European Demand Response (DR) Market, 2018–2025

Demand Response (DR) is a mechanism to alter changes in patterns in electricity consumption by consumers through pricing signals and incentives, thereby reducing peak demand and strengthening grid flexibility. DR covers intentional modifications on the customer’s electricity usage patterns via altering the time of use and duration of use. DR has traditionally been divided into price-based programs and incentive-based programs. DR is in its nascent stage in Europe with sporadic pilot programs underway in the residential sector. Experts opine that DR can achieve close to 40% of EU’s 2020 targets concerning energy savings and Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions.

However, a deterrent for implementation is the development of infrastructure within Europe. Penetration of smart meters, which is a key enabler of DR, is still low, although it is accelerating. Although it does not have a direct impact on demand response, the potential still is inhibited, as only a small proportion of customers will have even base infrastructure. This is a high-growth opportunity market that will materialise steadily over the next decade. DR initiatives enable real-time analysis of customer demand trends and allow the generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to react accordingly. Growth in this market means that utilities will increasingly invest in innovative technologies and predictive tools to reduce power generation costs as well as grid failures and outages. New communication technologies and supportive government regulations are imperative for the integration of DR into the future energy system. This study provides a market analysis of the European demand response market.

The countries covered in the study include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK.

The market analysis includes revenue forecasts, discussion on the competitive structure, and market share analysis. The base year of the study is 2017 with forecast period from 2018 to 2025.