Definition
Flexibility in an energy context means the ability to shift, increase or reduce electricity consumption or production in response to a signal from the grid operator, the system operator or the market. Flexibility resources may include industrial processes that can be deferred, electric vehicles charged at optimal times, hot-water heaters with time controls, battery systems and solar power generation. As more renewable energyEnergy from sources that renew naturally - wind, solar, hydropower and bioenergy - as opposed to fossil fuels. (solar and wind) is integrated into the grid, the need for flexibility increases because production is variable and does not always coincide with consumption peaks. In Norway, NVENorway's Directorate of Water Resources and Energy - regulates the electricity and water resources sectors. and StatnettNorway's system operator for the transmission grid - owns and operates the high-voltage network and operates Elhub. have facilitated flexibility markets where aggregators can pool and sell flexibility resources. The capacity element in the grid tariffThe component of electricity customers' bills that covers grid rental - regulated by NVE. is a price signal intended to incentivise flexible behaviour. For CIS systems, MDMMeter Data Management - system for collection, storage, quality assurance and distribution of metering data from the electricity grid. systems and AMIAdvanced Metering Infrastructure - comprehensive system for two-way communication between smart meters and power suppliers' systems. infrastructure, flexibility activation is a growing requirement - the systems must handle control commands and document responses from thousands of metering points.