In a recent episode of the EU Energy Projects Podcast by Enlit, Charles Esser (Secretary General of E.DSO) and Anastasia Skapoula (Junior Projects Officer at E.DSO and Dissemination Lead for BeFlexible) joined host Areti Ntaradimou to discuss one of the most pressing issues in Europe’s energy transition: flexibility, “the art of keeping the electricity network in perfect balance, adjusting production and consumption in real time” as defined by Esser. Amongst other topics, the conversation delved into regulatory and market challenges. While Europe has developed a strong policy framework, through initiatives like the Clean Energy Package and Electricity Market Design reforms, implementation remains uneven. Skapoula emphasised that flexibility is not just a technical challenge:
“Flexibility cannot happen without collaboration. It’s a shared responsibility that requires DSOs, TSOs, aggregators, policymakers, and consumers to work together.”
Fragmented regulations, varying incentives, and differing grid typologies make it difficult to scale solutions quickly. However, these differences also create opportunities to experiment and learn from diverse national contexts.
BeFlexible is tackling these challenges head-on with 12 pilots in France, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. Skapoula highlighted that diversity is key to the project’s approach:
“One solution that works in a dense Spanish city might not apply to a rural Swedish network, and that’s the point. We need to see what works where and build on those lessons.”
Looking Ahead to ENLIT 2025
This episode is part of the lead-up to ENLIT 2025, where E.DSO and BeFlexible will showcase their findings and connect with stakeholders across Europe’s energy sector.
To find out more about flexibility, what it means for DSOs and what BeFlexible is doing about it, listen to the podcast here.
