Flexibility marketplace to foster use of distributed energy resources

Distributed Energy Resources (DER) connected to Smartgrids are most of the time addressed on a grid operation point of view or on a commercial point of view, moreover focusing only on one layer of the overall electricity grids structure. However, interdependencies between grid and commercial operation as well as interconnection of more and more systems and involvement of numerous actors at various levels of the electricity value chain raise growing challenges that are presented in this paper. A market-based approach called Next Generation Marketplace (NGM) is introduced as a potential response and solution to these challenges. The paper presents several NGM aspects such as underlying rationale and pillars, a practical illustration through a detailed use case, and recommendations on corresponding IT infrastructure. The paper concludes that a NGM approach is a necessary step to see Smartgrids evolving towards Smarter markets but still requires regulation evolutions.