ERCOT RTC+B: a new era for BESS
On 5 December 2025, ERCOT launched Real-Time Co-optimisation with Batteries (RTC+B). SCED now simultaneously clears energy and all five ancillary service products in a single optimisation — the same structure that has driven strong BESS performance in the Australian NEM for years. The ERCOT Value Stacker was designed from the ground up for this co-optimised market structure.
Market Coverage
Every ERCOT value stream, co-optimised
Real-Time Market (RTM)
Optimised energy bid and offer stacks submitted into SCED every 5 minutes. Adapts to Settlement Point Price (SPP) forecasts and real-time grid conditions to maximise energy arbitrage revenue.
Day-Ahead Market (DAM)
Voluntary hourly auction clearing the day before delivery (gate closure 10:00 CT). The DAM provides price certainty and positions the asset favourably for the real-time market, with energy and AS offers co-optimised together.
Regulation (REGUP / REGDOWN)
Continuous AGC-based frequency regulation. REGUP and REGDOWN capacity are co-optimised with energy — accounting for the SoC impact of sustained regulation deployment to avoid constraint violations.
Contingency Reserves
Co-optimised capacity offers for Responsive Reserve Service (RRS), ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS), and Non-Spinning Reserve (NONSPIN). Only one contingency product activates per event, so their capacities can be stacked to maximise total revenue.
All Five AS Products
| Product | Type | Response |
|---|---|---|
| REGUP | Regulation | Continuous AGC (discharge) |
| REGDOWN | Regulation | Continuous AGC (charge) |
| RRS | Contingency | 10-second response |
| ECRS | Contingency | 10-second response |
| NONSPIN | Contingency | 60-second response |
Selective Cycling
Revenue per cycle, not just total cycles
ERCOT's price volatility can be extreme — but high-value opportunities are episodic. The ERCOT Value Stacker is designed to act decisively when SPP spreads are large, and hold capacity in reserve when they are not. This selective cycling approach maximises revenue per cycle, preserving degradation budget for the events that matter most.
The DAM layer adds a further dimension: locking in favourable day-ahead prices where the spread justifies it, reducing real-time risk while leaving capacity available for high-value ancillary service opportunities.
Not a Black Box
Open-Core
Built on the open-source LF Energy RTC-Tools framework. Every co-optimisation decision is auditable and explainable.
Fits Your Stack
Integrates via REST API. Use your own SPP forecasts or third-party providers; we return optimised energy and AS offer stacks ready for ERCOT submission.
Proven Technology
The same optimisation engine that delivers market-leading results in the Australian NEM — a co-optimised 5-minute dispatch market with a very similar structure to ERCOT's post-RTC+B regime.
Ready to Stack More Value in ERCOT?
Contact us to discuss your asset, requirements, and pricing.