When you flick the switch on the wall, you expect the light to come on and illuminate the room. You can rely on this to happen because the security of power supply to end-users in Europe is typically very high.
The same level of expectation is placed on other types of energy use, be it at home, in the office, in large and small factories, shopping malls, and with other consumers. We need energy to:
- heat or cool the space we live or work in,
- light up our homes, offices or shops,
- power our home appliances,
- communicate at home or on the way, use computers and gadgets,
- set machines in motion for a skilled trade or manufacturing business,
- be mobile,
- do many other things in our everyday lives.
We are used to the comforts of having a reliable power supply. While electricity is just one of the types of energy we need in our everyday lives, its ability to effectively and conveniently replace other types makes it one of the most important ones.
With variable, uncertain supply, the growing share of variable, distributed renewable energy sources (solar on rooftops, small hydropower plants, wind turbines, etc.) is adding to the demand for flexibility from all players in the power system in order to maintain the security of electricity supply we are used to.
Flexibility of the power system and the corresponding participation of players in the energy ecosystem can significantly contribute to ensuring a security supply of low-carbon energy for the future.
The mission of iEnergy is to help explore who and in what way can contribute to power grid flexibility and reliability, thus to maintain the security of supply.
The iEnergy definitions of reliability and flexibility. Flexibility is the ability of the power system to adjust electricity supply and demand to ensure reliable grid operation and security of supply. It is about the capability of the system and all the players in it to adapt and respond to changes in power supply (generation) and demand (consumption).
The main sources of flexibility in a power system include:
- supply,
- demand,
- storage.
Flexibility in the power system requires:
- technologies and technology management strategies that enable flexibility,
- market mechanisms that enable players to monetise flexibility,
- regulatory frameworks that allow all this.
Would you like to know more about flexibility in:
- Power supply?
- Transmission and distribution system operation?
- Energy storage development?
- Energy demand (consumption)?
- Development of regulatory frameworks and market mechanisms?
Explore iEnergy!
