Elia / : Group’s study, ‘The Power of Flex’, explores how widespread consumer-side flexibility can deliver benefits for both consumers and the electricity system
November 21, 2023 at 01:02 pm
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21 November 2023
Elia Group's study, 'The Power of Flex', explores how widespread consumer-side flexibility can deliver benefits for both consumers and the electricity system
Elia Group has published a new study on an alternative approach to consuming electricity that benefits both consumers and the electricity system. As the mobility and heating sectors increasingly rely on electricity, and industry electrifies its processes, consuming electricity when it is least expensive will start to become possible. For example, charging an electric car at night, when the wind is blowing, can be much cheaper than during more expensive evening peak hours. By aligning consumption patterns with (renewable) production patterns, the electricity grid is used more efficiently, resulting in a reduced need for investments in new capacity to handle moments of peak consumption. Elia Group has once again chosen to give this topic centre stage due to the numerous advantages consumer-side flexibility can deliver.
In short
Increasing electrification in industry, mobility and heating carries important implications for the electricity system. Charging all of these millions of electric devices at the same time would put the stability of our electricity grid at risk and would be highly inefficient.
To avoid such an inefficient management of the system, unlocking consumer-side flexibility is essential. Residential and industrial customers who own electrical devices will be able to avoid expensive price peaks by consuming energy at times when green electricity is more abundant. This approach will level out consumption peaks and help to handle fluctuations in the supply of renewable energy.
In our latest study, Elia Group identifies three main actions to unlock consumer-side flexibility: (1) providing consumers with access to financial incentives; (2) enabling seamless data access for energy service providers; and (3) introducing flex-ready devices.
Elia Group's study, 'The Power of Flex', explores how widespread consumer-side flexibility can deliver benefits for both consumers and the electricity systemPDF -440.28 KB
L'étude d'Elia Group intitulée « The Power of Flex » analyse dans quelle mesure une flexibilité à grande échelle du côté de la consommation peut bénéficier tant aux consommateurs qu'au système électriquePDF -380 KB
Nieuwe Elia Group studie 'The Power of Flex' pleit voor wijdverspreide flexibele consumptie die zowel de consument als het elektriciteitssysteem ten goede komtPDF -426.27 KB
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Elia System Operator SA published this content on 21 November 2023 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 21 November 2023 18:01:20 UTC.
Elia Group SA/NV is the Belgian transmission system operator, transmitting electricity efficiently, reliably and securely from producers to distribution system operators and major industrial users. The group is responsible for importing and exporting electricity from and to neighbouring countries.
Elia Group SA/NV owns the entire Belgian very high voltage grid (150 to 380 kV) and some 94% (ownership and user rights) of the Belgian high-voltage grid (30 to 70 kV). The grid is a key link between electricity markets in northern and southern Europe. It also links Belgian producers and consumers. Belgium's recent investment in interconnection capacity with its neighbours makes it one of the most open and interconnected grids in Europe.
Elia Group SA/NV has recently expanded its activities on a broader European level and, following its acquisition of the German TSO 50Hertz and in cooperation with Industry Funds Management (IFM), is now one of the top five transmission system operators in Europe.
Elia / : Group’s study, ‘The Power of Flex’, explores how widespread consumer-side flexibility can deliver benefits for both consumers and the electricity system
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