CASE STUDY: How Unicorn Powered the Successful Launch of IDA

Unicorn contributed its solution to the successful launch of intraday trading, which connects 16 energy exchanges. The Central Interface Point application, with our key product Enelane, is now live. After two years of intensive integration and acceptance testing, we have successfully launched the production operation of the IDA CIP system.

Unicorn contributed its solution to the successful launch of intraday trading, which connects 16 energy exchanges. The Central Interface Point application with our key product Enelane is now live. After two years of intensive integration and acceptance testing, we have successfully launched the production operation of the IDA CIP system.

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Unicorn has developed an IDA (Intraday Auction) CIP (Central Interface Point) application that provides data exchange between XBID (Cross-Border Intraday Coupling) CMM (Capacity Management Module) and NEMOs (Nominated Electricity Market Operator). The core of the IDA CIP application is the Enelane product, which provides easy implementation of data flows over a wide range of integration channels. The IDA CIP application then provides the necessary business logic to ensure operation of the entire process and provides operators from each NEMO and TSO (Transmission System Operator) with an overview of the status of the process and the ability to intervene manually if necessary.

Initial State

NEMO already runs a comparable process for day-ahead (DA) auctions, relying on a set of scripts to transfer data between folders on a shared repository. However, this approach lacks the flexibility of parameterization, it poses limitations on the ability of NEMO operators to monitor the process's progress and intervene when necessary, such as manually uploading data or making manual interventions during the process. This underscores the need for a more dynamic and user-friendly solution to enhance operational control and adaptability.

User interface screenshots of the Central Interface Point (CIP) application showing the Manual Intervention and IDA Workflow Overview dashboards for monitoring energy data processes.

Project results

NEMOs and TSOs are collaboratively gearing up for the introduction of intraday auctions (IDAs), mirroring the operational model of the single day-ahead auction coupling(SDAC). Facilitating this transition is the newly developed IDA CIP application, which serves as the intermediary link between the XBID CMM and NEMOs. This application is designed to enable alternating intraday auctions outside XBID while facilitating cross-border continuous trading within XBID. The strategic choice to implement a modern application within Unicorn's architecture aligns seamlessly with Unicorn's broader energy-focused strategy aimed at enhancing the efficiency of energy production, consumption, and grid management. As time intervals become shorter and time slots diminish, the IDA CIP application, in collaboration with Enelane, plays a pivotal role in meeting the demand for swift and seamless data exchange, ensuring effective trading in the context of intraday auctions.

Technology

In IDA CIP application, we implemented standardized products leveraging the unified application framework UAF, referred to as uuApplications. Key components include the use of Entity Management for overseeing application parameters and configurations, and Identity Management, in conjunction with the OIDC product, for secure application login and simplified permission management based on user roles for specific use cases. Additionally, the application offers NEMO operators a modern GUI built on the UU5 framework, featuring a unified modern design that is both intuitive and widely appreciated by users.

Futuristic digital visualization of a high-voltage transmission tower surrounded by glowing energy swirls and data particles, representing the advanced technology and UAF framework used in the IDA CIP application.

Our Solution

The primary challenge in project planning revolved around meeting the client's tight time requirements. This involved delivering the solution promptly and providing meticulous support throughout the extensive client testing phase, especially in complex integration projects with numerous stakeholders and stringent adherence to individual plans. To address this, we opted for standard components, enabling the design and delivery of the application within the stipulated six-month timeframe for the client's local tests.

For hosting the entire solution, we have used our proven partnership with Amprion, leveraging their expertise in hosting private on-premise cloud services. The IDA CIP application will utilize closed communications using MPLS technology, connecting to all NEMO and XBID CMMs operated by Deutsche Boerse. This strategic approach ensures the secure and efficient functioning of the solution within the existing infrastructure.The process operates three times a day, providing network data within an hour.

This data includes available transfer capacity (ATC) on all cross-border lines from the XBID CMM for individual NEMOs. NEMOs select specific borders based on their configuration preferences. Subsequently, the individual NEMOs conduct auctions using the available capacity in their PMB systems, an application supplied by Unicorn. The auction results are then transmitted back to the IDA CIP application.The IDA CIP application ensures the auction results are forwarded to the XBID CMM module according to predefined criteria. Once the allocations are confirmed, they undergo rechecking within the NEMOs. If confirmed, the process concludes; otherwise, allocations are returned.

The IDA CIP application handles approximately 180 MB of data in 70 messages for each of the three daily processes.

These processes are traceable and archived for up to 5 years, providing a comprehensive record of the intraday auction transactions.

Customer's Profile

An NEMO is an entity designated by the competent authority to perform tasks related to single day-ahead or single intraday market coupling. In other words, NEMOs are the organizations mandated to run the day-ahead and intraday integrated electricity markets in the EU. NEMOs are cooperating on a contractual basis (i.e. no joint venture, pooling arrangement, principal/agency relationship, partnership, or formal business organization.

More about organization and its memers https://www.nemo-committee.eu/

We are constantly developing our data collection methods in collaboration with researchers from the University of West Bohemia.

The cornerstone of the entire platform is prediction, but also the optimization, dispatch, and settlement flexibility of various assets.

We are implementing an optimization algorithm that you will own - you will have full control over its further development.

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Unicorn Systems a.s.
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