PRISMA European Capacity Platform

PRISMA European Capacity Platform (formerly Trac-x Transport Capacity Exchange) is a Leipzig, Germany based company that operates a European online-platform for the trade of gas capacity rights. On the platform, a network of 36 European transmission system operators, hereafter referred to as TSOs, trade gas capacity rights with gas traders, or shippers, via auctions (primary capacity trading). These TSOs are responsible for over 70% of the natural gas in Europe. Shippers may also make use of the platform to then further market unneeded transport capacity with other gas traders on the secondary market. The establishment of this platform was aimed at assisting in integrating competitive cross-border gas markets; an objective of the European Commission for Energy.
== History ==
The German Gas Network Ordinance (German: Gasnetzzugangsverordnung)Gasnetzzugangsverordnung (GasNZV) of 2006 obligated German gas network operators to create a single online trading platform for gas transport capacity trading. With the implementation of this law came the founding of the Trac-x platform, which would go on to become the exclusive German secondary gas capacity trading platform. This meant that gas traders could only sell unused transport capacity rights to third parties through the Trac-x platform. The secondary trade of capacity was aimed at helping to avoid capacity contract constraints in European networks, while also seeking to liberalize the gas market and improve competition. 
In wake of a newer German Gas Network Ordinance, which went into effect in September of 2010, the then Trac-x was commissioned by the German TSOs to develop and operate a platform for the allocation of primary capacity within the German market areas.Gasnetzzugangsverordnung (GasNZV) At this point, German network operators marketed primary capacity via individually developed portals. However, after the implementation of another German Gas Network Access Ordinance in August of 2011Gasnetzzugangsverordnung (GasNZV), regulation dictated that all primary capacity needed to be marketed exclusively on a platform operated jointly by the German TSOs. Trac-x's primary capacity trading platform then launched in August 2011, enabling gas traders to bid on auctions for capacity rights at the German border and market area intersection points. Interruptible and uninterruptible capacity at all German network points were from this point forward marketed and allocated on Trac-x on a "First-Come-First-Served" basis. Thus, Trac-x replaced the existing online booking systems of the German TSOs. 
On April 1, 2013, TSOs from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands began marketing primary capacity at European network points on the platform. The company changed its name that same year to PRISMA European Capacity Platform, PRISMA being an acronym for "primary and secondary marketing." Since then, the platform has continued to expand its network to include much of Western Europe, and to offer secondary capacity trading and services to storage systems operators, as well.
== Shareholders ==
The once Trac-x (today PRISMA European Capacity Platform, or simply PRISMA) was founded in March 2005 by VNG - Verbundnetz Gas, a natural gas company located in Leipzig. In October 2007, the German Federal Cartel Office approved the participation of Thyssengas, Open Grid Europe, and EWE Netz in Trac-x' merger plan. In April 2008, Trac-x was designated as the common electronic platform for secondary capacity trading in German by the Federal Network Agency, with the European Energy Exchange later joining as a shareholder of Trac-x in December of the same year. Trac-x further expanded its shareholder structure in July 2010, when six other shareholders - Bayernets, Eni Gas Transport Germany, Erdgas Münster Transport, Gasunie Deutschland, GRTgaz Deutschland, and Wingas Transport - joined it. 
Trac-x changed its name to PRISMA European Capacity Platform in January of 2013, expanding its reach beyond Germany and adding other European TSOs as shareholders. Currently, the following TSOs are involved in PRISMA, both in marketing activities as well as as shareholders: 
* Bayernets GmbH
* BBL Company V.O.F.
* Energinet.dk
* Fluxys Belgium NV/SA
* Fluxys TENP GmbH
* Gas Connect Austria GmbH
* GASCADE Gastransport GmbH
* Gastransport Nord GmbH
* Gasunie Deutschland Transport Services GmbH
* Gasunie Transport Services B.V.
* GRTgaz Deutschland GmbH
* GRTgaz S.A.
* Interconnector (UK) Limited
* National Grid plc.
* Nowega GmbH
* ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH
* Open Grid Europe GmbH
* Plinovodi d.o.o.
* Premier Transmission Ltd.
* Snam Rete Gas S.p.A
* terranets bw GmbH
* TIGF S.A.
* Trans Austria Gasleitung GmbH
In addition, the following TSOs market capacity via the PRISMA platform, but are not involved in the company as shareholders:
* Creos Luxembourg S.A.
* Enagas Transporte S.A.U.
* eustream a.s.
* Ferngas Netzgesellschaft mbH
* Fluxys Deutschland GmbH
* Gas Networks Ireland Limited
* jordgasTransport GmbH
* Lubmin-Brandov Gastransport GmbH
* NEL Gastransport GmbH
* NET4GAS s.r.o.
* OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co. KG
* Plinacro d.o.o.
* REN Gasodutos S.A.
* SWISSGAS AG
* Trans Tunisian Pipeline Company S.p.A.
Since January 2017, PRISMA has also allowed users to market storage capacity on the platform. The following storage system operators (SSOs) market capacity on PRISMA: 
* astora GmbH & Co. KG
* Erdgasspeicher Peissen GmbH
* EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH
* OMV Gas Storage GmbH
==In the media==
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== References ==
 
==External links==
* PRISMA European Capacity Platform Linkedin page
* Prisma European Capacity Platform on bloomberg
* PRISMA European Capacity Platform Company Profile on pitchbook
* Prisma - btc ag
* PRISMA - EGSSIS
* PRISMA European Capacity Platform youtue channel
Category:Companies established in 2005
Category:Companies of Germany
Category:Companies of Germany by industry
Category:Energy companies of Germany
Category:Companies based in Leipzig
Category:Natural gas companies of Germany