We correct energy positions before they become imbalances
The Intraday Market is where producers and suppliers can adjust their volumes after the Day-Ahead Market closes and before actual delivery. For wind and solar portfolios, this market is essential: forecasts change constantly, and every timely adjustment can reduce imbalance costs.
What is the Intraday Market?
The Intraday Market is part of the wholesale electricity market. It allows electricity to be bought and sold for delivery intervals within the delivery day, after Day-Ahead Market trading has been completed.
In simple terms: the Day-Ahead Market sets the initial position for the next day, while the Intraday Market allows that position to be adjusted as new information becomes available — updated weather forecasts, changes in consumption, technical unavailability or changes in expected production.
Why it matters for renewable energy producers
Estimating production from renewable sources carries an inherent degree of uncertainty. Variations in wind intensity and solar irradiation can cause significant deviations between actual production and the values forecast the day before.
Differences between actual production and the volumes traded on the Day-Ahead Market can create a deficit or a surplus, with a direct impact on imbalance costs. The Intraday Market makes it possible to correct these differences before delivery, by adjusting positions and trading the required volumes.
How the Intraday Market works
The Intraday Market works through two main mechanisms: continuous trading and intraday auctions. Continuous trading allows buy and sell orders to match whenever compatible prices are available, without waiting for a single auction session.
In parallel, intraday auctions provide organised sessions where participants can submit orders for defined delivery intervals. According to OPCOM’s market description, the Intraday Market includes three IDA sessions: two on the day before delivery and one on the delivery day.
What SIDC is and why it matters
SIDC stands for Single Intraday Coupling — the single coupling of European intraday electricity markets. Through this mechanism, national markets are connected, allowing participants to access cross-border liquidity whenever transmission capacity is available.
For Romania, this means that the Intraday Market does not operate in isolation, but within a European framework. OPCOM states that Romania’s Intraday Market operates in a coupled regime with other European markets through SIDC.
Trading close to delivery time
One of the key advantages of the Intraday Market is that it allows positions to be adjusted much closer to delivery than the Day-Ahead Market. In continuous trading, orders and trades can be placed up to one hour before the start of delivery or consumption.
This window is critical for wind and solar producers, because forecasts become more accurate as delivery time approaches. The closer the decision is made to real conditions, the better imbalance risk can be controlled.
How IntraPower Trading helps
IntraPower Trading continuously monitors each portfolio’s position and adjusts trading decisions based on forecasts, expected production, volumes already traded and market conditions. The goal is to reduce imbalance exposure and ensure the stability of financial results for the producer.
From forecast to decision
For renewable energy producers, the close of the Day-Ahead Market marks the start of a new operational phase. Updating forecasts, recalculating positions and quickly adapting buy and sell strategies become essential to optimising portfolio performance.
We use mathematical algorithms and continuous monitoring to decide how much should be traded, when the right moment is, and at what price a position is worth executing. This turns intraday trading into a disciplined and precise process, not a delayed reaction to imbalance.
What is the difference between the Day-Ahead Market and the Intraday Market?
While DAM sets the base position for the delivery day, the Intraday Market allows that position to be continuously recalibrated. New data on estimated production, consumption demand or the status of installations can be integrated in real time, supporting more precise and efficient trading decisions.
What is a BRP?
A BRP (Balance Responsible Party) is the entity financially responsible for the differences between forecast energy and actual energy produced. The smaller these imbalances are, the lower the associated costs. All electricity producers and suppliers are required to be part of a BRP, either directly or through another entity.
Why is the Intraday Market important for wind and solar energy?
Wind and photovoltaic production is influenced by constantly changing weather conditions, which can create differences between estimated volumes and actual production. The Intraday Market gives participants the ability to adjust their commercial positions based on the latest forecasts, reducing exposure to imbalances and their associated costs.