Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe 2024 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 4:52 .

Session on Demand-Side Flexibility Highlights Role of Digitalization and Infrastructure in Empowering Consumers for Sustainable Energy Transition, Featuring Industry Experts

In this session on demand-side flexibility, Carmen Gimeno, Secretary General of GEODE—a European association representing local energy distributors—emphasizes the critical role of consumer participation in transitioning to a sustainable and flexible energy system. The discussion aims to explore how digitalization and technology solutions can empower consumers to become dynamic participants in the evolving energy ecosystem. With distributed energy resources growing exponentially, connecting these resources to grids makes demand-side flexibility essential. Gimeno introduces several expert speakers who will share their perspectives: Andreas Jahn from Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), Sebastian Mahlow from ison GmbH and LichtBlick; Dr. Frank Schlichting, CEO at Kiwigrid GmbH; and José Ferrari Careto, CEO of EDP Networks. One panelist, Alex Schoch from Octopus Energy, is delayed but may join later. The format includes four presentations followed by an active Q&A session where attendees are encouraged to engage with questions for any speaker after all presentations conclude. Andreas Jahn begins by discussing how homes play a pivotal role in achieving Europe's flexibility potential.

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Speaker

Carmen Gimeno
Secretary General
GEODE
Belgium

Talk of session: Demand Side Flexibility - the Role of Grid Infrastructure, Market Players and Digitalization in Meeting Consumer Expectations

Active consumer involvement is a crucial aspect of the energy transition. Demand-side flexibility is essential for a flexible energy system that integrates the exponentially growing number of distributed energy resources. Both the system and society in general need consumers to adapt their energy usage to the available network capacity. Digitalization and new technologies - such as smart meters - as well as market-based solutions will allow consumers to become active players. However, being able does not necessarily mean being willing, so incentives are needed. This session will also address how our grid can be prepared to meet consumer expectations and how to deal with a flood of connection requests in a timely manner while ensuring security of supply.

Further Talks of this session:

Pursuing Socially Inclusive Demand-side Flexibility in Europe

Speaker

Andreas Jahn
Senior Associate
Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
Belgium

To Talk

Flexibility Potential in the Household Sector - a Billion-Euro Market

Speaker

Sebastian Mahlow
Managing Director
ison GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Enabling Prosumers to Accelerate the Energy Transition

Speaker

Dr. Frank Schlichting
CEO
Kiwigrid GmbH
Germany

To Talk

The Customer-powered Energy Transition: How Utilities can Accelerate Demand Side Flexibility

Speaker

Alex Schoch
Global Head of Flexibility
Octopus Energy
UK

To Talk

The Dso's Enabling Prosumers

Speaker

José Ferrari Careto
CEO of Networks Business
EDP Group

To Talk

Panel Discussion

To Talk

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