smartEn Summit 2025

Date:

20-05-2025

Location:

Brussels

We are pleased to invite you to the smartEn Summit 2025, taking place on 20 May 2025 in Brussels. Our event will bring together senior professionals from leading energy companies, system operators, and policymakers to explore the role of the Flexible Demand Management Industry in driving Europe’s clean energy transition.

Under the theme “Great Flexpectations: The Flexible Demand Management Industry for a decarbonised and competitive Europe” this year’s Summit will highlight how demand-side flexibility can strengthen Europe’s energy system. Through a series of in-depth discussions, we will examine how the industry contributes to:

 

  • Making energy more affordable
  • Enhancing industrial competitiveness
  • Strengthening energy security
  • Improving system reliability

 

While the benefits of flexibility are clear, significant challenges remain. The Summit will provide a platform for business leaders and decision-makers to identify solutions, foster cross-sector collaboration, and define the next steps needed to fully activate demand-side flexibility in Europe.

We look forward to welcoming you in Brussels. Please mark your calendar and stay tuned for further updates!

Agenda

Welcome

9.30

Michael Villa, Executive Director, smartEn

Session 1: Unlocking Flexible Demand for a More Affordable Energy System for All

9.50 – 11.00

  • Nicolás González Casares, MEP, S&D
  • Benedetta Scuderi, MEP, Greens
  • Tom Howes, Adviser, DG ENER, European Commission
  • Patrick Luickx, Deputy Head of the Electricity Department & Team Leader – Market Monitoring, ACER
  • Oliver Sartor, Chief Economist, Voltalis
  • Kora Töpfer, Head of German Public & Regulatory Affairs, EPEX Spot
  • Guro Grøtterud, Senior Project Manager, NODES

 

Moderator: Sandra Trittin, Climate Tech Entrepreneur

Smart Energy Talks live: Wired for change: Europe’s energy transition in a challenging global context

11.20

Frauke Thies, Executive Director, Agora Think Tanks

Session 2: Flexible Demand as a Driver of Industrial Competitiveness

11.30 – 12.40

  • Matt Wieckowski, Case Handler, DG COMP, European Commission
  • Daniele Andreoli, Head of Flexibility & APAC Managing Director at Enel X
  • Małgosia Rybak, Climate Change & Energy Director, CEPI
  • Pierre Tardieu, Chief Policy Officer, WindEurope
  • Vilma Kaza, EMEA Sustainability & Energy Policy Lead, Google
  • Sarah Jane Jucker, Founder & Managing Partner, EPQ
 

Moderator: Sarah Honan, Head of Policy, ADE

Session 3: Interoperable and Cybersecure Data for Flexible Demand Activations

14.00 – 15.10

  • Rolf Riemenschneider, Head of Sector IoT, European Commission, DG CONNECT
  • Mark McGranhagan, EPRI
  • Cristina Corchero, CTO and co-founder, Bamboo Energy
  • Niccolo Fattirolli, COO of olivoENERGY/Project Lead, BEGONIA
  • Laurent Schmitt, Head of Utilities & European Developments, dcbel

 

Moderator: Henrik Madsen, Head of Centre and Professor in Stochastic Dynamical Systems, Technical University of Denmark

Smart Energy Talks live: Revenue for smart retrofits: an investor perspective on demand side flexibility

15.10

Murray Birt, Senior ESG Strategist, DWS

Smart Energy Talks live: Digitalization, Disruption, Competitiveness: Lessons from the Telecoms Industry

15.40

Alessandro Gropelli, Director General, Connect Europe

Session 4: Enhancing System Reliability Through Flexible Demand

15.50 – 16.50

  • Anna Stürgkh, MEP, Renew Europe Group
  • Vincenzo Ranieri, CEO of E-Distribuzione and President of EU DSO Entity
  • Jo-Jo Hubbard, Co-founder & CEO, Electron
  • Charlotte Johnson, General Manager, Infrastructure Flex, Kraken
  • Yannick Jacquemart, Head of TESIF programme (future system operations and Integration of Flexibility), RTE

 

Moderator: Claude Turmes, former MEP and former Energy Minister for Luxembourg

Smart Energy Talks live: Going local for a stronger Europe

16.50

Claire Roumet, Strategic partnerships, EU Policy & Overall Coordination, Eurocities

Conclusion

17.00

Stefan Doerig, Chair of the Board, smartEn

Networking drinks

This year, we are proud to host the smartEn Summit 2025 at BELone of Europe’s largest passive buildings, minimising the ecological footprint of our event. The venue exemplifies sustainable design and energy efficiency. Some of its technologies include:

  • Energy-efficient construction with a carbon footprint of just 273 kg CO₂ per m²—nearly half that of a conventional concrete building.
  • Innovative energy solutions including 700 m² of photovoltaic panels, geothermal wells, and active concrete slabs for heating and cooling.
  • Smart resource management, featuring rainwater recovery systems, advanced insulation, and presence detectors for optimized lighting.

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