European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) welcomes NetConnect Germany GmbH & Co. KG (NCG) as a new member on the exchange. The company was admitted to trading on the Natural Gas Spot Market (NCG market area) as the first gas transmission system operator. The admission of NetConnect Germany has ensured the basic precondition for exchange trading in system balancing energy.
System balancing energy refers to the energy which the transmission system operators need for physical balancing of the transmission systems of one market area during the operation of the systems. In order to ensure the stability of the transmission system gas quantities either have to be injected (positive system balancing energy) or withdrawn (negative system balancing energy) at short notice. At the moment, these quantities are procured or sold off the exchange by the transmission system operators. The admission of NetConnect Germany as a trading participant means that quantities of system balancing energy for the NCG market area can now also be traded through the EEX Spot Market.
Moreover, EEX is planning to support trading in system balancing energy by introducing a product for intraday structuring in addition to the day ahead products on the Natural Gas Spot Market which are already available (Day-ahead, 2-day ahead and weekend contracts). This product, the so-called “Within Day“ contract, enables the trading participants to buy and sell quantities of gas at short notice for the rest of the trading day. EEX is currently developing the specifications for this product on the basis of a market survey on trading in system balancing energy.
The European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) is the leading energy exchange in Continental Europe and operates market platforms for trading in power, natural gas, CO2 emission allowances and coal. To this end, EEX relies on an open business model which generates higher flexibility, increased market coverage and bigger volumes through targeted spin-offs and partnerships. Through this systematic expansion of cooperations, EEX makes a decisive contribution to the integration of the European energy markets. EEX Group also includes European Commodity Clearing AG (ECC), a clearing house which operates throughout Europe and whose range of services comprises clearing and settlement of exchange transactions concluded on EEX and its partner exchanges as well as OTC transactions.