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P407 ‘Project MARI’

Formal title: Project MARI (Manually Activated Reserve Initiative)

The Manually Activated Reserve Initiative (MARI) is the pan-European project to deliver a platform for manually-activated Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFRR) as per Article 20 of the European Balancing Guideline (EBGL). P407 represents the changes to the BSC that are part of the joint BSCCo/National Grid ESO (NGESO) work to enable GB participants to use the platform as well as providing a further balancing product for NGESO.

While there are some similarities to TERRE in that both MARI and TERRE are European balancing products, MARI is a balancing product in it’s own right and should not be considered as being ‘like TERRE’.

Article 20 of the EBGL (Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195) requires Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to establish a platform for the exchange of balancing energy from manually activated frequency restoration reserves (mFRR) by July 2022. To achieve this, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) launched the Manually Activated Reserves Initiative (MARI) to deliver the European wide mFRR platform. P407 will ensure that the BSC, and associated systems, are amended ahead of go-live.

Project MARI webinar

Next Steps

Following the end of the Brexit Implementation Period on 31 December 2020 there is no longer an obligation to comply with Article 20 of the EBGL as this particular article was not retained into UK law. Similarly, there is nothing in the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) that allows for GB’s participation in the mFRR process. As a result, the defects of this Modification no longer exist and unless a new agreement is reached between the UK and the EU, participation in MARI will not be possible. Following discussion with Ofgem, NGESO has therefore withdrawn support of P407.

There may be a requirement for MARI (or a similar product) in the future – this could be a regulatory or operational requirement. If this is the case, new Modifications will be raised and the work that has been completed to date can be repurposed. Our work so far will soon be available on this webpage.

Notice of Modification Withdrawal was sent 10 February 2021 and P407 will officially close at 12:00 on Thursday, 18 February 2021, unless adopted.

No notices were received by 12:00 on Thursday, 18 February 2021 and P407 was officially closed.

Downloading documents

If you have any problems or issues downloading or accessing any of the supporting documents on this page then please contact the highlighted Lead Analyst. Workgroup materials can be found in the Assessment Procedure section below.

Current Status

Submission

Assessment Procedure

Withdrawn

Assessment Procedure

The seventh Workgroup meeting was held on 1 December 2020. Topics for presentation and discussion at the meeting included the Settlement implications of the dispatch principles in the BSC solution and bid types within the Grid Code solution.

The sixth cross-code Workgroup was held on 3 November 2020 and discussed the BSC Settlement solution, the Grid Code solution, and DNO considerations.

The sixth cross-code Workgroup was due to be held on 29 September 2020 and would consider and discuss standing items, questions raised at previous meeting, TERRE dispatch principles discussion, GC0145 defined terms, and DNO considerations. National Grid ESO and Elexon agreed to temporarily pause Workgroups to focus on further defining solutions to present to Workgroup members.

The fifth cross-code Workgroup was held on 15 September 2020 and discussed Scheduled and Direct Activation shapes, ESO-DNO interactions, and the BSC solution (including cashflows and MARI reporting).

The fourth cross-code Workgroup meeting was held on 26 August 2020 and covered the second part of Dispatch and Settlement (D+S) Processes.

The third cross-code Workgroup meeting concerning Dispatch and Settlement (D+S) Processes was held on 20 August 2020.

The second cross-code Workgroup meeting concerning Bid Submission and Acceptance was held on 7 July 2020 .

The first cross-Code Workgroup meeting was held on 23 June 2020, following Grid Code’s three-week period to nominate Workgroup members post Panel. This meeting focused on providing an overview of MARI and the Registration process, Qualification and testing.

Initial Written Assessment

The Panel considered the Initial Written Assessment at its meeting on 14 May 2020, where it progressed to the Assessment Procedure.

The equivalent Grid Code Modification was presented to the Grid Code Review Panel on 28 May 2020.

P407 Initial Written Assessment

Size 666.76 KB Document Date 14/05/2020

Submission

National Grid Electricity System Operator raised P407 ‘Project MARI’ on 4 May 2020. The Proposer has requested that P407 is sent for assessment by a Workgroup, as a not Self-Governance Modification Proposal.

P407 will run alongside a similar Modification Proposal for the Grid Code. The two Modifications will run together to enable GB market participants to participate in the mFRR platform.

Uploaded Documents:

Proposal Form

P407 Modification Proposal Form

Size 742.36 KB Document Date 04/05/2020

Countdown to switching off the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service (BMRS)

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P407 ‘Project MARI’

Formal title: Project MARI (Manually Activated Reserve Initiative)

Project MARI webinar

Next Steps

Downloading documents

Current Status

Assessment Procedure

Initial Written Assessment

Submission

My BSC