ACER-CEER report highlights that active consumer participation is key to driving the energy transition
The latest ACER-CEER 2024 Market Monitoring Report (MMR) "Energy retail - Active consumer participation is key to driving the energy transition: how can it happen?" underscores the crucial role of consumer activation in advancing the clean energy transition. As the EU pushes toward its carbon neutrality goals, the report emphasizes that active consumer engagement and flexibility are essential for building a resilient, sustainable energy system.
The Importance of Consumer Flexibility
Flexibility in the power system is foundational to a successful energy transition. According to the MMR, the EU’s flexibility needs are expected to double by 2030 as renewable generation increases. This calls for consumers to adapt their energy usage patterns based on real-time availability and pricing. By embracing flexibility, consumers can help reduce peak demand, lower costs, and alleviate the environmental impact of energy use.
Enabling Consumer Participation
Several enablers are highlighted as crucial to supporting consumer participation, including smart meters and dynamic-price contracts. These tools allow consumers to adjust their energy use to coincide with times of high renewable availability and lower costs. However, smart meter deployment across the EU is still uneven, with some Member States below 30% rollout, limiting access to flexible pricing options that could support both cost savings and environmental goals.
The ACER-CEER 2024 MMR aligns closely with EERA JP Smart Grids’ focus areas, underscoring that consumer activation is critical to Europe’s clean energy goals. Indeed, Sub-Programme 3 of the JP prioritizes developing a smart, flexible distribution system essential for integrating renewable energy, while Sub-Programme 4 focuses on consumer and prosumer engagement. These themes will be explored in-depth in an upcoming white paper on the crucial role of smart grids in ensuring the success of the clean energy transition. Through enhanced flexibility and active consumer participation, smart grids can drive Europe toward a more sustainable energy future.
