Demand-side flexibility: a resource for transmission and distribution system operators

The energy and digital transition demands a shift in how grids operate in Italy and across Europe. While investing in upgrading and expanding power grids is essential to meet the increasing needs of electrification, utilising the flexibility of connected consumers is also crucial.

In Europe, up to €30 billion per year could be saved by 2030 if consumer flexibility connected to distribution grids is activated, with an additional €600 million in savings possible in balancing markets if demand resources could participate without current restrictions. Achieving this requires establishing Local Flexibility Markets, opening Ancillary Services and Balancing Markets to consumers and aggregators, and fostering horizontal and vertical collaboration between system operators.

This session aims to:

• Outline a comparative European perspective on this evolution for the benefit of grid operators and consumers alike;
• Highlight key challenges in the current Italian context;
• Present European success stories of collaboration between market players representing the "Flexibility Demand Management Industry" and grid operators.