aFRR, automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve

The purpose of the automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) is to maintain the power balance between production and consumption and to restore the frequency to its nominal value of 50.0 Hz. aFRR is a centralized, automatically activated reserve. Its activation is based on the frequency deviation in the Nordic synchronous area and activation is done via a power change signal sent by the transmission system operator.

The minimum regulation size is 1 MW, and the full activation time is a maximum of 5 minutes. More detailed information on the technical requirements can be found in the attached document “Technical requirements and prequalification process of aFRR” (see attachment 2 of reserve agreement).

Finland is part of the Nordic frequency area and participates in the maintenance of the Nordic aFRR. Fingrid is assigned to procure a proportional share of the Nordic aFRR capacity.

Fingrid ensures the procurement of the aFRR reserve from the Nordic aFRR capacity markets. Reserve providers can submit bids to the hourly capacity markets separately for upward and downward regulation capacity and receive a capacity payment for maintaining the capacity, which is determined by the highest accepted bid according to marginal pricing.

The aFRR activation is carried out using the activation signal allocated to Fingrid by the Nordic aFRR controller and through the aFRR energy market maintained by Fingrid. The activated aFRR energy resulting from the approved bids on the energy market is settled during the balance settlement process with the balance responsible party of the unit, and is compensated to the Balancing Service Provider (BSP) at the marginal price of the market time unit.

aFRR procurement in 2025

aFRR procurement in 2024