As we move towards a greener future, the demand for electricity is expected to rise significantly. This increased demand will primarily be met through renewable energy sources, which may lead to higher costs for both the energy system and the community. However, there’s good news: enhancing consumption flexibility has the potential to mitigate these costs. By reducing the risk of energy curtailment and minimizing the need for additional storage and grid capacity, flexible demand can play a crucial role in managing our energy resources efficiently.

Despite its importance, there has been limited research on the techno-economic implications of improving consumption flexibility within our energy systems. Notably, no studies have fully explored how these improvements could influence the costs associated with integrating solar power.

A new study by Eurac Research published in the journal Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research has examined the economic effects of flexible demand on solar integration and generation costs in Italy for 2030 and 2040. Researchers analyzed various scenarios for the Italian energy system in 2030 and 2040, focusing on the availability and geographical distribution of flexible demand.

"The findings indicate that enabling a 12-hour flexible demand can lower powerline transport capacity by up to 14% and storage capacity by up to 25% in the 2040 scenarios. This corresponds to a reduction in photovoltaic generation costs from 11 to 13%, with peaks of up to 20% in some cases. This research highlights the potential of consumption flexibility to significantly impact the future of solar energy integration" explains Elisa Veronese, first author of the study.

Embracing consumption flexibility is not just a pathway to meet rising energy demands; it’s also a strategic move to lower costs and enhance the integration of renewable energy sources like solar power.

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