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CASE SUDY: Unicorn Helps Shape the Future of Energy




Over the past 30 years, we have established ourselves as one of the leading suppliers of information systems for the European energy sector. Our prominent position is further reinforced by a decade-long successful collaboration with JAO (Joint Allocation Office), an influential participant in the unified European market. JAO specializes in auctions for cross-border transmission capacities and other services that facilitate electricity trading across Europe.

Our systems, developed for JAO and European TSOs, have been continuously adapted and innovated to meet changing demands and opportunities. This partnership also ties back to Unicorn's early days as a trusted partner in the European energy industry.

A Game-Changing Call from Belgium

It all started in the late 2000s with a tender to design the first platform for several European Transmission System Operators (TSOs). The task was to deliver initial components for data exchange and process management. Unicorn won the tender, but ultimately, the project was cancelled.

Fortunately, endings often lead to new beginnings. Our solution caught the attention of a key figure shaping the architecture of European energy systems. Just before Christmas 2008, this person reached out to Unicorn's Prague headquarters, setting in motion our collaboration with the Belgian TSO, Elia.

For Elia, we developed the first components for data exchange and process management among European TSOs. This led to the creation of the Energy Communication Platform, which later became a standard for data exchange within the European energy sector.

Illustrative concept of European power and energy sector infrastructure with metallic pipelines and steel frames at sunset

Building a System for Continental Europe

In 2015, JAO was established as the successor to CASC (Capacity Allocation Service Company). Drawing on our experience with ATC-based capacity calculations, we were tasked with developing an advanced solution for the Central Western Europe (CWE) region—flow-based capacity calculations. This method optimizes capacity by considering physical flows and network constraints across all regional borders. By 2015, our solution was successfully deployed.

As market unification progressed, the CWE and Central Eastern Europe (CEE) regions merged into a single Core region, encompassing the continental area from France to Romania. Leveraging our unique expertise, we developed a solution for this entire region. In 2018, we proposed a modern microservices-based architecture and iterative approach. Our approach was approved, and in June 2022, the Core Capacity Calculation Tool for daily market capacity was successfully launched.

Transitioning to Modern Architecture

This milestone marked the deployment of the Unicorn Enterprise Platform, our universal platform for delivering robust solutions. Built on Unicorn’s Mobile-First IoT-Ready Cloud Architecture, it integrates modern technologies and processes, over 500 principles and patterns, and decades of expertise.

Amprion hosted the solution in a private cloud environment facilitated by Unicorn's uuCloud Management Environment. This system enhances reliability, simplifies deployment processes, and strengthens operational capabilities while adhering to the highest security standards.

The modular structure of the solution allowed us to focus on domain-specific challenges while reusing prepared components. This approach accelerated development, improved cohesion, and ensured high reliability.

Addressing New Challenges

With rapid technological advancements, new opportunities and challenges continually arise in the energy sector. Building on our expertise, we expanded the Core system to include intraday and long-term capacities. Intraday capacity calculations were launched in May 2024, enabling more dynamic trading within the European energy market.

Ready for the Future

Our collaboration with European TSOs spans decades of innovation and reliability. Partnering with JAO since its inception in 2015, we have consistently demonstrated professionalism, adaptability, and innovative thinking. As the energy sector faces ongoing challenges, including those brought by the European Green Deal, Unicorn remains committed to delivering efficient solutions, leveraging our extensive experience and strong partnerships across the energy market.

"Unicorn has been a reliable, flexible, and knowledgeable IT partner throughout the preparation of Flow-Based (FB) day-ahead capacity calculation in the Core region. Unicorn provided quality and timely delivery of the FB Core Capacity Calculation tool system in the dynamic and complex energy market environment."

Sawan Bruins, Project Manager – Magnus Energy

Who is our customer

Joint Allocation Office (JAO) is a service company that facilitates the electricity market by organizing auctions for cross border transmission capacity. JAO performs long and short-term auctions of transmission capacity. JAO can offer annual, non-calendar annual, half-yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, weekend, daily and intra-day auctions. TSOs and Regulatory Authorities decide what auctions are performed on individual borders. Next to this JAO provides administrative and settlement services to TSOs and acts as a fall-back for the European Market Coupling. JAO is owned by twenty-two Transmission System Operators (TSOs) from nineteen countries.

Link: jao.eu
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Unicorn Systems a.s.
+420 221 400 111
info@unicorn.com

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