London, Paris, May 20, 2025. EPEX SPOT is celebrating a significant milestone with 25 years of power trading in Great Britain. The GB power market's journey began in 2000 with the establishment of the UK's first independent power exchange, UKPX. This initiative laid the groundwork for the development of a competitive and transparent electricity market.
In 2001, the APX UK electricity spot market was launched, further enhancing market operations. By 2004, UKPX was acquired by APX, and in 2015, APX Group integrated with EPEX SPOT, creating a unified platform for power trading across Central Western Europe and the UK.
In 2018, the launch of the Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM), supported by EPEX SPOT and ECC, allowed the integration of the Irish Single Electricity Market (SEM) with the European power market. This initiative enabled Day-Ahead and Intraday market coupling between Ireland and Great Britain (GB).
As part of this integration, EPEX SPOT introduced two SEM-GB Intraday Auctions—IDA1 and IDA2—which provide market participants with daily trading opportunities for half-hourly contracts before delivery, improving market efficiency and liquidity between SEM and GB.
Later, in 2024, the European Power Exchange partnered with UK Power Networks to host its flexibility market, aiming to deliver significant customer savings and support the UK's Net Zero ambitions. Moreover, EPEX SPOT launched a unique Smart Block product on the EPEX Day-Ahead market in Great Britain, the Exclusive Links block family.
The GB power spot market has evolved into a cornerstone of the UK's energy landscape, supporting the nation's journey toward a more sustainable and flexible electricity system.
The European Power Exchange remains committed to advancing the GB power market, fostering innovation, and supporting the UK's energy transition. With a focus on enhancing market efficiency and integrating renewable energy, EPEX SPOT looks forward to continuing its role in shaping the future of electricity trading in Great Britain.