Following President von der Leyen’s vision for the next College of Commissioners, clean energy solutions have risen dramatically to the top of the European agenda to strengthen EU resilience and competitiveness. With the recent appointments of Commissioner-designates Dan Jørgensen for Energy and Housing and Stéphane Séjourné for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, collaboration between the Flexible Demand Management Industry (FDMI) and policymakers is more important than ever.
In this context, FLEXCON 2024 brought together the most innovative clean tech industry players from the FDMI in Amsterdam for a two-day conference organised by smartEn – Smart Energy Europe and the Flexiblepower Alliance Network (FAN). With over 350 participants, including market players, system operators, public authorities, researchers, and energy leaders, the event provided a platform to discuss the future of energy flexibility and its role in Europe’s clean energy transition.
This year’s event featured 60 sessions on critical topics such as energy systems interactions, data-enabling technologies, energy sharing, industrial-scale solutions, e-mobility, and monetising flexibility. It served as a vital forum to assess industry progress, explore new solutions, and align on the next steps towards achieving Europe’s climate targets.
FLEXCON 2024 also hosted the European launch of the latest International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report on the benefits of smart electrification strategies, showcasing how distributed energy resources can enhance grid efficiency and defer costly grid investments. The report was presented earlier this week in New York, on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
A key highlight of FLEXCON 2024 was the Flexible Energy Tour, a pre-conference event that offered a hands-on look at some of Amsterdam’s most transformative energy projects, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of system challenges. Attendees visited the:
● Port of Amsterdam
● Johan Cruijff Arena
● Schiphol Area Development Corporation (SADC)
This tour provided on-site examples of how challenges, such as grid capacity shortages and congestion management are being tackled, demonstrating a holistic approach to flexible energy. The tour underscored how local leaders and experts are not only addressing technical challenges but also shaping policies and navigating legal frameworks to keep the energy transition moving forward.
In today’s increasingly variable energy system, flexibility is crucial. FLEXCON remains the flagship annual gathering of key players in the flexibility space, offering a comprehensive overview of the progress, innovations, and challenges the industry faces.
As we look ahead to FLEXCON 2025 in Brussels, we will take stock of the progress made over the next year and continue to drive forward the collaboration and innovation needed to secure Europe’s clean and flexible energy future.
Relive the energy of FLEXCON 2023, and stay tuned for this year’s after-movie, launching soon!