In a workshop that RAP co-hosted with the European Climate Foundation for members of the Coalition for Energy Savings, European programmes director Richard Cowart provided an in-depth look at demand response as a power sector resource. He explored the power system benefits of demand response, including avoided emissions, line loss reduction, avoided reserves, and “non-energy” benefits, such as health and safety, improved comfort, building durability, and better indoor air quality. As Europe embraces a steadily increasing supply of renewable energy, demand response and energy efficiency will become essential components for creating a low-emissions, affordable power sector. Although regulatory barriers to demand response remain, Mr. Cowart emphasized that adjustments to system operations to facilitate flexibility in the short term, complemented by market reforms to recognize and compensate efficiency, and the creation of  investment incentives to ensure flexibility in the long term can unlock demand response resources.

RAP will co-host a follow-up workshop with the Smart Energy Demand Coalition in Brussels this November. This event will feature high-level speakers from the European Commission, the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, and the transmission system operators’ association ENTSO-E.