The Nordic power market is transitioning to 15-minute balancing – is your company prepared?

On 4 March 2025, the Nordics transitioned to automated balancing in 15-minute intervals (mFRR EAM). From 18 March, the intraday market will also open for trading in 15-minute resolution, with the first delivery day set for 19 March. These changes represent one of the most substantial shifts in the power sector in decades, creating new revenue opportunities, increased risk of imbalance cost and higher operational complexity. 

Volue is already fully operational across all Nordic countries following the move to 15-minute resolution. Our trading services’ customers experienced over 600 activations in Denmark alone within the first two days. On the software side, Volue Ancitra and Activation Request have been successfully in operation since the go-live with over 15 customers, highlighting the critical importance of robust and reliable solutions as balancing adjustments now occur four times as frequently as before. 

The transition to automated balancing at 15-minute intervals has required extensive technical and organisational preparation, including the development and implementation of advanced algorithms and software solutions for swift and precise activations. The successful introduction clearly demonstrates how the right technology and thorough preparation can make significant market changes manageable and unlock valuable opportunities for all market participants. 

More frequent activations and higher market pace  

Shorter intervals enable the power system to balance more accurately and frequently. For market participants, volatility increases, and margins can shift rapidly – but responding swiftly can help reduce imbalances and thus minimise costs. 

Why exactly 15 minutes?

While hourly resolution has long been standard in the Nordics, many European countries have already transitioned to 15-minute intervals to better manage increasing shares of intermittent renewable energy like wind and solar power. With consumption and production fluctuating more frequently than before, TSOs (Statnett, Energinet, Fingrid, Svenska Kraftnät) need tools to quickly resolve imbalances. 

Automated activation of manual reserves (mFRR) enables responses to change within minutes, particularly critical when demand varies significantly quarter by quarter, such as mornings or afternoons with rapid increases in consumption. However, this also places higher demands on market participants' own data and trading systems, as well as balancing methods.  

Different imbalance prices every quarter can lead to significant costs if appropriate systems are not in place. 

Why adapting to the 15-minute resolution? 

1. Increased automation requirements
   With bids needing adjustment four times more frequently, manual processes become impractical.
   
2. Opportunity for higher revenue 
   Flexible resources like batteries and reservoir-based hydropower, as well as solar and wind energy and controllable loads, can earn better returns for adjusting production up or down.  
3. Risks for those lacking control 
   Without automated systems that detect and mitigate imbalances, quarterly imbalance settlements will result in higher costs. 

How to succeed in a 15-minute market 

•  Advanced forecasting and bid management
  Positions must be updated close to operational hours. Volue’s software provides detailed insights into consumption, production, and price estimates.
  
• Continuous market monitoring
  Continuous monitoring and intraday market trading can significantly reduce imbalances.
• Trading services from Volue
  Don’t you have the capacity to manage everything yourself? We can handle trading and balancing management on your behalf, reducing costs and increasing potential returns.

"Engaging with the 15-minute market is essential. Volue can assist in reducing imbalances through intraday market trading and participating actively in imbalance market activations," says Bård Mageli, Head of Trading Services at Volue. 

Webinars: Automation or how to grow your revenue in the Nordic Power Markets 

To help market participants capitalise on opportunities in the new quarter-hour market, we invite to two webinars on 27 March:  

• Grow your Revenue with Market Changes in the Nordic Power Markets
  For energy producers and flexibility assets owners that would like trading as a service.
  

  Technical level: The presentations will be targeting operational and commercial level and the presentations will be in English.
  Agenda and sign up

• Beyond Trading: how automation optimises energy production and trading decisions
  This webinar will focus on how automation enhances efficiency in asset backed trading before the actual trading process begins, ensuring that data flows seamlessly from production assets to the market.
  For Heads of Operations, Production Managers, Energy Analysts, IT Managers, Optimisation Engineers and Optimisation Engineers. Presentations will be in English.
  Agenda and sign up

Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation 

Are you ready to navigate the 15-minute market? At Volue, we support you with software solutions, trading expertise, and market insights.   

For more information on technical changes, please visit the Nordic Balancing Model programme's website. 

With the introduction of the 15-minute market, significant opportunities await flexible participants – provided you have the right tools and expertise. Let Volue help you succeed.