Energy system flexibility is gaining rapid relevance with the ever-expanding integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and occasional below-zero plummeting electricity prices. Volatile solar and wind generation, coupled with a not-so-volatile green energy demand, poses a challenge for Lithuania's renewable-based energy system.

Apart from key flexibility providers like the Kruonis Pumped Storage Power Plant, Lithuania is quickly approaching a RES saturation point at which the price of electricity drops below zero. This situation causes serious issues for developers and makes investors question the viability of investments in a green and prosperous future. The more flexible local energy demand options there are, the more RES we can install – a simple formula often overlooked by energy system architects, politicians, and society. Flexible energy consumption and a willingness to pay a fair price are as important as the renewable future itself.

It is natural to look for flexibility in obvious places such as hydro power plants, grid batteries, and other large grid-scale infrastructure, but less so in our own energy consumption, including households, businesses, dishwashers, or home heat pumps.

In September, here at Ignitis Group, we launched a two-month internal, employee-focused initiative to evaluate their flexibility at home, and the results were astonishing. We asked employees to participate in one of the three categories and promised great prizes for the winners. These categories involved shifting energy-intensive tasks to:

• Night-time.
• Weekends.
• Lowest price periods.

After a two-month competition, newsletters, and sharing insights and advice among participants, we achieved an unexpected colleague engagement of more than 80% and very positive energy time-shifting results.

Night-time Category

Energy cost saving and flexibility - for everyone

Becoming a more flexible energy consumer at home can help you save on energy costs and contribute to a more sustainable energy use. Here are several tips to make your household more energy-efficient and adaptable to energy price variability:

• Variable energy price tariffs. Choose a variable price tariff (e.g. two or four zone tariff) or even a market related price plan to be able to save on varying energy consumption.
• Use Ignitis EnergySmart mobile application. Here you can track hourly market energy price and compare your household consumption with similar households.
• Use a "Delay" function for washing machine, dishwasher and dryer. If possible, set up energy intensive activities for night time or weekends - this is when energy is the cheapest.
• Use smart plugs. You can set up schedules for heating, lights, water boilers, floor heating and other activities only when you are home or specifically when you need them.
• Use a microwave or small heater for heating food. Do not use an oven as this is less energy efficient, also prepare some more food over the weekend and store it instead of preparing it during peak energy times - evenings and mornings.

Public initiatives to familiarize household energy consumers with flexible and conscious energy consumption will become more popular with increasing RES in the energy mix. The flexibility initiative is expected to become an yearly tradition at Ignitis supplementing the employee sustainability month activities.

Want to know more? Contact our innovation expert Karolis Mirinavičius – [email protected]