Unlocking flexibility at scale: Emerging technologies for modern power systems

The IEA’s Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) Initiative, the IEA 4E TCP Efficient, Demand Flexible Networked Appliances (EDNA) Platform are co-organising a webinar to explore how new approaches and technologies to unlock demand-side flexibility at scale to support secure, efficient, and decarbonised power systems.  The session with present new findings with recent EDNA research, case studies, market and technology insights on demand flexibility protocols; plug-in battery energy storage systems (balcony storage); and data centres and flexibility.

As energy systems evolve to accommodate higher shares of variable renewable energy, demand-side flexibility is becoming a cornerstone of modern grid management. The need is becoming more urgent: electricity demand is rising globally as heating, transport, and industry electrify, placing unprecedented strain on distribution networks and reinforcing the case for demand-side solutions that defer or avoid costly grid infrastructure upgrades. This webinar will explore aspects which could enable scaling of more flexible demand and improved systems efficiency.

• Scaling up demand flexibility: From peak management to efficient system operation

  A new report, developed under the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) initiative, explores the growing importance of demand flexibility as electricity demand rises, renewable energy deployment accelerates, and economies increasingly electrify. Through case studies from South Africa (2025), Thailand (2030) and Ireland (2035), the report demonstrates how demand flexibility can improve system reliability, reduce costs, support renewable energy integration and help manage network constraints.

  Presenter: Chris Matthew, IEA Energy Analyst 

• Plug-in battery energy storage systems

  Plug-in battery energy storage systems (plug-in BESS), often connected with plug-in solar photovoltaic (plug-in solar PV) or ‘balcony solar’ systems, are the latest innovation in distributed energy resources (DERs) technology. These are systems that can be purchased by residential customers or small businesses and generally do not require installation services. Markets are evolving at a rapid pace – there are more than 100,000 units already installed in Germany. Meanwhile, regulation to ensure efficiency and safety is lagging. This presentation will provide an overview of the technologies, markets, opportunities, and challenges that need to be addressed.

  Presenter: Rusty Langdon (Institute for Sustainable Futures)

• Demand flexibility protocols

  Residential appliances such as water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, pool pumps and other household appliances represent a significant source of demand flexibility. When able to respond to external signals, these devices can help absorb surplus renewable generation, reduce peak demand, defer network investment and lower consumer costs. Realising this potential depends on interoperable, standardised communication protocols that allow appliances, energy management systems, aggregators and grid operators to exchange flexibility signals without bespoke integration. This presentation will provide an overview of the current communication protocol landscape and examine approaches to addressing the interoperability challenges that continue to limit the scale-up of demand-side flexibility.

  Read the report here.

  Presenters: Anson Wu and Jan Viegand (Viegand Maagoe)

• Data centres and flexibility

  Data centres worldwide will double their electricity consumption between 2025 and 2030. In some regions, this will place a considerable strain on the electricity system and typically requires grid expansion and additional generation capacity. This presentation will present recent research on the flexibility potential of data centres and the challenges and opportunities for using that potential. It will give insights into different strategies for data centre flexibility and drivers and map out how these apply to different types of data centres.

  Presenter: Dr. Dierk Bauknecht Oeko-Institut Consult GmbH