From Pilot to Portfolio: Making Local Flexibility Work for DSO in Different Member States

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Recording of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 9:49 .

E.ON's Strategy for Local Markets and Regulatory Compliance

E.ON is transitioning towards the establishment of local markets, guided by urgency and the necessity for timely preparations following initial hesitations. Challenges in moving from pilot programs to a full infrastructure have been recognized, with evolving regulations and market dynamics prompting a shift from cautious approaches to immediate action. Key actions include developing data protocols, setting up marketplaces, and enhancing operational skills. The upcoming Network Code on Demand Response (NCDR) is a significant milestone driving these initiatives, with all surveyed entities initiating their setup processes in anticipation. Pilots and sandboxes have facilitated innovation by testing new concepts and generating valuable insights while promoting collaboration among stakeholders. E.ON, as a leading Distribution System Operator (DSO) group across multiple EU countries, actively engages in sharing best practices and aligning on NCDR implementation strategies. A collaborative roadmap for system improvement is essential for scaling operations while ensuring stakeholder engagement and transparency for effective progress.

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Speaker

Torsten Knop
European Regulation
E.ON SE
Germany

As distribution system operators (DSOs) gain experience with local flexibility markets, the focus is increasingly shifting from pilot projects to stable, scalable and enduring solutions. This session will examine what it takes to move from experimental local flexibility schemes to robust markets that can be reliably integrated into system operation and investment planning. The discussion will address regulatory readiness, market design choices, standardization, coordination with other system operators and the conditions needed to provide long-term security for flexibility providers. By bringing together DSOs, policymakers, market actors and technology providers, the event aims to identify practical pathways towards sustainable local flexibility markets that support a resilient and decarbonized electricity system.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Luís Vale Cunha
Board Member, European Affairs, Policy & EU Projects
E.DSO and E-REDES

To Talk

Speaker

Kris Kessels
Senior Researcher Energy Markets
VITO/EnergyVille
Belgium

To Talk

Speaker

Guro Grotterud
Director of Regulatory Affairs and Senior Project Manager
NODES
Norway

To Talk

Speaker

Cristina Corchero García
CTO
Bamboo Energy S.L.
Spain

To Talk

Speaker

Rolf Bienert
Managing Director
OpenADR Alliance

To Talk

Speaker

Elise van Ginkel
Manager Strategic Development
GOPACS
The Netherlands

Jasper Kroondijk
Business Development Manager
GOPACS
The Netherlands

To Talk

To Talk

Further Content
The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026
Panel Discussion of the Session: Turning Industrial and Commercial Demand Side Flexibility into Value

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 02:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Conference Program

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Industrial and commercial flexibility is no longer experimental - it is becoming a core part of network operation and market participation. Across Europe, DSOs, transmission system operators (TSOs), aggregators and retailers are moving from isolated pilots to coordinated programs that avoid grid upgrades and deliver real capacity and financial value for all participants.This session focuses on the operational integration of C&I flexibility into routine grid workflows through dispatch, settlement, verification and commercial models. It highlights how flexibility is embedded in daily operations: from automated dispatch and verification tools to new contractual models that reward large energy users for adapting consumption. You will gain insight into replicable approaches for scaling flex portfolios, integrating them into control-room workflows and ensuring fair value-sharing across utilities, service providers and industrial consumers.

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