Implications of trading of 24/7 carbon free energy on electricity system operation

Moving to 24/7 CFE EACs (time matched carbon free energy attribute certificates) could support the goal of a net zero power system by 2030 by directing voluntary funds into creating a more flexible clean power system.

It is critical for National Energy System Operator (NESO) to understand implications for system operation, market design and dispatch patterns of this potential change. This study considers the NESO roles and interactions with system objectives, along with the potential impact on other market participants.

The study involved significant stakeholder engagement through a combination of webinars, meetings, a survey, and a trading pilot. Interactions were with a wide range of types of market participants including government and its agencies (OFGEM/DESNZ), industry (Energy UK and leading utilities), storage operators and energy traders.

AFRY modelled the electricity market and the underlying 24/7 EAC market, to understand how pricing and dispatch, and investment decisions, could be impacted in the event of widespread adoption of 24/7 CFE EACs. Granular Energy and Nord Pool carried out a trading pilot involving recruited market participants, covering some of the largest energy utilities in the British Electricity market.