Before a system can participate in the "Use instead of curtail" instrument in accordance with Section 13k EnWG, successful prequalification is required. The prequalification includes the formal and content-related review of the submitted documents as well as the establishment and testing of the necessary interfaces for data exchange.
After successful prequalification, a framework agreement is concluded between the participant and the TSO, which regulates the allocation and use of balancing power volumes. The prequalified balancing facility can participate in the allocation procedure from the first of the following month.
If the application is submitted by the first of the month, the connecting TSO has the remaining month to check the documents and set up and test the necessary interfaces for operational data exchange. Otherwise, the next calendar month is available to the connecting TSO. The following diagram (in German) illustrates the pre-qualification process.