report templates found on this page).
- Logged data from the prequalification tests.
- Additional attachments in the appendix.
All documentation connected to the application shall be sent through a secure digital service. Notify Svenska kraftnät when you have completed all documents in your application and you will receive information on how to submit them.
Step 3: Establish and test electronic communication with Svenska kraftnät
The BSP must be able to communicate with Svenska kraftnät through the communication protocol that is assigned to the specific ancillary service. The BSP:
- submits bid to and receives clearing from Svenska kraftnät
- receives bid from and forwards clearing to its technical subcontractor (if applicable)
As of today, there are two protocols for communication that are relevant: SMTP and ECP/EDX.
The provider has the responsibility for the set-up of ECP/EDX as well as the integration with your business system. Information on how to get started with ECP is available on our webpage Get started with ECP (only in Swedish).
As of today, there are two web interfaces that are relevant: FiftyWeb and Fifty Nordic MMS.
Information on communication through FiftyWeb (only in Swedish).
Information on Fifty Nordic MMS (only in Swedish).
Bidding and bid clearance for FCR, aFRR and mFRR
- Bids are submitted in EDIFACT-format through SMTP and/or manual operation through FiftyWeb
- Bid clearance is notified in EDIFACT-format through SMTP and is also shown in FiftyWeb
- Plans and re-purchases are sent in EDIFACT-format through SMTP and/or manual operation through FiftyWeb
Implementation guide (valid from 1 February 2024) (.pdf) Opens in a new window
- Bids are submitted in accordance with CIM through ECP and/or manual operation through Fifty Nordic MMS web interface
- Bid clearance is notified in accordance with CIM through ECP and/or manual operation through Fifty Nordic MMS web interface
- Plans and re-purchases are sent in EDIFACT-format through SMTP
- Bids are submitted in accordance with CIM through ECP and/or manual operation through FiftyWeb
- Bid clearance is notified in accordance with CIM through ECP
Requirements on real-time measurements and communication
Real-time measurement data is used to monitor, plan and analyse the power system’s condition as part of ensuring a secure operation of the power system. The BSP, which is responsible for the provision of the ancillary service, must therefore be able to provide measurement data to Svenska kraftnät in real-time in accordance with requirements for the specific ancillary service.
Real-time measurement data may be sent directly from a technical subcontractor, however, it is still the BSP that has the responsibility of the data being delivered.
Specific requirements for each ancillary service is formalized in the BSP-agreement and the associated appendices. The BSP agreement and its appendices are available in Swedish on our webpage.
If the BSP has a subcontractor, the data exchange between the BSP and the technical subcontractor can be delivered through a method of your own choice.
Real-time measurement data is primarily sent to Svenska kraftnät with the protocols ICCP or ELCOM through Svenska kraftnät’s fixed or leased fiber network. New participants without an existing connection to Svenska kraftnät may under certain circumstances be exempted from the requirement of real-time measurement data.
The exemption can be applied to during the prequalification step by stating that there is no existing connection to Svenska kraftnät. It is not possible to apply for an exemption from delivering real-time measurement data for aFRR since it is activated by a signal that is sent in real-time.
Testing the process of bidding and clearing of bids
The BSP, or potential BSP, may plan a last test together with Svenska kraftnät when all previous steps have been completed. The whole chain of communication will then be tested and will include submitting a bid and receiving activation or clearing of the bid.
When all the previous steps have been completed, a last test must be performed where the whole chain of communication is being tested. The BSP can plan for this test together with Svenska kraftnät. The test will include submitting a bid and receiving activation or clearance of the bid to test the whole chain of communication.
When the test is completed and everything is in order, the BSP may communicate to the resource owner or technical subcontractor that the resource is available for its first bid on the market. Svenska kraftnät will together with the BSP plan a date and time for the submission of the first bid.
Step 4: Sign the BSP Agreement (if applicable)
If you plan to become a BSP yourself in order to deliver ancillary services directly to Svenska kraftnät, a BSP agreement must be signed.
To become a BSP, you also need to be BRP at the delivery point you intend to use in order to deliver ancillary services. If you are not BRP at the delivery point yourself, you cannot act as a BSP in this delivery point.
If you are not or do not become a BSP yourself, you need to collaborate with the BSP at the delivery point in order to deliver ancillary services to Svenska kraftnät.
eSett Oy, which handles the administrative management of the BSP agreement on behalf of Svenska kraftnät, will send the BSP agreement for signing. If you already have a valid signed BSP agreement, no new agreement needs to be signed.
Step 5: Planning and submitting the first bid
Before you are ready to participate on the market, the planning of the first bid must be completed together with Svenska kraftnät. This includes confirming a starting date as well as exchanging contact information through on of our e-mails: fcr@svk.se, afrr@svk.se och mfrr@svk.se.
The BSP shall not submit the first bid before Svenska kraftnät has approved it. After completing the first bid, you are free to continue your bidding independently.
It is the BSP that bids on the market and receives remuneration from Svenska kraftnät for cleared bids.
Information on procurement and historical prices on our markets