Balancing the grid with flexibility
Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) have the critical task of maintaining balance in the power grid. This means balancing supply and demand every second of every day. Measured in Hertz (50hz in Europe), maintaining balance is crucial as significant deviations can lead to power outages and resulting damages to society and infrastructure.
Power balancing markets are essential tools for maintaining grid stability. These markets utilize the flexibility of various energy assets, such as boilers, cooling units, wind and batteries, which can be powered up or down as needed within short time windows to ensure the grid stays balanced.
Changing patterns of production and demand, especially as more intermittent power sources come online, call for a new approach to power grid management. Flexibility is a key strategy to ensure an affordable, stable and reliable grid while meeting clean energy goals.
The Nordics and Europe have initiated a historic and comprehensive energy transition, shifting towards a modern, greener, and more sustainable energy infrastructure. Motivated by ambitious climate goals and heightened awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, countries and prosumers are adopting renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind), embracing innovative technologies, and implementing advanced grid management strategies. This change results in a more decentralized and variable power production landscape.
On the demand side, the electrification of various sectors, particularly transportation, is creating new and variable demands on the power grid. As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, efficient and flexible energy management is increasingly essential for handling fluctuating energy requirements and maintaining grid stability.
In this context, power balancing markets and flexibility solutions like our platform, Flextools, play a pivotal role.
Flextools offers an end-to-end SaaS solution for customers with flexible energy assets to participate in power balancing markets. Equipped with sophisticated devices for monitoring and controlling assets, and state-of-the-art cloud software, Flextools enables customers to grow revenues while supporting a reliable and greener energy system.
