Juliana Zapata

Why regulation, technology, and social inclusion must evolve together

The transformation of Europe’s energy system is accelerating. With the rapid deployment of variable renewable energy sources and decentralized assets, flexibility has become a critical enabler of a reliable and cost-efficient power system.

While much attention has been paid to electricity-based flexibility, demand-side flexibility provided by decentralized heat and electricity prosumers remains underexplored — particularly within district heating networks. Our report addresses this gap by applying a PESTLE framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) to identify the conditions that shape the development of demand-side flexibility in multi-energy systems.

This report provides a concise overview of current and emerging energy efficiency solutions, combining both technological and behavioural approaches. It highlights their applications, benefits, and limitations, offering practitioners practical insights for implementation.