On 10 February 2025, ESO successfully connected to the European balancing platform PICASSO.
The platform is focused on cross-border exchange of balancing energy from activated automated frequency restoration reserve (aFRR). 26 transmission system operators, members of the European TSO association ENTSO-E, are involved in the international project PICASSO.
The PICASSO platform provides for common rules for activation of balancing energy from aFRR for all connected transmission system operators.
ESO EAD is the first operator of the Southeast Europe region to connect to PICASSO and currently it has no common electrical border with transmission system operators which are effectively participating in the project. There will be no effective exchange of balancing energy from aFRR before the connection to the platform of at least one transmission operator from any of Bulgaria’s neighbour countries.  Due to this objective reason, the marginal price for Bulgaria used as a factor in the Balancing Energy Pricing Methodology shall remain determined by the activated local sources of balancing services.
Source: ESO EAD