What is flexibility?

Flexibility is the ability of a consumer, electricity generator, or any other technology (like storage) to adjust how they feed in electricity to the grid, or consume electricity from the grid in response to grid needs or solar availability.

 Flexibility means less investment is needed for slow-to-build grid infrastructure. We also need to focus on the efficient and smart operation of grids with smart electrified resources. In real life that looks like a solar power plant coupled with battery storage, or a smart charging station that charges a car when rooftop solar PV is producing abundantly.
 

Flexibility isn’t just about storage, demand-side management also plays a critical role. For instance, countries with significant nuclear energy often use ‘time-of-use’ tariffs to incentivise electricity use during off-peak hours, helping manage inherently inflexible nuclear production. Similarly, consumers could shift energy use to match abundant solar production, reducing strain on the grid.

Why do we need flexibility?
 

The way we generate and use energy is transforming. Fossil fuel plants are being phased out, replaced by cleaner, decentralised sources like solar and wind farms. At the same time, electricity demand is surging with the rise of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other electrified systems. SolarPower Europe estimates a 50% increase in electricity demand by 2030.

Flexibility allows our grids to adapt swiftly to this transition, enabling us to do more with less while achieving decarbonisation as efficiently as possible. However, Europe must multiply five-fold its flexibility capacity by 2030 to keep up with this growing electricity demand, a target we are currently far from meeting.

What are the benefits of flexibility?

By 2030, a flexible and electrified energy system could:
 

• Save the EU €30 billion annually in energy system costs.
• Avoid 151 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year.
• Boost the business case for solar by reducing curtailment and mitigating price cannibalisation. 

How can we boost flexibility?

1. Assess and plan for flex needs

• Map the EU’s flexibility needs by 2025.
• Incentivise grid operators to include flexibility resources such as batteries and demand-side response in their planning processes
• Set ambitious flexibility and renewable energy targets for 2040.
• Prioritise industrial electrification through key policies like the Clean Industrial Deal.
• Adopt an EU Storage Action Plan focused on battery systems.

2. Reward flexibility fairly
 

• Develop price signals and economic incentives to encourage flexible solutions, ensuring their role in integrating renewables and operating grids efficiently. 
• Reform energy taxation to ensure electricity can fairly compete against gas.

3. Streamline grid integration
 

• Make it easier to combine solar projects with wind or storage.
• Accelerate the rollout of smart buildings and devices to enhance grid responsiveness. 
• Ensure that flexible assets are seamlessly connected to the grid under clear EU rules. 
• Advance grid expansion at both transmission and distribution levels.

Flexibility is not just a technical solution. It’s the foundation of a resilient, clean and cost-effective energy future for Europe.