BeFlexible: Future-proofing Europe's electricity grids for a flexible and sustainable energy supply

Energy Transition is a priority and the European Union is facing new challenges to adapt the energy system to the new paradigms. The BeFlexible project, coordinated by the i-DE (Iberdrola group) has been set up to address the challenge of accelerating the Energy Transition and fulfil the EU Green Deal goals. It’s main objective is to increase the participation of prosumers to increase the flexibility of the electricity system.

BeFlexible consists of a consortium made up of: i-DE (Iberdrola Group); Iberdrola Energía España; Enel Grids (and the 3 affiliated entities Gridspertise, e-distribution and E-distribution); E. ON Group; Areti;Terna; SAP; Schneider Electric; ThermoVault; RWTH Aachen University; RSE SPA; INESC TEC; ENGINEERING Group; Soulsight; Comillas Pontifical University; EDSO, Smart Innovation Norway, Zabala Innovation and Timelex.

The challenge: the need of a flexible electricity system

The European electricity system is at a crossroads: while the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources is a priority, the current infrastructure is not fully prepared to handle the rapid variations in energy production and consumption that these sources bring with them.

The main challenge is to balance electricity demand with increasingly variable supply, while ensuring security of supply and reducing carbon emissions.

What solution does BeFlexible offer?

BeFlexible project aims to increase the flexibility of the energy system, improve cooperation between Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and facilitate the participation of all energy-related stakeholders. This will be achieved by validating and demonstrating adapted, proven cross-sectoral services and interoperable platforms for smart grid operation through twelve pilots across four countries: Italy, Sweden, Spain, and France. Additionally, the project will further enhance previously demonstrated solutions and develop a system architecture framework, enabling the creation of new business models that provide added value in meeting consumer needs.

“The incentives for the consumers and generators are the key to the success of flexible solutions. And these incentives must be based on how solution implementation affect them”, shared Fernando David Martín Utrilla, BeFlexible project coordinator.

Boosting engagement to increase flexibility

One of the main challenges Europe faces is the growing production of renewable energy and the need for a modern and flexible electricity market that can integrate a higher proportion of clean energy sources. 

BeFlexible aims to overcome these limitations through versatile solutions that allow networks to adapt to future scenarios and promote mechanisms that benefit all players in the energy market.

The BeFlexible project is based on four main conceptual blocks: 

• Market and Regulation Analysis: A flexible framework for new business opportunities will be defined. 
• Service Ecosystem: A wide range of flexibility solutions and cross-cutting services will be offered to end-users. 
• Platforms and Architectures: A Business and Network Data (GDBN) network and system architecture will be implemented to ensure complete data interoperability. 
• Customer Participation: A social co-creation approach will be adopted to meet consumer needs. 

Collaboration, innovation and synergies for enhanced energy system flexibility

One of the highlights of this project is the close collaboration among the 21 partners and the 3 affiliated entities from 7 European countries that make up the consortium. The involvement and commitment of these partners, including DSOs, TSOs, aggregators, research and development centers, universities, and industrial technology providers, have been essential for the successful progress of BeFlexible.  

Furthermore, BeFlexible collaborates closely with other EU projects, like those funded under the same call, STREAM and ENFLATE, thus strengthening cooperation between initiatives that share similar objectives and challenges in the European Energy Transition.

BeFlexible is also an active participant of BRIDGE, the European Commission which unites Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe Smart Grid, Energy Storage, Islands, and Digitalisation projects to create a structured view of cross-cutting issues which are encountered in the demonstration projects and may constitute an obstacle to innovation. The BRIDGE process fosters continuous collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst projects through four different Working Groups: data management, business models, regulations, consumer and citizen engagement.

BeFlexible is supported by the Horizon Europe programme, with funding managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). 

Thanks to this support, the project is in a unique position to accelerate the transition to a greener and more efficient electricity system.

BeFlexible will also participate at Enlit Europe 2024, one of Europe’s biggest and most popular energy annual events.

More information:

• Project website 
• LinkedIN social media account
• X social media account 
• BeFlexible YouTube account
• EU CORDIS fact sheet