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Acer approves "FNAM"

FNAM: EU introduces uniform methodology for assessing non-fossil electricity flexibility - targets by 2027

01.08.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The FNAM provides grid operators in the EU with a tool for comparing and coordinating non-fossil flexibility on the electricity market.

The European Energy Regulatory Agency Acer has approved the EU-wide methodology called FNAM for determining electricity flexibility requirements. Acer announced this on its website.

The "Flexibility Needs Assessment Methodology", FNAM for short, was developed by the Association of Transmission System Operators (Entso-E) and the Organization of Distribution System Operators (EU DSO Entity). FNAM is intended to help grid operators determine how much non-fossil flexibility is required to cope with fluctuations in generation and consumption in the respective electricity system.

Acer defines "non-fossil flexibility" as the balancing of short-term fluctuations in generation and consumption in the electricity grid - without resorting to gas or coal. This is balanced out by load shifting, battery storage or flexible generation. In an electricity system with a high proportion of wind and solar power, this capability is important to ensure security of supply and avoid curtailment.

Europe-wide standard

According to Acer, the FNAM creates a "Europe-wide standard for the assessment and target definition of flexibility requirements" for the first time. This facilitates cross-border coordination, for example when expanding the grid or using shared sources of flexibility.

FNAM distinguishes between grid flexibility, i.e. the ability to adapt to local grid bottlenecks, and system flexibility, the ability to adapt to market-driven changes in the entire electricity system. Both dimensions are to be recorded and evaluated uniformly in future.

The approval of the methodology by Acer marks the start of a roadmap for determining national flexibility requirements. Member states must submit a standardized analysis by July 2026 and derive target values for clean, non-fossil flexibility by January 2027. On this basis, Acer will prepare an EU-wide report by July 2027 with recommendations on cross-border challenges and regulatory hurdles.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister