Why and how to put demand-side flexibility at the heart of the zero-carbon electricity transition
On 16.03.2023 by Christine Johanna GschwendtnerElectricity systems require more and more flexibility to integrate increasing shares of variable renewable electricity and avoid costly grid expansion. The demand side – involving electricity end-users – will be key in providing relatively cheap flexibility. Looking beyond the technical aspects is crucial to leverage this potential; namely, by addressing social and regulatory challenges. Effective compensation mechanisms for providing flexibility and procurement strategies for different services, particularly at the distribution grid level, need to be established while enabling the participation of small flexibility providers.