Clean flexibility can significantly reduce dependence on gas in the power system, helping deliver electricity that is affordable, reliable, and secure.

In simple terms, “flexibility” is the ability to balance the power system to ensure that the electricity supply is always equal to electricity demand. Flexibility has always been an
important part of operating the electricity system, ensuring it is resilient and responsive to changing conditions. Today, flexibility is becoming even more important as Europe realises the benefits of moving from a system based on fossil fuels to one based on low-cost renewable energy.

 

 

While power systems have historically relied on gas to provide flexibility, clean flexibility is flexibility provided by clean technologies or approaches. These include many mature technologies such as batteries and pumped hydro storage as well as some emerging solutions such as EV smart charging and long-duration energy storage. Additionally, consumers are playing an increasing role and provide value and flexibility through demand-side response.

Together, these clean flexibility solutions have the potential to reduce legacy dependence on gas, delivering low-cost, reliable power to customers.

The report “Clean Flexibility: Opportunities in Europe“ was prepared by The Brattle Group and Acousmatics for Beyond Fossil Fuels. It presents the opportunity for clean flexibility in Europe, defining flexibility solutions in more detail, summarising the benefits that clean flexibility offers to consumers, households and governments, providing an overview of the different ways clean flexibility supports the power system,  highlighting examples of current and future systems that operate without gas, as well as identifying  specific clean flexibility opportunities for countries across Europe, particularly in the UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

2026 will be a major year for clean flexibility. By June, EU Member States will need to prepare their Flexibility Needs Assessments, which should set ambitious national targets for non-fossil flexibility that align with climate and energy goals. Beyond Fossil Fuels and Climate Action Network Europe have produced a checklist urging grid operators and regulatory authorities to use this opportunity to unlock the full potential of clean flexibility, scaling up demand side response, batteries, long-duration energy storage and interconnection, and finally free Europe from the fossil fuel rollercoaster once and for all.