As Europe electrifies, demand-side flexibility will play an increasingly important role in balancing the electricity system. But how will flexibility markets develop and how can the different signals reaching consumers be coordinated?
To find out, Pamela Largue speaks with Michael Villa, executive director of SmartEn, and Riley Behrens, associate consultant at LCP Delta, in this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast. They elaborate on the findings of a new report from SmartEn and LCP Delta, Reflecting on the Future: Medium-Term Evolutions Impacting the Development of Flexible Demand, which explores three possible pathways for the evolution of demand-side flexibility over the next decade. These pathways, or scenarios, are based on five pillars of the electricity system; namely, regulation, markets, demand, generation and networks. According to Behrens and Villa, the gap between these scenarios is significant, and it’s critical to set the direction to the most optimal scenario now.

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Europe’s recent heatwaves and droughts put the nuclear power sector under pressure, with some reactors forced to curtail output as river flows fell and cooling water became more constrained.

The events raised acute concerns about how extreme weather affects critical energy infrastructure and, more broadly, how well the existing nuclear fleet can withstand a changing climate.

To gain insight into how resilient the existing nuclear power fleet is and what needs to be done to future-proof the sector’s development, Pamela Largue speaks with King Lee, head of policy and industry engagement, at World Nuclear Association. Lee highlights what needs to happen to ensure nuclear can deliver on growing ambitions to triple capacity and the measures operators and policymakers can take to build resilience.

He also discusses the impact of rising electricity demand and how supply chains, financing, skills, and policy need to respond to ensure sustainable growth.

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Renewable energy has never been more affordable to produce. However, for developers and investors, the economics of building new renewable capacity are becoming increasingly complex.

More specifically, negative electricity prices, grid connection queues and rising financing costs are challenging project profitability, forcing the industry to rethink how it creates value.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Hallvard Granheim, executive vice-president for Markets at Statkraft, explores this situation in more detail.

Granheim discussed the changing economics of renewables and what it takes to make projects commercially viable in an evolving energy market. He also examines the growing role of power purchase agreements (PPAs) in balancing risks and meeting the needs of renewable producers and industrial consumers.

Ultimately, Granheim argues that the energy transition has moved beyond adding megawatts. It is about developing the right projects, understanding customer needs and ensuring renewable energy remains both competitive and profitable.

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