An important step in the development of energy markets was implemented on 30 September 2025 – the EU day-ahead electricity market transitioned from hourly to 15-minute trading intervals. The fifteen-minute market unit is part of the Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) system, which links day-ahead electricity markets across EU countries.

This change is expected to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, whose output varies within an hour, and to improve grid stability. At the same time, it will support more accurate forecasting of consumer behavior.

The move to quarter-hour products promises significant benefits, including more efficient compensation for short-term fluctuations and increased opportunities for storage systems through price arbitrage. This development is particularly advantageous for consumers who can flexibly manage their energy consumption.

The introduction of 15-minute products is not a whim but stems from regulatory requirements set by the European Union. According to EU regulations, all transmission system operators (TSOs) in member states must implement a 15-minute imbalance settlement period (ISP). This also obliges all European electricity exchanges – the so-called nominated electricity market operators (NEMOs) – to offer the corresponding products on all SDAC-linked markets. Moreover, the EU internal electricity market requires participants to be able to trade in intervals at least as short as the ISP.

The objective of the regulation is to establish a unified and efficient market structure across Europe. In practice, the finer time resolution simplifies forecasting and trading of variable electricity volumes – especially from wind and solar sources – which ultimately enhances the stability of the electricity transmission network.