Flexibilisation mechanisms in relation to feed-in tariffs

Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that the electricity system will have to be far more flexible to handle fluctuating feed-in of wind and solar. Moving forward, this need for flexibility may rise substantially among small-scale consumers, too, due not only to variable input from solar, but also to use of high-power technologies as well as specific demand patterns (e.g. electric vehicles, electric heat pumps). This report provides an impact analysis of potential flexibilization mechanisms for small-scale consumers and the electrical power system, examining the following issues: future need for flexibilization; exploration of flexibilization mechanisms; impact of these mechanisms on small-scale consumption; system-level impact; exploration of required changes to the regulatory system.