Qualification Process

The qualification process for any system operator (SO) may differ depending on how each chooses to run their procurement. The following details will explain each possible step within the qualification process. 

Company Qualification

Piclo suggests using the DPS / Company qualification process as the easiest way to know that only approved companies are going to take part in your competitions. 

More information about how to set up DPS / Company qualification can be found here

Asset Qualification Overview

The asset qualification process in Piclo Flex is divided into Eligibility and System Operator assessment.

Eligibility

When a competition is still in the qualification phase. Flexible Service Providers (FSPs) are encouraged to add or update assets that are within the competitions zones. Piclo Flex will then automatically assess the eligibility of those assets using the following criteria for every competition and visually display on the map if they are eligible or not:

• Location: assets must be either located inside the specific boundary or in the buffer area
• Voltage: assets must be connected to a voltage level that matches the competition requirements
• Deadline: assets must be uploaded before the qualification close deadline (as set in the Competitions file)
• Capacity: assets must have a relevant capacity that matches the competition requirements. For example, an active power competition for solving a deficit constraint would require assets with 'active demand turn-down or generation turn-up' flexible capacity.
• DPS: (If applicable) is the FSP who manages this asset approved on the DPS?

System Operator Assessment

At any time before the competition’s open date, when Flexible Service Providers begin bidding, System Operators (SO) can download, assess and disqualify any assets they do not wish to qualify for their competition. After the competition, and therefore bidding, has opened, all eligible assets will become qualified assets

Eligible and Qualified Assets File

During the qualification period, the eligible/qualified assets file is a useful tool for SOs. To download this file, navigate to Manage > Eligible/qualified assets and download the eligible/qualified assets file by selecting the green download button. This file contains all of the asset data points held within Piclo and has six tabs. The first tab is a 'README' page which is there to provide guidance on using the file. The following two provide eligible and qualified asset data. The next two provide a mechanism by which the SO can disqualify an asset or qualify an asset that didn’t automatically qualify. The final tab provides FSP contact information.

In the event that the SO is not using the DPS process to qualify the companies, this file also contains a cross-reference to the details held on each FSP company that has relevant assets.

This data can be used by the system operator to inform their assessment on whether the asset should qualify for the competition. For example the’ Meter ID’ can be checked to see if it is connected at the right point of the network, or assess if the asset's response time will comply.

If an asset is eligible at the time the competition opens, then that asset will be deemed qualified and can bid for a flexibility services contract.

Qualification Overrides

On the fourth and fifth tabs within the eligible/qualified assets file, the SO can manually override an asset’s status.

To override an asset within the file, please follow the below instructions:

1. Navigate to Manage > Eligible/qualified assets
2. Download the eligible/qualified assets file by selecting the green download button
3. Once the file has downloaded, there are two override tabs. Tab 4 is for overriding operational or in development assets. Tab 5 is for overriding planned assets. Navigate to the correct tab (see screenshot below to view the file and the correct tabs)
4. Complete the required data. This includes the relevant asset ID, the competition ref of the competition the asset qualified for, the override status (‘Qualify’ or ‘Disqualify’) and the override reason
5. Once the required data has been populated into the file, save the file and return to your Piclo account and upload the file via the choose file button.
6. Once the file has finished processing (this can take a few minutes), a new row will appear in the file history table.
7. Within this row there are four columns to pay particular attention to; ‘created’, ‘error’, ‘updated’ and ‘unchanged’. These columns should correlate with the data populated within the asset file.

Qualification Override Errors

Follow the below guidance if the qualification override has encountered errors:

• If the number of created, updated or unchanged assets does not match with your expectations, check the number of ‘errors’ and read the error message(s). Select the ‘view’ button which will open a dropdown showing the row details which have resulted in an error.
• Follow any suggestions presented where errors have occurred. This will require returning to the file that you have just uploaded to cross reference the current asset data to the ‘asset row’ number which identifies which asset had an error.
• Once all errors have been addressed, save that file and reload it to the account using the upload asset file process.
• If the errors persist or it’s not clear what the solution is, please do contact support@picloflex.com.

Entry Confirmation

FSPs who have assets which have been automatically assessed as eligible, are required to confirm entry or withdraw from each eligible competition in order to complete the qualification process. Only FSPs who do this before qualification close will be eligible to bid. Confirming competition entry sends a signal to the SO that a FSP intends to bid, which assists SOs in understanding who will bid into an upcoming competition round. Flex Providers who do not confirm entry, or withdraw, will be unable to bid.

Any Flex Providers who miss this step but still wish to bid can contact support@picloflex.com