Opening Speech

Our European energy system is undergoing a major transformation, moving towards decentralization with increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) connected to the grid, such as PV solar, battery storage, and EVs. While DERs provide clear benefits such as limiting costs, reducing CO2 emissions, and helping to empower consumers, there are still challenges to overcome to develop DERs to their full potential. This session will focus on best practices and innovative projects, both from a grid and user perspective (e.g. energy communities) and we will discuss how the regulatory framework can be improved to facilitate the penetration of DERs and active participation from consumers.

Discover how Germany's solar surge is driving a gigawatt-scale battery boom, the revenue models making projects viable, and the hurdles ahead.

Our European energy system is undergoing a major transformation, moving towards decentralization with increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) connected to the grid, such as PV solar, battery storage, and EVs. While DERs provide clear benefits such as limiting costs, reducing CO2 emissions, and helping to empower consumers, there are still challenges to overcome to develop DERs to their full potential. This session will focus on best practices and innovative projects, both from a grid and user perspective (e.g. energy communities) and we will discuss how the regulatory framework can be improved to facilitate the penetration of DERs and active participation from consumers.

Cars as batteries on wheels: Thomas Raffeiner and Petrouschka Werther discuss how V2G and smart charging turn EVs into critical grid assets.