BeFlexible Project

The results of the BeFlexibleExternal link, opens in new window.  project, which will conclude on 1 August 2026, have demonstrated that energy flexibility is a viable and scalable solution for improving the management of the European energy system. Large-scale pilot projects carried out in various Spanish cities have shown that solutions relating to demand management, storage and electric mobility are ready for real-world implementation.

The tests reveal that, as well as being technically viable, flexibility can generate real benefits for the energy system: optimising the networks, facilitating the integration of renewable energy and encouraging greater consumer participation. In the words of David Martín, project coordinator and head of the DSO role at our Spanish distribution company i-DE, "BeFlexible has proven that flexibility is not a theoretical concept, but a practical and scalable solution for the European energy system".

Regulatory roadmap and the central role of the consumer

The 12 pilot projects carried out in Italy, Sweden, France and Spain sought to demonstrate the versatility of the concept of “flexibility” in different settings – from different types of energy consumers to different geographical and climatic areas – and to assess the impact of the proposed services, platforms and architectures. In this way, BeFlexible has also highlighted the importance of a regulatory roadmap to expand flexibility across Europe. In addition to technology, it is essential to adapt solutions to local contexts and build consumer trust.
 
The project fulfils its aim of boosting the participation of “prosumers” through the definition of strategies, regulatory proposals and new business models and of driving new flexibility services based on generators, consumers or electricity storage. By doing so, BeFlexible gives a boost to the flexibility of the European electrical network as a whole, which is key to enabling a much more efficient use of electrical networks.

Four years of the project

Led by our energy distributor i-DE and funded through the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme with a budget of €10 million, this initiative has progressed successfully thanks to a consortium comprising 20 partners and three affiliated entities from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Denmark. From 2022 to 2026 Iberdrola – a global leader in distribution and network digitalisation – has been joined by distribution system operators (DSOs), transmission system operators (TSOs), aggregators, research and development centres, universities and industrial technology suppliers. This collaboration has provided a multi-sectoral approach covering the entire value chain of energy systems and related cross-sectoral services.

The end result contributes to the energy transition by orienting the market to be more modern, sustainable and adaptable in order to integrate a greater proportion of clean energy sources and accelerate the electrification of some energy uses, such as electric mobility or some thermal processes such as heating. This is a transformation in line with the European Union's commitments in the fight against climate change and the promotion of renewable energy sources. 

To this end, the BeFlexible project has been structured around four main areas:

• Market and Regulatory Analysis: A flexible framework for new business opportunities will be implemented.

• Ecosystem of services: A wide range of flexibility solutions and cross-cutting services will be offered to end-users.

• Platforms and Architectures: A Business and Data Network (GDBN) and system architecture will be implemented to ensure full data interoperability.

• Customer Involvement: A social co-creation approach will be adopted to meet consumer needs.

Iberdrola, a world leader in smart grids

Smart grids are essential for the support of the electrification of the economy and to ensure that renewable energy reaches consumers safely and efficiently. At Iberdrola, we operate one of the world’s most important distribution systems and continue to work on its modernisation, digitalisation and automation. For this reason, the Networks business is now a core part of our Strategic Plan, with an investment of €37 billion planned for 2028 across distribution and transmission.