Glossary


B

Basic, detailed engineering

Basic engineering (draft planning) describes the process for coming up with the best possible design for a system from a technical and economic point of view.
Detailed engineering (execution planning) refers to the detailed design and exact description of all components and measures needed to build a compressor station for example.

BDEW

Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft e.V. (the German Association of Energy and Water Industries) represents the interests of its members vis-à-vis politicians, the media and in public. Through its state organizations, it advises and supports member companies as regards sector-related political, legal, economic, technical and communicative issues.

Balancing group

Balancing groups comprise a number of entry and exit points within a network area. They allow both virtual gas flows (trading deals) and physical gas flows to be depicted. The trading deals are passed on to the network operator so that the operator can fulfill them physically - in the form of actual gas transports. The network operator checks both the consistency of the schedules submitted and that they subsequently match the actual energy flows. Deviations from schedules are compensated for by sourcing or supplying balancing energy. With the help of balancing groups, the gas flows (entries/exits) of a Balancing Group Manager are compared and balanced - as with a bank account. If a balancing group is not balanced, the differences are settled as necessary.

Balancing Group Manager

A Balancing Group Manager is a market player (e.g. a transport customer, trader or service provider) who concludes a balancing group contract with the Market Area Manager.

Balancing group contract

In order to transport gas within a market area, the market player must conclude a balancing group contract with the Market Area Manager. The balancing group contract sets out details of services which are necessary for administering a balancing group.

BNetzA

The German Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (Bundesnetzagentur, short: BNetzA) is based in Bonn. The Federal Network Agency is one of the main government agencies within the German Federal Ministry of Economics. It is the supervisory authority for GASCADE.