The Danish power grid in balance
Meganet is an approved Balance Responsible Party (BRP), Balancing Service Provider (BSP), and electricity supplier with Energinet — we aggregate all connected assets through our own approved VPP platform and install our own software, without an external aggregator as an intermediary. This page brings together everything regarding FCR, aFRR, mFRR, FFR, grid balancing, and EMS in one place.
What are system services?
When consumption and production do not match, there is a need for regulation. A suitable plant can adjust its output and provide flexibility.
Upward adjustment
More production or less consumption. A battery can, for example, discharge or reduce an ongoing charging process.
Downgrade
Less production or more consumption. Battery charging and adjustable load banks are possible examples.
Documented delivery
Measurements, communication, and management must demonstrate that the agreed-upon change in effect is actually being delivered.
How to get started with system services
From grid connection to ongoing revenue — we guide you through the entire process, step by step.
Hvad er systemydelser?
Elnettet skal til enhver tid holdes i balance — præcis lige meget strøm skal produceres, som der forbruges. Når vind og sol svinger, eller store forbrugere kobler til eller fra, opstår der ubalancer. Systemydelser er de ydelser, Energinet køber fra anlægsejere for at holde nettet stabilt.
Find jeres ampererettigheder på eloverblik.dk
Jeres nettilslutning — også kaldet ampererettigheder eller hovedsikring — afgør, hvor stort et anlæg I kan tilslutte, og dermed hvor meget effekt I kan stille til rådighed for systemydelser.
Et modulært batterianlæg, der matcher jeres nettilslutning
Meganets batterianlæg er bygget op af standardiserede containermoduler á 1.000 kW / 2.315 kWh. Modulerne kan kombineres, så anlægget matcher både jeres nettilslutning og ambition — fra et enkelt modul til store multi-MW-porteføljer.
Vi rådgiver om den rigtige anlægsstørrelse ud fra jeres ampererettigheder og eventuelle eksisterende solcelle- eller vindmølleanlæg, og håndterer hele processen fra prækvalificering til idriftsættelse.
See the battery systemHvad laver anlægget, når det ikke leverer systemydelser?
Kapacitetsmarkederne kræver kun, at anlægget er tilgængeligt — ikke at det aktiveres konstant. Vores VPP-platform udnytter automatisk den ledige kapacitet på andre måder.
Derfor giver det mening at udnytte jeres nettilslutning
Kontakt os — vi klarer resten
I behøver ikke forstå alle teknikaliteterne. Meganet håndterer rådgivning, tilskudsansøgning, prækvalificering, installation og løbende markedsadgang fra A til Z — gennem vores egen VPP-platform.
Capacity & activation
aFRR and mFRR have both capacity and energy activation markets. Energy content alone does not determine which market a facility can participate in.
Capacity market
Availability is offered here. An accepted bid obligates the supplier to make the agreed capacity available and to follow the associated rules for energy bids, but settlement occurs regardless of whether energy is delivered or not.
Energy activation market
Balancing energy is bid here, which may be activated. Settlement for actual activation must be kept separate from payment for availability.
Four system services, one platform
Each service has its own requirements for response time and activation. Our EMS automatically selects the right combination. Detailed further down the page.
FCR
Frequency Containment Reserve — automatic response within seconds to maintain 50 Hz.
aFRR
Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve — automatic frequency restoration reserve.
mFRR
Manual Frequency Restoration Reserve — manually activated reserve for larger imbalances.
FFR
Fast Frequency Reserve — ultra-fast response to critical frequency drops.
aFRR – Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve
The plant changes power output according to a continuous control signal. For a battery, this requires precise control, available power, and sufficient energy for the agreed-upon delivery.
Regulation by signal
aFRR contributes to restoring the balance in the electricity system. The plant's control system follows the agreed signal and documents the response.
Two markets
The capacity market pays for accepted availability. The energy activation market relates to the regulation that is actually activated.
Energy in the right direction
Upward regulation may require discharging; downward regulation may require charging or increased consumption. The energy margin depends on the operating point and the bid.
mFRR – Manual Frequency Restoration Reserve
mFRR helps restore the balance between production and consumption. The “manual” part of the name does not mean that the plant must be operated manually: the market process and communication can be automated.
Activation on demand
The plant provides a requested power change following an activation order and within the product's requirements for response and delivery.
Capacity and energy
Accepted availability and activated balancing energy are different services. Bidding, delivery, and settlement follow the rules for each market.
Plan the energy reserve
The battery's usable energy must cover the offered delivery. The control system must manage state of charge, losses, previous activations, and subsequent recharging.
From Energinet to your facility — in real time
When Energinet sends an activation signal, our VPP platform receives it instantly via the cloud and distributes it to the connected assets.
FCR — Frequency Containment Reserve
FCR reacts automatically to the measured grid frequency. Products and requirements differ between Western Denmark and Eastern Denmark and must be matched with the characteristics of the facility.
Purpose
FCR keeps the frequency on the power grid stable at around 50 Hz by automatically increasing or decreasing power as soon as the frequency deviates from the norm. The regulation is based on the measurement of the frequency and the approved control characteristic.
Reaction time
Battery storage systems are ideal for FCR because they can deliver full power in under 30 seconds — far faster than traditional power plants.
Market
FCR is traded in DK1 on a joint Central European market. FCR-N and FCR-D are separate products that are traded on a joint Danish-Swedish market for DK2 — not a division of the DK1 market.
FFR – Fast Frequency Reserve
FFR is a fast reserve for low-inertia situations in the Nordic power system. The plant's response and delivery must comply with the specific product requirements.
Rapid response effect
FFR contributes to rapid frequency drops. Activation, duration, and recovery must be documented for the selected delivery.
Not a general service level agreement
A technically fast unit is not automatically approved for FFR. The overall installation and regulation must be tested.
Being assessed for the location
The market opportunity depends on price area, procurement, and applicable terms. We clarify the relevance before revenues are included in a project budget.
Real-time automatic frequency control
The software continuously monitors the grid frequency and reacts automatically to keep it stable at around 50 Hz.
Absorbs excess power from the grid — the power is absorbed in a controlled manner instead of further burdening the grid.
Delivers power to the grid to meet increasing demand and support supply.
From milliseconds to minutes
The six system services are activated in a fixed hierarchy — from FFR’s ultra-fast response of under one second to mFRR’s manual activation of up to 15 minutes.
Activation times and market segmentation: Energinet, "Outlook for Ancillary Services 2024-2040" and "Guideline for the Provision of Ancillary Services" (March 2026).
The need for system services is growing significantly
System performance markets right now
Live spot/day-ahead prices and current capacity prices for aFRR, mFRR, FCR, and FFR from Energinet.
Source: Energinet, Energy Data Service. Day-ahead is shown in DKK/kWh. Capacity prices are shown per MW per delivery hour; FCR-N/D DK2 is shown in EUR, as published. Data may be delayed or corrected.
What is the difference between DK1 and DK2?
Denmark is divided into two electricity price areas. The price of electricity — and thus the value of flexibility and system services — can vary significantly between the two zones, hour by hour.
West Denmark
Covers Jutland and Funen. Price formation is particularly influenced by electricity transmission to and from Germany, Norway, and the rest of the Northern European market.
Eastern Denmark
Covers Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Møn, and Bornholm. The zone is primarily affected by connections to Sweden and the rest of Eastern Denmark.
Even though the electricity is the same, prices at any given time can differ between DK1 and DK2 — this is a central part of the value that Meganet's trading algorithms and system services generate for customers.
What does it take to provide a system service in practice?
Energinet's guidelines for the delivery of system services (March 2026) set specific requirements for bids, response, and documentation — our VPP platform is built to comply with them automatically.
Capacity bid vs. energy bid
A capacity bid is an availability obligation and is valid for 60 minutes. An accepted capacity bid for aFRR/mFRR simultaneously obligates an energy bid, which must be deliverable for at least 15 minutes.
Physical and measurable response
The delivery must be measurable as a genuine change in load. It is not permitted to 'round' energy — e.g., selling balance market energy back as aFRR in the opposite direction.
LER requirements for limited energy storage
Facilities with limited energy reservoirs (LER), such as batteries, must, among other things, have at least 4 hours of storage in each direction for aFRR capacity bids and an approved EMS as part of the prequalification.
EMS — the brains behind your energy plant
While our VPP platform coordinates an entire portfolio of assets across electricity markets, the EMS is the control system that optimizes the energy flow of the individual asset in real time — production, consumption, and storage.
Local optimization
EMS monitors and manages production, consumption, and storage at the site level — battery, solar, generator, and load bank work together following the same logic.
Automated decisions
The system automatically makes decisions on when to charge, discharge, or curtail, based on prices, consumption patterns, and operational constraints.
Connection to VPP
EMS is the facility's local control system — the VPP platform is the layer on top that coordinates multiple facilities collectively across the electricity markets.
Good to know about system services
Can my system provide multiple services simultaneously?
Yes — our EMS allocates capacity dynamically between FCR, aFRR, mFRR, FFR, and arbitrage based on what provides the most value right now.
What is required to participate?
The facility must be prequalified by Energinet according to a defined test protocol, documenting response time and capacity, and have approval from its DSO. We handle the entire process for you.
Why are batteries particularly suitable for FCR?
The reaction time of batteries, ranging from milliseconds to a few seconds, makes them significantly faster than conventional power plants, providing high precision and reliable delivery throughout the reserve period.
What is the difference between aFRR and FCR?
FCR reacts in under 30 seconds and stabilizes the frequency immediately. aFRR is then automatically activated within 5 minutes and restores the underlying balance, so that the FCR reserve is released again.
What is the difference between aFRR and mFRR?
aFRR is activated automatically via a digital signal within 5 minutes. mFRR is activated manually by Energinet as needed and must be fully activated within 15 minutes (12.5 minutes from 2025).
When is mFRR activated instead of aFRR?
When the imbalance is greater or lasts longer than aFRR alone can cover, or when Energinet needs reserves for planned events such as overhauls or maintenance.
Can a battery storage system compete with power plants on mFRR?
Yes. The rapid response and flexible operation of batteries make them competitive, even though mFRR has historically been dominated by traditional power plants.
Why is FFR newer than the other ancillary services?
FFR was introduced as more wind and solar in the system reduced the natural inertia from traditional power plants, creating a need for even faster reserves than FCR.
Why are batteries particularly suitable for FFR?
Batteries can deliver full power in 0.7-1.3 seconds without mechanical delay, making them one of the most suitable technologies for this type of ultra-fast reserve.
What is the difference between BRP and BSP?
BRP (Balance Responsible Party) carries the financial responsibility for the balance of a portfolio of assets. BSP (Balancing Service Provider) is the entity that technically provides system services such as FCR and aFRR to Energinet. Meganet itself is approved for both roles by Energinet — we are therefore not dependent on an external aggregator, but aggregate all connected assets ourselves through our own VPP platform.
Do I need EMS if I already have VPP access?
Yes, the two are linked: the EMS ensures the proper local operation of your facilities, while the VPP platform uses that same data to participate in electricity markets across the entire portfolio.
Can EMS be integrated with existing SCADA systems?
Yes, EMS is built with open APIs and standard protocols, so it can be connected to existing control systems without requiring a full replacement.
Which systems can the EMS control?
Batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, generators, and load banks—all of Meganet's solutions are designed to communicate through the same EMS layer.
How is a system service settled in practice?
Capacity bids and energy bids are settled separately by Energinet with the actor that submitted the bid for the service. In the event of downward regulation, the plant owner pays or receives the downward regulation price for the electricity being settled — not the spot price.
How does Energinet verify that the services are actually being delivered?
Energinet conducts spot checks during major grid events and is moving towards continuous data submission. Errors can be deducted from capacity payments and, in severe cases, result in the loss of prequalification.
What is an LER system?
LER (Limited Energy Reservoir) is Energinet's term for facilities with limited energy storage, e.g., batteries. Among other requirements, they must have at least 4 hours of storage in each direction for aFRR capacity bids and an approved EMS as part of the prequalification.
How much is the need for system services expected to grow?
Energinet expects an increase of approximately 150% in total demand by 2040, with the strongest growth occurring leading up to 2033. The FCR requirement in DK1 is expected to grow 2-4 times, and the FFR requirement is expected to grow 6-9 times as early as 2030.
Does Meganet use an external aggregator?
No. Meganet is a certified Balancing Responsible Party (BRP) and Balancing Service Provider (BSP) with Energinet, and we install our own software at each facility. This means that we aggregate all connected assets ourselves through our own VPP platform, without an additional commercial link between your facility and the market.
Let us prequalify your facility
Book en uforpligtende samtale med vores team. Vi kortlægger jeres potentiale og viser, hvad en løsning fra Meganet konkret kan betyde for jer.