Promotion lecture for docent by David Steen

Title: Demand-side Flexibility as a Key Enabler for a Renewable-Dominant Energy System

Abstract:
As power systems transition toward high shares of variable renewable energy such as wind and solar, maintaining system balance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness becomes increasingly complex. Demand-side flexibility, i.e. the ability to adjust electricity consumption in response to price signals, grid conditions, or market incentives, is emerging as a cornerstone for enabling renewable-dominant energy systems.
At the same time, the electrification of sectors such as transport, industry, and heating are accelerating, driven by decarbonization goals and technological advances. This transformation significantly increases electricity demand, but it also introduces new sources of flexible load. Electric vehicles, smart heat pumps, and industrial demand response can act as controllable assets, shifting consumption in time or magnitude to support grid stability and better align demand with renewable generation profiles.

When harnessed effectively, demand side flexibility can reduce peak demand, lower system costs, and enhance the integration of renewables by reducing curtailment and the need for fossil-based balancing resources. It also offers a pathway for more active consumer participation and decentralization of system services. However, unlocking this potential requires robust digital infrastructure, responsive market designs, and supportive regulatory frameworks that incentivize flexibility at all levels — from individual households to industrial consumers.

In this context, demand side flexibility not only addresses the operational challenges of renewable variability but also leverages the opportunities created by electrification. Together, they redefine the role of demand from passive consumption to an active, dynamic contributor to a secure, resilient, and sustainable energy future.

Welcome!

David and Ragne