säätömarkkinoita

Säätömarkkinat refers to the balancing markets in electricity systems. These markets are crucial for maintaining the real-time balance between electricity supply and demand. When the grid's frequency deviates from its target (typically 50 Hz in Europe), power plants and flexible loads are activated to restore equilibrium.

There are typically two main types of balancing markets: frequency containment reserves and frequency restoration reserves. Frequency containment reserves are activated almost instantaneously to prevent large frequency deviations. Frequency restoration reserves then work to bring the frequency back to its nominal value and to re-deploy the frequency containment reserves.

Participants in the säätömarkkinat are typically power generators and large industrial consumers or aggregators who can adjust their output or consumption on short notice. These participants are compensated for providing their balancing capacity and for the activation of their services. The system operator is responsible for managing these markets, ensuring grid stability and reliability.

The efficiency and effectiveness of säätömarkkinat are increasingly important with the growing integration of variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which can introduce more volatility into the electricity grid. Modernizing these markets and encouraging participation from a diverse range of resources, including energy storage, is a key focus for ensuring a stable and sustainable energy future. The prices in these markets can fluctuate significantly based on real-time grid conditions.