Manually Activated Reserves Initiative
Manually Activated Reserves Initiative (MARI) is the European implementation project for the creation of the European mFRR platform.
Project Introduction
The Electricity Balancing guideline (hereinafter the ‘EB Regulation‘), approved by the Electricity Cross-Border Committee on 16 March 2017, defines tasks and a timeline for the implementation of a European platform for the exchange of balancing energy from frequency restoration reserves with manual activation (mFRR).
The EB Regulation defines the framework for common European technical, operational and market rules for a cross border balancing market. This market serves the purpose to secure economically efficient purchase and in time activation of regulation energy by simultaneously ensuring the financial neutrality of the TSOs. Important means to achieve these goals are the harmonization of the balancing energy products and close cooperation of the TSOs on regional and European level.
Given the importance of an efficient balancing mechanism for an integrated electricity market, 19 European TSOs initially decided to work on the design of an mFRR platform in order to address pending issues and questions connected with the establishment of such a platform as soon as possible. These TSOs decided to set a project, officially named MARI (Manually Activated Reserves Initiative) and work on the technical solution, which does not only reflect the views of the founding parties but could also be acceptable for potential new parties joining the initiative. The project was designated as the European implementation project for the mFRR platform by all TSOs.
On April 5, 2017 19 TSOs signed a Memorandum of Understanding which outlines the major cornerstones of the cooperation. It was replaced by a second MoU in 2018, with 28 TSOs. Four additional TSOs and ENTSO-E have joined the project as observers.
Members

Stakeholder Workshop
The MARI stakeholder workshop was held on 4 September 2017 at the ENTSO-E premises.
Workshop on balancing on 20 and 21 June 2018 at ENTSO-E premise
Workshop on All TSO proposals on activation purposes and pricing on 16 October 2018 at ENTSO-E premises
MARI Press Releases and Updates
MARI Activation Optimization Function - Public Description (02 November 2022)
Accession roadmap of MARI – accession roadmap for the mFRR-Platform
(25 October 2022)Updated accession roadmap of MARI – accession roadmap for the mFRR-Platform
(24 April 2021)Updated accession roadmap of MARI – accession roadmap for the mFRR-Platform
(13 November 2020)Accession roadmap of MARI – accession roadmap for the mFRR-Platform (24 April 2020)
- ENTSO-E. 18 December 2018 – mFRR Implementation Framework
- ACER. 24 July 2019 – mFRR Implementation Framework is referred from all NRAs to ACER
- November 2018 - Design algorithm principles for Frequency Restoration Reserves with manual activation:
- November 2017 - The First Consultation (Call for Input) - 19 European TSOs Seek Stakeholders’ Feedbac
- April 2017 - 19 European TSOs agree to further cooperation on mFRR-platfor
Consultations
- 15 May to 16 July 2018] mFRR Implementation Framework before submission 18 December 2018
- 21 November to 20 December 2017
Contacts
- Steering Committee (PMO): Susanne Dornick
- Technical Working Group (PMO): Dilan Özyildirim
- Operational Working Group (PMO): Dilan Özyildirim