WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 96
04 Opportunities of 昀氀exible consumption
The central role of grid operators
Transmission and distribution operators as
active 昀氀exibility facilitators
One key factor in unlocking the value of
consumption-side 昀氀exibility lies in the evolving
role of grid operators — both transmission
(RTE) and distribution (Enedis). While market
participants and legal instruments are essential,
昀氀exibility also depends on how system needs
are identi昀椀ed, signaled, and coordinated.
TSOs like RTE are taking on more dynamic roles.
For instance, RTE has launched pilots testing
geographically targeted 昀氀exibility incentives,
guiding storage and 昀氀exible loads to areas with
high solar output or grid congestion. These are
early steps toward using 昀氀exibility as a
localized grid management tool, not just a
market mechanism.
DSOs like Enedis face increasing challenges
from distributed generation and local grid
stress. Yet, current regulations lack the
mandates or tools to let DSOs procure or
manage 昀氀exibility directly. Realizing this
potential means creating local 昀氀exibility
markets, empowering DSOs to contract services
based on local needs, and clarifying their
coordination with aggregators and suppliers.
Enabling tools: signals, platforms, and
regulatory mandates
Grid operators are well placed to deliver
granular, time and location speci昀椀c signals critical for guiding investment in 昀氀exibility
assets. With smarter tari昀昀s, transparent
procurement platforms, and standardized datasharing, TSOs and DSOs can become key enablers
of a decentralized, resilient energy system.
But this requires strong regulatory support:
clear mandates to procure 昀氀exibility when coste昀昀ective, real-time asset visibility, and the
ability to coordinate with aggregators and
昀氀exibility providers. Scaling 昀氀exibility won’t
depend solely on consumers or suppliers, but
also on empowering grid operators.
Strengthening their role is essential to complete
the value chain and ensure 昀氀exibility delivers
both system-wide and local bene昀椀ts.
