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Vol.:(0123456789)
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15
h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/s40518-025-00264-x
REVIEW
Digi al pla o ms osuppo he lexibili y alue chain, un lexibili y
ma ke s, andmanage ene gy communi ies
LuísRod igues1· FábioCoelho1· JoãoMello1,2· JoséVilla 1
Accep ed: 7 May 2025
© The Au ho (s) 2025
Abs ac
Pu pose o Re iew This pape e iews he lexibili y-cen ic alue chain (FCVC) and analyses how coo dina ing digi al
pla o ms along he FCVC is essen ial o enabling FCVC ac i i ies and suppo ing key ac o s. Based on he FCVC, he
digi al in as uc u e needed o suppo lexibili y p o ision in powe sys ems is e iewed, wi h special ocus on he ole o
ene gy communi ies (ECs) as eme ging ele an ac o s and po en ial agg ega o s o i s membe s.
Recen Findings We e iew he G id Da a and Business Ne wo k (GDBN), a pla o m de eloped by he au ho s o suppo
he FCVC, wi h special ocus on hose s ages o he FCVC no p ope ly suppo ed by exis ing solu ions. I also analyses
pla o ms used in local lexibili y ma ke s (LFMs), and i p esen s he REC ea ion digi al pla o m designed o manage ECs
o suppo he pa icipa ion in lexibili y ma ke s.
Summa y Digi al pla o ms a e necessa y o scaling lexibili y se ices. The GDBN o e s a comp ehensi e app oach by
enabling he FCVC and acili a ing in e ope abili y wi h exis ing pla o ms dedica ed o speci ic segmen s, such as ECs and
LFMs. By add essing cu en limi a ions in pla o m in eg a ion, his pape con ibu es o a clea e unde s anding o how
digi al ools can enable an e icien lexibili y ecosys em.
Keywo ds Digi al pla o ms· Ene gy communi ies· Flexibili y· Flexibili y-cen ic alue chain· Flexibili y ma ke s
In oduc ion
The Eu opean Union (EU) is u ging Membe S a es (MS)
o de elop egula o y amewo ks ha incen i ize dis i-
bu ion sys em ope a o s (DSOs) o p ocu e cos -e ec i e
lexibili y o ope a e and main ain hei g ids [1]. Flexibil-
i y, in his con ex , e e s o explici lexibili y which is he
abili y o adjus ene gy consump ion o gene a ion pa e ns
in esponse o ex e nal signals [2]. In addi ion, whene e
possible, lexibili y shall be p ocu ed h ough anspa en ,
non-disc imina o y, ma ke -based p ocedu es [1]. Renew-
able ene gy communi ies (RECs) and he ole o ac i e
cus ome s a e also incen i ized o in eg a e inal consume s
in o he ene gy sys em and inc ease lexibili y p o ision and
enewable ene gy sha e [3, 4]. Collec i e sel -consump ion
(CSC) p o ides a egula o y backg ound o engage inal con-
sume s in enewable gene a ion sha ing and local ene gy and
lexibili y ma ke s [5].
The deploymen o lexibili y, pa icula ly demand-side
lexibili y, equi es digi al in as uc u es capable o ensu -
ing a secu e and eliable da a access and exchange be ween
pa ies. Thus, o e he las ew yea s, mul iple lexibili y
ma ke pla o ms ha e been concep ualized and deployed o
suppo sys em ope a o s (SOs) in p ocu ing and le e ag-
ing lexibili y [6, 7], mos o hem in pilo s o egula o y
sandboxes.
Mo e ecen ly, in 2023, he EU DSO En i y and ENTSO-
E se ou a p oposal o a Ne wo k Code on Demand
Response which compels MS o equi e SOs o publish
in o ma ion ela ed o lexibili y p ocu emen on a single
pla o m a na ional le el [8].
* José Villa
[email p o ec ed]
Luís Rod igues
[email p o ec ed]
Fábio Coelho
[email p o ec ed]
João Mello
[email p o ec ed]
1 INESC TEC, Po o, Po ugal
2 FEUP, Po o, Po ugal
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 15 Page 2 o 15
D i en by he digi alisa ion o powe g ids and he deploy-
men o sma me e s, digi al pla o ms a e eme ging as ena-
ble s o new ma ke s and business models (BMs). This pape
e iews he lexibili y-cen ic alue chain (FCVC) iden i ied in
[9, 10], desc ibing he main s ages needed o inal consume s
o become di ec lexibili y p o ide s, ca e ing o SO’s needs,
and in oduces he G id Da a and Business Ne wo k (GDBN),
a mul i- enan cloud-based pla o m designed o ha pu pose.
The GDBN aims o be a low-cos and low-complexi y solu ion,
suppo ing small and la ge SOs in le e aging a ailable lexibil-
i y capaci y, o engage inal consume s o unlock hei lexibil-
i y po en ial by c ea ing addi ional alue o hem. The GDBN
links he key ac o s o he FCVC, including consume s, se ice
p o ide s (SPs) and SOs, suppo ing he main FCVC ac i i-
ies and c ea ing new alue s eams. Mo eo e , i acili a es
and p omo es new ac i i ies such as pai ing SPs wi h po en ial
clien s ia in e ope able p o ocols, enable a ious lexibili y
se ice p o ide s (FSPs) o in e ac wi h di e en lexibili y
ma ke pla o ms by p o iding in e ope able in e aces o hese
pla o ms, enables lexibili y ac i a ion and se lemen o SOs,
and suppo new BMs ela ed o consume da a p ocessing by
p ope ly ma ke ing his da a o so wa e companies, unlocking
addi ional alue o consume s engaged in lexibili y p o ision.
These po en ial BMs we e al eady iden i ied in [11] as a p e-
limina y s ep o build he FCVC.
The main con ibu ions and sec ions o his pape include:
• A comp ehensi e p oposal o he FCVC designed o
boos inal consume s lexibili y, desc ibing he FCVC’s
s ages, main ac i i ies, p ima y and seconda y ac o s
in ol ed, and he main mechanisms o deploy and in e-
g a e consume s in o he FCVC, emphasising he col-
labo a ion be ween s akeholde s such as consume s, SPs,
and SOs.
• The GDBN as an inno a i e, mul i-s akeholde digi al
pla o m o suppo he FCVC, including he concep ual
GDBN a chi ec u e, i s ela ionship wi h he FCVC, an
asso men o suppo ed se ices, key deploymen and
li e cycle op ions, and BMs o i s ope a ion.
• A e iew o local lexibili y ma ke (LFM) pla o ms and
lexibili y p oduc s suppo ed, commonly used by SO o
lexibili y p ocu emen .
• A e iew o he REC ea ion digi al pla o m o manage
ene gy communi ies.
• A inal o e iew on how hese di e en digi al pla o ms
a e in eg a ed oge he o suppo he FCVC.
The lexibili y‑cen ic alue chain
To he bes o ou knowledge, he concep o he lexibil-
i y alue chain was i s in oduced in [12]. I add esses
he use o lexibili y o suppo bo h SOs, pa icula ly o
ancilla y se ices and g id in es men s de e al, and in e-
g a es esou ces ac oss gene a ion, ansmission, dis ibu-
ion, and, no ably, demand-side dis ibu ed ene gy esou ces
(DERs). The alue chain p oposed has ou s ages: 1) Flex-
ibili y iden i ica ion: e alua e lexibili y po en ial ac oss he
sys em, ocusing on demand-side DERs like elec ic ehicles
(EVs), hea pumps (HPs), and indus ial loads; 2) Flexibili y
cha ac e iza ion: model and cha ac e ize DERs, including
ele an ea u es such as capaci y, powe limi s, minimum
on/down ime; 3) Flexibili y ope a ion and managemen :
DERs coo dina ion and con ol, ei he h ough cen al-
ized con ol by agg ega o s o decen alized, ma ke -based
mechanisms; 4) Flexibili y ading pla o m: a neu al body
ha suppo s lexibili y needs speci ica ion, con ac ing,
deli e y, and se lemen . While his p oposal o e s a solid
base o concep ualizing and ope a ionalizing lexibili y in
powe g ids, i o e looks he c i ical s age ela ed o con-
sume s engagemen . Indeed, despi e he echnical, economic
and en i onmen al bene i s o lexibili y, he pa icipa ion
o consume s in i s p o ision emains low [13], pa ly due
o he lack o clea alue p oposi ions o hese ac o s [14].
Closing his gap equi es including s ages o a ac ing and
capaci a ing consume s o engage in he lexibili y business.
A di e en amewo k is desc ibed in [15], whe e USEF
p oposes a lexibili y alue chain ha de ines he ole o each
ac o in he p o ision o lexibili y, as well as he necessa y
in e ac ions be ween hem. He e, agg ega o s play a cen al
ole by acqui ing lexibili y om consume s, agg ega ing
i , and b inging i o he ma ke o se e di e en s akehold-
e s, including DSOs, ansmission sys em ope a o s (TSOs)
and balance esponsible pa ies (BRPs). To enhance he pe -
cei ed alue o lexibili y, his p oposal inco po a es alue
s acking, allowing agg ega o s o deli e mul iple lexibil-
i y se ices o a ious lexibili y eques ing pa ies (FRPs).
Howe e , as in [12], i o e looks consume engagemen and
does no explici ly add ess c oss-sec o in eg a ion, essen ial
o unlocking demand-side lexibili y.
In [16], he au ho s p esen a high-le el o e iew o a
alue chain o lexibili y se ices. Al hough he p oposal
does no de ail he speci ic s eps in ol ed in lexibili y p o i-
sion, i highligh s he challenge o ealising i s alue. I iden-
i ies ou key a eas ha a lexibili y alue chain shall inco -
po a e o success ully engage all ele an ac o s: 1) Re enue
s acking: access o mul iple e enue s eams helps o educe
isks and build iable BMs, encou aging he pa icipa ion
in LFMs; 2) Fai ness: as lexibili y becomes an inc easingly
in eg al componen o mode n ene gy sys ems, assigning i
a ai alue is essen ial o ensu e ma ke e iciency and pa -
icipa ion; 3) Rou e o ma ke : LFMs end o a ou la ge
FSPs, limi ing access o smalle ones, he e o e simpli ying
en y equi emen s can help o unlock subs an ial un apped
lexibili y po en ial while ensu ing se ice quali y; 4) Non-
inancial alue: beyond inancial e u ns, lexibili y suppo s
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 Page 3 o 15 15
low ca bon echnologies and sus ainabili y goals, and so
ewa ding solu ions which p o ide en i onmen al bene i s,
o a ou ing hem in ma ke auc ions, can u he p omo e
he in es men in sus ainable solu ions.
Building on he gaps and limi a ions iden i ied in he
exis ing p oposals, we p opose a no el FCVC, which
includes he main s ages and ac i i ies o en olling and
pa icipa ing in lexibili y-cen ic BMs. This FCVC is he
esul o he analysis o lexibili y- ela ed BMs and o he
ole model iden i ica ion in [11], depa ing om [10, 17].
I is di ided in 6 main s ages, as depic ed in Fig.1, map-
ping he main and seconda y ac i i ies, and he main oles
in ol ed a each s age.
The i s s age is Flexibili y enablemen . I in ol es he
pu chase o e o i o DERs by consume s o unlock hei
un aped lexibili y po en ial. I includes no only ene gy
asse s, such as pho o ol aic panels (PV) panels and ba -
e ies ene gy s o age sys ems (BESS), bu also c oss-sec-
o asse s, such as EVs, HPs, hea ing, en ila ion and ai
condi ioning (HVAC) sys ems, and elec ic wa e hea -
e s (EWHs). The GDBN p o ides suppo o his s age
by ma ching consume s wi h asse p o ide s and inancial
pa ne s. This acili a es DER ins alla ion and inancing,
hus p omo ing consume pa icipa ion in eme ging BMs
in ol ing RECs and lexibili y p o ision [18, 19].
The second s age, In eg a ion/Enablemen , ocuses
on he seamless in eg a ion o DERs in o digi al pla -
o ms. This includes placing me e ing sys ems, con ig-
u ing ene gy managemen sys ems (EMS), and connec -
ing o agg ega o s pla o ms capable o managing DERs
po olios.
The hi d s age, Agg ega ion, is essen ial o lexibili y
ma ke pa icipa ion. The e, Agg ega o s and EC Man-
age s op imise hei po olio o lexible DERs o bid in
LFMs, and ac i a e he lexibili y selec ed. Thus, his s age
also includes p e-quali ica ion in o LFMs, ensu ing FSPs
and hei DERs comply wi h he FRP equi emen s.
Nego ia ion P epa a ion is he ou h, and i is whe e
FRPs calcula e and de ine hei lexibili y needs, which
may also include he de e mina ion o lexibili y zones
[20]. Zones also help agg ega o s o op imize hei po -
olios. Seconda y ac i i ies include ma ke s pe o mance
analysis and simula ion, g id o ecas ing, e c.
The i h s age, Ma ke Ope a ion, encompasses he
unc ioning o he LFM i sel , usually h ough a digi-
al pla o m (such as OMIE and Enedis). I includes he
Fig. 1 FCVC s ages, ac i i ies, and main oles (adap ed om [10])
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 15 Page 4 o 15
publica ion o lexibili y needs online, ollowed by bids
submission, LFM clea ing, and ma ke clea ing esul s
publica ion.
The inal s age, Ac i a ion and Se lemen , includes he
ac i a ion and e i ica ion o he selec ed lexibili y and
i s inancial compensa ion. Since LFMs may lack buil -in
mechanisms o he eal- ime ac i a ion o lexibili y, he
GDBN can assis he SOs and agg ega o s in ha ask. Ve i-
ica ion in ol es compa ing he deli e ed lexibili y agains
baseline and me e ed da a, while se lemen calcula es he
inancial compensa ion, accoun ing o any penal ies due o
unde -deli e y. The GDBN suppo o hese unc ions is
pa icula ly ele an o small SOs, who may lack in-house
capabili ies o manage hese pos -ma ke p ocesses [11].
GDBN digi al pla o m osuppo heFCVC
The GDBN pla o m, see Fig.2, was designed o suppo
he p ima y ac i i ies o he FCVC and acili a e second-
a y ac i i ies o all s akeholde s a each FCVC s age. The
cu en ou look o digi al pla o ms ha ully embody his
FCVC is limi ed. Se e al pla o ms exis ha pa ially co e
sec ions o he FCVC, namely: Solma ch [21] o he lex-
ibili y enablemen s age; Tiko [22] and Bamboo Ene gy
[23] o he in eg a ion/enablemen , agg ega ion and ac i-
a ion s ages; Piclo Flex [24], Flexible Powe [25], Elec-
onConnec [26], Local lex [27] and NODES [28] o he
nego ia ion p epa a ion and ma ke ope a ion s ages (while
pa ially suppo ing he ac i a ion and se lemen s age).
Ye none o hese pla o ms encompasses all he s ages o
he FCVC. The goal o he GDBN is o simpli y p ocesses
and con ac ual ag eemen s, d i ing pa icipan engagemen
and unlocking lexibili y p o ision. The GDBN can also
in eg a e hi d-pa y se ices and digi al pla o ms, such as
exis ing comme cial LFM pla o ms o REC managemen
pla o ms, g id segmen a ion se ices [20], e c., while o e -
ing addi ional se ices like lexibili y ac i a ion, which a e
no always included in LFM pla o ms.
The GDBN elies on a se o modules and se ices o
ensu e he suppo o he FCVC. The lexibili y-cen ic se -
ices module includes basic se ices o ma ch consume s
wi h ene gy esou ces p o ide s and e o i e s o enable-
men , o ma ch consume s wi h agg ega o s o hei lex-
ibili y o he lexibili y ma ke s. Bo h, sho - e m scheduled
and he sho - e m dispa ched lexibili ies a e conside ed
a design le el [10], bu only sho - e m scheduled was ye
implemen ed. The alue-chain se ices module includes
basic se ices o suppo egis e ing and con ac s manage-
men , and ele an ene gy and lexibili y da a eposi o ies.
Finally, in e ope abili y and da a spaces module allows
as an op -in suppo o in e ope able and s anda d da a
in e aces a ailable o he inclusion o s akeholde s’ digi al
pla o ms and ex e nal ma ke pla o ms conside ed in each
s age [29, 30]. Mo e in-dep h desc ip ions o he GDBN can
be ound in [10, 11].
Fig. 2 A chi ec u e o he GDBN
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 Page 5 o 15 15
Local lexibili y ma ke s pla o ms
LFMs and he co esponding LFM digi al pla o ms allow
consume s o unlock g ea e alue om hei DERs by
p o iding lexibili y o SOs o ading wi h o he FRPs
[6]. In [31], digi al pla o ms o suppo lexibili y p o i-
sion a e classi ied in o ou g oups: agg ega o pla o ms,
LFM pla o ms, g id pla o ms, and da a exchange pla -
o ms. LFM pla o ms, which a e he ocus o his sec-
ion, suppo he p ocu emen and nego ia ion o lexibili y
p oduc s. They enable SOs o access local lexibili y om
small and la ge-scale agg ega ed demand, s o age and gen-
e a ion sou ces, usually no accessible h ough adi ional
mechanisms such as day-ahead, in aday, capaci y o bal-
ancing ma ke s [32].
P e ious wo ks ha e al eady ocused on LFM pla -
o ms and lexibili y p oduc s. In [6], he au ho s p o ide
an in-dep h e iew o se e al pla o ms conside ing h ee
a eas: ma ke desc ip ion, s uc u e, and ma ke iming/
implemen a ion. Howe e , some o he e ised pla o ms
we e pa o esea ch p ojec s, no deployed in eal-wo ld
ma ke con ex s, and he s udy does no conside impo an
aspec s such as LFM pa icipa ion le els. Mo eo e , gi en
he ime o publica ion, he analysis may no longe e lec
he cu en ope a ion o all pla o ms. Nex , [33] examines
a se o LFM pla o ms wi h a pa icula ocus on iden i-
ying d i e s o hei success. These include add essing
go e nance challenges, coo dina ion mechanisms, gaming
mi iga ion, and, mos c i ically, educing ba ie s o boos
LFM pa icipa ion. None heless, many o he pla o ms
analysed a e no longe in ope a ion, and he e iew places
less emphasis on he implemen a ion o he pla o ms in
e ms o ope a ion and lexibili y p ocu emen and ading
mechanisms. Mo e ecen ly, in [34] he au ho s p o ided a
sho e iew o se e al pla o ms, including bo h agg ega-
o and LFM pla o ms, and iden i ied ele an gaps. This
analysis was complemen ed by a summa y o he lexibili y
p oduc s o e ed, dis inguishing be ween s anda dized and
non-s anda dized p oduc s aded in he e ised pla o ms.
Howe e , some o he pla o ms and p oduc s desc ibed
ha e al eady su e ed upda es. Hence, while he wo ks
ci ed o e aluable insigh s, he apid e olu ion o LFMs
and p oduc s equi es pe iodically upda ed analyses o
hei s a us. The ollowing e iew p o ides a new upda ed
compa a i e analysis o se e al LFM pla o ms deployed
in di e en con ex s, suppo ing di e en p ocu emen
ho izons, namely long- e m (LT) and sho - e m (ST).
Speci ically, i examines he end- o-end ope a ional p o-
cess o 7 pla o ms ac i e ac oss 12 coun ies in Eu ope,
No h Ame ica, and Oceania, as p esen ed in Table1.
The opening LFM pla o ms included in his wo k
we e i s launched in he UK, namely Piclo Flex,
Flexible Powe , Elec onConnec , and Local lex. Indeed,
he Ene gy Ne wo ks Associa ion (ENA) places he UK as
a global leade in he deploymen o lexibili y and LFMs
[78], p obably due o i s mo e lexible egula ion. Among
hose pla o ms, Piclo Flex has he b oades geog aphical
each, ope a ing in 3 Eu opean coun ies, Aus alia, and
he USA, hus spanning 3 con inen s. In pa allel, o he
coun ies a e de eloping hei own pla o ms. In F ance,
Enedis ( he la ges DSO, esponsible o a ound 95% o
he e i o y [79]) has de eloped i s own LFM pla o m.
Simila ly, in Spain, he ope a o o he Ibe ian elec ici y
ma ke , OMIE, has also c ea ed i s LFM pla o m, and
NODES has deployed a pla o m ope a ing p ima ily in
No he n Eu ope and Canada. Addi ionally, a conso ium
o Eu opean TSOs es ablished he Equigy c own balancing
pla o m (CBP) [80]. Scheduled o s a ope a ing be ween
2025 and 2026, Equigy is expec ed o ope a e in Aus ia,
Ge many, Swi ze land, I aly, Ne he lands [81], enabling
Agg ega o s [82] o p o ide se ices o DSOs and TSOs
[82, 83]. Howe e , as Equigy is no ye ully ope a ional,
he accessible in o ma ion emains limi ed, and so he
pla o m was no included.
To complemen his e iew, he lexibili y p oduc s aded
in hese pla o ms a e lis ed and desc ibed in Table2.
REC ea ion digi al pla o m
o  hemanagemen o ene gy communi ies
Unde his decen aliza ion and digi aliza ion con ex , RECs
a e eme ging as new ac o s wi h he po en ial o agg ega ing
hei membe s o lexibili y p o ision. REC ea ion is a digi-
al pla o m de eloped by INESC TEC o he managemen
o CSC s uc u es and RECs [92]. REC ea ion in eg a es he
ools and ene gy se ices needed o plan and ope a e REC
unde di e en unning modes, including:
• A on end o con igu e he REC and show basic ene gy
and economic indica o s in i s dashboa d o in o m he
REC manage and membe s on he ope a ion and pe o -
mance o he REC.
• A da abase wi h s uc u al da a ega ding he REC, and
economic and ene gy da a such as he oppo uni y cos s
o he REC membe s, consump ion and gene a ion da a,
and local ansac ion and se lemen esul s.
• A ansac ions module o compu e he local ene gy ans-
ac ions and p ices acco ding o he selec ed BM.
• A se lemen module o compu e he inancial compensa-
ions de i ed om he local ene gy ansac ions and e -
i y he ene gy alloca ion pe o med by he DSO, includ-
ing he g id access a i s o he ene gy sel -consumed.
A billing guide p o ides, o he REC manage , all he

Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 15 Page 6 o 15
Table 1 Summa y o he end- o-end ope a ional p ocess o ele an LFM pla o ms
Pla o ms Coun ies FRPs FSPs P e-quali ica ion P ocu emen Bidding window Dispa ch Valida ion and se le-
men
Piclo Flex and
Flexible Powe
UK, Aus alia,
I aly, Po ugal,
USA [35]
DSOs [36] Agg ega o s, suppli-
e s, la ge consum-
e s, and gene a o s
[37]
Company: check
FSP’s p o ile [38,
39]
Asse : check echni-
cal pa ame e s [38,
39] and es APIs
[40]
Some DSOs do LT
auc ions yea ly
[37, 39] and ST
weekly [37, 39]
O he DSOs do
mon hly auc ions
[40, 41]
LT auc ions: ≈
2 weeks [42]
(unclea o ST
auc ions)
Mon hly auc ions:
ew hou s [40, 43]
Sen ia email o
API [44]
Suppo ed by he
pla o m. FSPs can
manage me e da a,
ob ain se lemen
epo s, and access
in oices [45]
Al e na i ely, FRPs
a e allowed o use
hei own sys em
and connec i o
Piclo Flex [46]
Elec onConnec UK [47] DSOs [48] Agg ega o s, gene a-
o s [49]
Comme cial: check
FSP’s p o ile [50]
Technical: check
asse s pa ame e s
[50]
LT: seasonally [51]
ST: weekly [52]
LT auc ions: < 2
weeks [53]
(unclea o ST
auc ions)
Sen ia API [50] Suppo ed by he pla -
o m. FSPs submi
baselines and me e
da a
Pla o m e i ies
lexibili y deli e y,
epo s a e issued,
and paymen s a e
DSO pays he FSPs
[47, 50]
Local lex UK [54] DSOs [54] Agg ega o s [54] Comme cial: check
FSP’s p o ile [55]
Technical: check
asse s pa ame e s
[55]
LT: yea ly, mon hly,
o weekly auc ions,
0.5–3 yea s ahead
o need [56]
ST: day-ahead o
in aday auc ions
[56]
LT: 1–2 weeks [57,
58]
ST: ew hou s [59]
Sen ia email o
API [60]
Suppo ed by he pla -
o m. FSPs upload
me e da a om
be o e/du ing deli -
e y ime, pla o m
compu es baseline,
deli e ed lexibili y,
and paymen s. Se -
lemen epo s a e
issued, DSO pays
he FSPs [27]
Enedis pla o m F ance [61] DSOs [61] La ge MV si es,
agg ega o s [62]
Asse s mus be
inside p e-de ined
g id zones and
be able o ecei e
ac i a ion signals
[63]
Annual o biannual
[61]
Few weeks (≈ 2
mon hs) [63]
Sen ia email o
API [64]
Done by he DSO,
likely o -pla o m
(no men ions o
se lemen suppo
[63, 64])
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 Page 7 o 15 15
Table 1 (con inued)
Pla o ms Coun ies FRPs FSPs P e-quali ica ion P ocu emen Bidding window Dispa ch Valida ion and se le-
men
OMIE pla o m Spain [65] DSOs [65] Agg ega o s, gene a-
o s [65]
G id: ensu e FSPs
asse s mee echni-
cal needs [65]
P oduc : ensu e
FSPs can p o ide
lexibili y as pe
ma ke /p oduc
design [65]
LT: auc ions om
yea s o weeks
ahead [65]
ST: day-ahead o
same day auc ions
[65]
LT: mon hs o weeks
[65]
ST: ew hou s [65]
Sen by he DSO,
no speci ied how
[65, 66]
Done by he DSO,
likely o -pla o m
(no men ions o
se lemen suppo
[65, 66])
NODES No way, Swe-
den, Finland,
Belgium,
Canada [67]
DSOs, TSOs [68] Agg ega o s, mic o-
g ids, BRPs [69]
Assess egula o y/
inancial aspec s o
he FSPs [70]
Assess FSPs asse s
echnical da a [70]
LongFlex MaxUs-
age: seasonally
[71, 72]
Sho Flex: 1 o
3days ahead o
need [71]
LongFlex: closes
1week be o e
deli e y [73]
Sho Flex: closes
1day be o e deli -
e y [73]
Sen ia message,
email, API [71,
74]
Suppo ed by he pla -
o m. I compu es
baselines using da a
p o ided by FSPs o
SOs [75]
Link wi h me e ing
hub o s o e me e
da a [76]
FSPs ge mon hly
se lemen no es and
paymen s [77]
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 15 Page 8 o 15
Table 2 Desc ip ion o he lexibili y p oduc s aded in he e ised LFM pla o ms
Pla o ms Ma ke s (p oduc s aded) Ho izon P oduc desc ip ion Remune a ion scheme
Piclo Flex
Flexible Powe
Elec onConnec
Local lex
Peak educ ion [84]LT [56] P ocu ed in LT auc ions whe e FSPs ag ee o educe hei
demand du ing p e-de ined ime windows, ypically du ing
pe iods o high consump ion. This se ice may be ul illed
h ough LT ene gy e iciency imp o emen s o beha iou al
changes ha educe consump ion, wi h a ocus on peak
demand pe iods [85]
Ac i a ion only [84]
Scheduled u ilisa ion [84]ST [56] P ocu ed in ST auc ions whe e FSPs ag ee o deli e lexibili y
du ing p e-de ined ime windows. This p e-scheduling allows
DSOs o manage g id cons ain s in ad ance and p o ides
an oppo uni y o FSPs ha canno pa icipa e in eal- ime
ma ke s. I is use ul o add essing o ecas ed peak demands
o g id ein o cemen de e al [56, 85]
Ac i a ion only [84]
Ope a ional u ilisa ion [84]ST [86] P ocu ed in ST auc ions whe e FSPs ag ee o ha e hei lex-
ibili y ac i a ed in eal ime (o close o eal ime) based on
g id condi ions, wi h he olume o lexibili y being ag eed
sho ly be o e. Hence, FSPs espond dynamically o g id
measu emen s, allowing DSOs o deploy lexibili y whe e
and when i is needed, such as in he case o unplanned
e en s such as ou ages o sys em aul s [85]
Ac i a ion only [84]
Scheduled a ailabili y + Ope a ional u ilisa ion [84] LT + ST [56] P ocu ed in LT auc ions, FSPs ag ee o be a ailable o p o ide
lexibili y du ing p e-de ined ime windows. While a ail-
abili y is p e-speci ied and non-nego iable pos -con ac , he
ac ual olume o lexibili y o be deli e ed is de e mined
close o eal- ime based on g id condi ions. This enables
DSOs o ensu e su icien con ac ed lexibili y, while op i-
mising dispa ch o e lec sys em needs [56, 85]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [84]
Va iable A ailabili y + Ope a ional U ilisa ion [84] LT + ST [86] P ocu ed in LT auc ions, FSPs ag ee o be a ailable o p o ide
lexibili y du ing p e-de ined ime windows. Howe e , unlike
in he p e ious p oduc , a ailabili y can be e ined close o
he deli e y window. Like be o e, ac i a ion is de e mined
close o eal ime based on ac ual g id condi ions. This
p oduc suppo s long- ange o ecas ing while allowing
e inemen o ope a ional pa ame e s as sys em condi ions
change [85]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [84]
Enedis pla o m Wi h capaci y ese a ion [62]LT + ST1FSPs ag ee o be a ailable o p o ide lexibili y du ing p e-
de ined ime windows. Upon ecei ing an ac i a ion o de
issued by he DSO, he FSPs a e equi ed o deli e lex-
ibili y [62]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [62, 63]
Wi hou capaci y ese a ion [62]ST1The FSPs do no commi o p o ide lexibili y be o ehand.
Ins ead, upon ecei ing an ac i a ion o de issued by he
DSO, hey ha e he op ion o ei he accep o ejec he
eques [62], enabling a mo e a iable and po en ially oppo -
unis ic pa icipa ion in he ma ke
Ac i a ion only [62, 63]
Cu en Sus ainable/Renewable Ene gy Repo s (2025) 12:15 Page 9 o 15 15
Table 2 (con inued)
Pla o ms Ma ke s (p oduc s aded) Ho izon P oduc desc ip ion Remune a ion scheme
OMIE pla o m A ailabili y [66]LT [66] FSPs ag ee o be a ailable o p o ide lexibili y du ing p e-
de ined ime windows. Ac i a ion is no g an ed, and migh
be enego ia ed close o deli e y [66, 87]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [66]
Ag eed ac i a ion [66]LT [66] Simila o he A ailabili y p oduc , also in ol ing a ailabili y
and ac i a ion e ms. Howe e , in his p oduc , once bo h
e ms a e ag eed, hey a e no enego ia ed la e . Thus, i is
designed o lexibili y p ocu emen when he needs can be
o ecas ed well in ad ance, and ac i a ion can be scheduled
ahead o deli e y ime [66, 87]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [66]
Ac i a ion, op ional a ailabili y [66]ST [66] P ocu ed in ST auc ions whe e FSPs ag ee o deli e lexibili y
du ing p e-de ined ime windows. A ailabili y is op ional,
and i s nego ia ion depends on he needs o he DSO. FSPs
p e iously con ac ed in LT A ailabili y auc ions a e obliged
o submi o e s in his ma ke [66, 87]
Ac i a ion and op ional a ailabili y [66]
Ac i a ion [66]ST [66] P ocu ed in ST auc ions ( ypically in a-day), FSPs ag ee o
deli e lexibili y du ing p e-de ined ime windows. Unlike
in he p e ious p oduc , in his case he e is no link o he LT
ma ke [66, 87]
Ac i a ion only [66]
NODES MaxUsage [75]LT [75] P ocu ed in LT auc ions, he FSPs commi o limi ing hei
consump ion/injec ion o a ce ain le el du ing a p e-de ined
ime windows, meaning dispa ch signals a e no equi ed.
Hence, i is sui able o FSPs seeking a simple op ion ha
does no need eal- ime ma ke pa icipa ion [88, 89]
A ailabili y only [90, 91]
LongFlex [75]LT [75] FSPs commi o a speci ied a ailabili y du ing p e-de ined
ime windows, subjec o po en ial ac i a ion. FSPs o e ing
his p oduc a e obliged o la e submi Sho Flex o e s in
he ST ma ke [88, 89]
A ailabili y and ac i a ion [89]
Sho Flex [75]ST [75] FSPs commi o ac i ely change hei consump ion/injec ion
le els du ing a p e-de ined ime window. Pa icipa ion in
Sho Flex can ei he s em om p io LongFlex con ac s o
independen ST auc ions [88, 89]
Ac i a ion only [89]
1 while Enedis does no explici ly di ide i s p oduc s in LT o ST, hei ho izon can be in e ed h ough compa ison wi h simila p oduc s o e ed by o he pla o ms