SEDC White Paper: Empowering Residential and SME Consumers – October 2016

As the European energy system progresses, the need to empower the consumer has become an increasingly more important and central theme for the future of European energy policy. Yet today, only a small amount of (Residential and SME) consumers are able to actively participate in the energy market or track their energy use.

After having clarified the motivation and benefits related to demand-side flexibility, the SEDC White Paper outlines specific challenges to enabling the employment of Demand-Side Flexibility at the residential and SME level. It also emphasizes different approaches and business models: Implicit DSF, Explicit DSF, Local optimisation needed to help monetise residential and SME consumer engagement.

This paper is concluded with a set of 12 policy recommendations to support the business models described and unlock the potential of residential demand-side flexibility.

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Position Papers

Efficient and flexible consumers for smart electricity grids

Making better use of the grids thanks to the contribution of existing and future connected flexible consumers is an efficient approach to tackle urgently the congestion challenge. The Flexible Demand Management Industry that smartEn represents can empower grid users, i.e. grid connected buildings, industries and electric vehicles, to play an active role in supporting an efficient and smart operation of grids. However, grids must be incentivised to use the flexibility of connected consumers, as already prescribed by EU laws. To support this effort, this paper: Sets out six strategic recommendations for the smart operation of grids which should guide the efficient delivery of the EU Grids Action Plan. Lays the groundwork for a dedicated EU Strategy on Grid Congestion which the new Commission should develop to deliver the European Green Deal by 2030. Such a strategy should foster harmonised approaches to tackle grid congestion issues across the EU, without waiting for lengthy network reinforcement, by harnessing the potential of connected, flexible consumers.
The Flexible Demand Management Industry: a crucial business community for Europe’s cost-effective decarbonisation

The Flexible Demand Management Industry provides solutions to all consumers – citizens, businesses, buildings, electric vehicles (EVs) and industries – to become flexible and be rewarded for playing an active role in the clean energy transition. As such, it needs to be fully recognised as a crucial clean-tech industry in Europe. But as the Flexible Demand Management Industry is very heterogeneous, it is often not easy for it to be identified as a specific industrial base and its significant contribution tends to be overlooked. This is a major gap to fill. This paper intends to inform this effort by answering these 3 questions:  What is the Flexible Demand Management Industry and what are the solutions offered?  Why the Flexible Demand Management Industry matters ?  What is needed in the next EU legislature for the Flexible Demand Management Industry to rightfully become a solid pillar of Europe’s decarbonised economy?
Priorities for the EU legislature 2024/2029: Empowering energy consumers for a stronger, modern Europe

Empowered energy consumers can contribute to a clean, secure and efficient energy system. Yet, many restrictions still hinder the activation of flexible demand across Europe. As price spikes and negative prices are increasingly frequent, sending clear signals on when and where there is a need to shift or cut energy demand or consume locally produced renewable energy is an urgent priority. This will benefit both the cost-effective systemic transition to climate neutrality and the reduction of all consumers’ energy bills, from households to large industries To contribute to an impactful legislature 2024/2029, smartEn has identified 6 top priorities that would strengthen the EU competitiveness, security and sustainability with efficient and flexible consumers as the driving force.