Collective and smart energy management is on the way!

Considerable interest in collective energy management

High energy prices and increasing congestion mean there is considerable interest in collective energy management. Particularly in areas affected by grid congestion, where the grid is ‘locked up’, this approach could make it possible to install new connections for electricity supply and demand. However, experience is limited and the knowledge is fragmented. This meeting brought the two together. To work jointly on energy management, businesses need a clear idea of who their neighbours are. In addition, each party must have a detailed picture of its own energy system and the potential for sustainable energy production, demand management and storage.

The meeting included presentations of a range of calculation tools and software platforms, giving companies and park managers the opportunity to see what could be the best solution for them. TenneT and Enexis presented tools that allow calculations to be made for earning models relating to flexibility in individual companies. However, this was not the exclusive focus of the meeting. Platforms for the optimisation of collective energy management, and the trading of capacity and energy, were also discussed. The providers – Spectral, Energy Pool and Lyv Energy Management Solutions – spoke about these matters.

Lessons learned and follow-up on 13 April

Finally, there were parallel sessions in which the discussion turned to the challenges facing some business parks, as well as possible solutions. It became clear to the participants that things are developing much faster than expected and that many businesses are already active. It also emerged that there is much more unused capacity in the power grid than is assumed, and that it is precisely collaboration in smart ways that could be a good way of kicking the current congestion problems a few years down the road. However, it was pointed out that the legal context still needs to be improved.

The following meeting will be on Thursday, 13 April at the Utrecht provincial authority, where the organisers and companies will continue working on this important area.