Publication T1.1.5_Demand Response
Belgium has an electricity-intensive industrial sector and relatively low demand in the residential sector, as electricity is not the dominant energy source chosen for heating purpose [1]. This industrial demand is exploited at the system-operator level for adequacy and balancing purposes. To counteract critical adequacy issues, the Belgian state has instated a capacity mechanism called strategic reserve (SR). The SR is a mechanism, enforced by the Belgian legislation, to prevent energy shortages during winter months.
This strategic reserve typically operates ‘out-of-market’, which means that the capacity held as strategic reserve cannot participate in the energy market like any other capacity. It differs from the balancing resources Elia uses all year round to offset the sum of residual imbalances in real time. The continuous imbalance is mitigated by the demand side response (DSR) mechanism.