European power exchange Epex Spot and National Grid Electricity System Operator are developing a platform to host a firm frequency response auction trial in GB next year.

The frequency response auction trial will be run every week for service delivery starting the same day. Currently, market participants offer frequency response on a longer-term basis. The new platform will therefore open this market segment to more players, encouraging renewable generation and industrial as well as commercial sites to participate along with traditional providers.

Colm Murphy, head of electricity market change delivery for National Grid ESO, said “This project is one of the key commitments in our product roadmap, and will unlock the potential of new technologies to provide frequency response.”

Epex Spot will provide and operate the auction platform. Ralph Danielski, chief executive, said: “We are proud to partner with National Grid on this exciting project. It’s a brand-new and innovative market design that we are thrilled to develop jointly with National Grid.”