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European Daily Electricity Markets
January 4, 2013 Friday
Turkish firms raise questions over border data mismatch
by Aura Sabadus
Turkish electricity companies have urged grid operator TEIAS to start
publishing real-time import and export information for all borders to
avoid uncertainties related to flow data.
A participant active in cross-border trading noticed that electricity
imports have increased well above the allocated capacity levels since
July 2012, and it is difficult to account for some of that capacity.
"Even [state incumbent] EÜAS has started publishing data regarding
maintenance schedules at their plants," he said. "It would be very
helpful to everyone if TEIAS were to offer real-time import and export
data broken down by each border."
According to data published by TEIAS, Turkey has been importing more
than 19,000MWh on a daily basis since July, equating to just under
800MW, although the maximum allocated capacity should have been less
than the figures published by the operator.
Import sources
Turkey currently imports a maximum 400MW from Bulgaria and Greece, and
upgraded its interconnector to Iran from a 230kV to a 400kV line in
September 2012 (see EDEM 7 September 2012). Thanks to the upgrade,
Iranian capacity can be scaled up from 200MW in summer, 300MW in
spring and 400MW in winter.
A source at TEIAS told ICIS that state wholesaler TETAS was importing
an average 40MW from the unrecognised republic of Nagorno-Karabakh via
a Georgian interconnector.
However, the source stressed that Georgia itself had not been
exporting electricity to Turkey since August 2012. She also added that
there were no exchanges between Turkey and neighbouring Syria, Iraq
and Armenia.
Given these limitations, Turkey can import at its maximum 840MW from
Bulgaria, Greece, Iran and Nagorno-Karabakh, a figure that is still
some 150MW below the data published by TEIAS. According to TEIAS
reports published on 4 January 2013, Turkey imported 25,488MWh,
averaging 1,062MW per hour, and exported 2,184MW, averaging 91MW per
hour, on Thursday.
Another source at TEIAS confirmed that the capacity on the Iranian
line could sometimes exceed 450MW, while the capacity with Bulgaria
and Greece could go over the 400MW limit because of different
consumption patterns between regions.
The difference could then be settled later by sending energy back from
Turkey to Bulgaria and Greece.
Consequently, the TEIAS source argued, the total border capacity could
exceed 1,000MW at peak times.
However, a second market participant described the explanation as
"unconvincing", pointing out that there were doubts whether Turkey was
actually importing over 400MW from Iran, as the capacity allocated to
a private firm was 150MW only.
Data needs
The first market participant said accurate data was crucial to
Turkey's ambitions to introduce a liberalised and transparent energy
market.
"Turkey has great ambitions to establish a reference energy exchange,
EPIAS," he added. "It is an absolute must for such an exchange to
publish transparent real-time data."
The Bulgarian-Turkish border has become highly attractive to companies
active in the region as prices have been robust since June 2012,
out-turning at levels between E6.10/MWh to E22.32/MWh since June 2012.
The highest price was recorded in July 2012, when the border
out-turned at E22.32/MWh. AS
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
January 4, 2013 Friday
Turkish firms raise questions over border data mismatch
by Aura Sabadus
Turkish electricity companies have urged grid operator TEIAS to start
publishing real-time import and export information for all borders to
avoid uncertainties related to flow data.
A participant active in cross-border trading noticed that electricity
imports have increased well above the allocated capacity levels since
July 2012, and it is difficult to account for some of that capacity.
"Even [state incumbent] EÜAS has started publishing data regarding
maintenance schedules at their plants," he said. "It would be very
helpful to everyone if TEIAS were to offer real-time import and export
data broken down by each border."
According to data published by TEIAS, Turkey has been importing more
than 19,000MWh on a daily basis since July, equating to just under
800MW, although the maximum allocated capacity should have been less
than the figures published by the operator.
Import sources
Turkey currently imports a maximum 400MW from Bulgaria and Greece, and
upgraded its interconnector to Iran from a 230kV to a 400kV line in
September 2012 (see EDEM 7 September 2012). Thanks to the upgrade,
Iranian capacity can be scaled up from 200MW in summer, 300MW in
spring and 400MW in winter.
A source at TEIAS told ICIS that state wholesaler TETAS was importing
an average 40MW from the unrecognised republic of Nagorno-Karabakh via
a Georgian interconnector.
However, the source stressed that Georgia itself had not been
exporting electricity to Turkey since August 2012. She also added that
there were no exchanges between Turkey and neighbouring Syria, Iraq
and Armenia.
Given these limitations, Turkey can import at its maximum 840MW from
Bulgaria, Greece, Iran and Nagorno-Karabakh, a figure that is still
some 150MW below the data published by TEIAS. According to TEIAS
reports published on 4 January 2013, Turkey imported 25,488MWh,
averaging 1,062MW per hour, and exported 2,184MW, averaging 91MW per
hour, on Thursday.
Another source at TEIAS confirmed that the capacity on the Iranian
line could sometimes exceed 450MW, while the capacity with Bulgaria
and Greece could go over the 400MW limit because of different
consumption patterns between regions.
The difference could then be settled later by sending energy back from
Turkey to Bulgaria and Greece.
Consequently, the TEIAS source argued, the total border capacity could
exceed 1,000MW at peak times.
However, a second market participant described the explanation as
"unconvincing", pointing out that there were doubts whether Turkey was
actually importing over 400MW from Iran, as the capacity allocated to
a private firm was 150MW only.
Data needs
The first market participant said accurate data was crucial to
Turkey's ambitions to introduce a liberalised and transparent energy
market.
"Turkey has great ambitions to establish a reference energy exchange,
EPIAS," he added. "It is an absolute must for such an exchange to
publish transparent real-time data."
The Bulgarian-Turkish border has become highly attractive to companies
active in the region as prices have been robust since June 2012,
out-turning at levels between E6.10/MWh to E22.32/MWh since June 2012.
The highest price was recorded in July 2012, when the border
out-turned at E22.32/MWh. AS
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress