Technical Qualification
Technical qualification criteria may vary across markets. For cases like this Piclo can create a custom qualification types. This article provides an overview of available options and outlines additional steps System Operators (SOs) can take to refine asset qualification. For assistance in adjusting your market’s qualification type, please contact your Account Manager.
Qualification options
Criteria | |
Connection type | ✅ Default (based on competition type) |
Asset type, capacity and voltage | ✅ Default (based on competition type) |
Qualification close | Only qualify assets where organisation has approved company qualification. |
Meter ID defined | Qualify only assets with a defined Meter ID. This is essential for baseline and settlement calculations or for conducting the “Meter ID within zone” check. |
Meter ID within zone | Only qualify assets that are known to be connected to that part of the network. |
Ramping period | Only qualify assets with a quick ramping period |
Recovery time | Only qualify if recovery time is below X min/hour |
Response time | Only qualify if response time is below X min/hour |
Minimum run time | Only qualify if asset can run for a minimum of X min/hour |
Communicating requirements to FSPs effectively
The map and asset eligibility page provides a clear overview for both SOs and FSPs, highlighting in red any assets that are not yet qualifying. This visual tool helps identify the reasons behind qualification failures.
FSPs can review and add missing asset information by uploading re-freshed asset data. This triggers a new qualification check and if the competition state aligns the assets will become qualified if all criteria are met.
Topology /Meter ID within zone
SOs have the option to only qualify assets if they are within the constraint zone, by uploading a list of Meter IDs. If this criteria is enabled:
- FSPs require to provide Meter IDs for their assets
- SOs can access a special page to upload the list of Meter IDs
- Assets that fall within the buffer zone and match Meter ID will qualify if all other criteria met
Prepare the data
Prepare your data by copying and pasting the table below into your preferred spreadsheet editor (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets). Save the file in .csv format, as only .csv files are compatible for uploading at present. Ensure column headers match exactly to avoid errors during upload.
sub_name | competition_ref | export_meter_id | import_meter_id |
sub_1 | Topology test | 78952345614 | 67554756124 |
How to upload
- Log into your Piclo platform.
- Navigate to the Manage tab.
- Edit the URL to include the following:
/manage/systemoperator/grid-topology-upload.
Overwriting Asset Qualification
SOs also have the option to overwrite the qualification status of particular assets. This may be the result of offline checks or conversations with FSPs.
To overwrite an asset, you can either do this by file (in bulk) or individually using the asset eligibility page.
Ongoing qualification
Traditionally competition phases were distinct. FSPs have until date A to complete company qualification and only those that qualified can place bids until Date B. Whilst this provides milestones and funnel of FSP participants, in more frequent markets this can be a challenge as FSPs with qualifying assets need to remember to come back in a particular timeframe to place bids.
Piclo has solved ongoing qualification in a couple of different ways:
- Retaining qualification status and asset overwrites from one competition to the next. Example LCM where we use a permanent competition for qualification, to ensure once passed FSPs can participate in day-ahead and intra-day competitions.
- Qualification type: ongoing. No longer differentiates between qualification and bidding windows but instead lets FSPs bid as soon as they qualified. We are currently trailing this type for our USA and Connecticut competitions.