Markets
The Single Electricity Market comprises of two ex-ante Energy Markets, a Balancing Market, two markets for Financial Instruments, and a market for Capacity Remuneration. These markets operate independently and on different timelines.
Markets overview
Participation in both the Balancing and Capacity Markets is mandatory for most generators. Additionally, participation in the Capacity Market is mandatory for interconnectors. Participation in the other markets is at the discretion of the participant.
Long Term
Capacity is traded in the Capacity Market up to five years in advance of the trading day.
Medium term
Financial instruments are traded in the Forwards Market and Financial Transmission Right auctions from over a year to one month ahead of the trading day.
Short term
Energy is traded in the Day-Ahead and Intraday Markets from one day ahead of the trading day up to shortly before real time.
Real time
The Balancing Market runs before and into real time.
Participate in the market
All Parties intending to buy or sell energy in the wholesale Single Electricity Market must be registered. We facilitate and educate market entrants as they complete the registration process. Find out more about joining the Balancing Market or joining the Capacity Market.
Establishing the I-SEM
The Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) is the new wholesale electricity market for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Learn about its history and the stages it went through prior to launch.
See how the I-SEM developed