European Commission proposes new measures to boost grid flexibility

• 1 year, 8 months ago (2023-04-06)
• David Flin

Distribution 125 Europe 1094 Transmission 195

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The European Commission is proposing new measures to help the EU power grid adapt to changes in demand, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and enable more renewables to come online. These measures will improve the grid’s ability to respond to changes in supply and demand.

As part of the reform, the European Commission introduced a definition for flexibility as the “ability of an electricity system to adjust to the variability of generation and consumption patterns and grid availability, across relevant market timeframes.” The reform will also require EU countries to set an indicative objective for their demand response and storage. Alongside this, national regulatory authorities will need to carry out periodic assessments of the flexibility needed to guarantee security of supply with a focus on non-fossil measures.

The reform also includes measures to improve the functioning of Europe’s grids, which will be key for a renewables-dominated energy mix. Under the law, system operators will need to develop the grid, use flexibility to enhance operation, and be more transparent around connections.