Flexibility landing page
In focus: Energy Flexibility
Climate change is forcing the world to decarbonise quickly. Yet, at the same time, energy consumption is increasing. The technologies needed for a clean energy system is already available, but how do you find the right balance and ensure that there is always a sufficient supply of energy available at a reasonable cost? A key component is an innovative and flexible energy system.
Flexibility enables a clean energy system
Flexibility is needed to balance weather-dependent energy production – such as wind and solar – and help mitigate sudden increases in demand. We need a balance between dispatchable production, weather dependent production and flexible resources. For example, when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine, we fill the supply gap with hydropower in the Nordics and gas-fired power generation in Central Europe. This way, we ensure that there is always a sufficient supply of energy available at a reasonable cost.
At Fortum, we believe that these flexible ways to produce electricity can be combined with innovative solutions like improved battery technologies and smart solutions that optimise consumption and power needs on the user side. In the future also hydrogen conversion and different storage solutions will come into play.
Save money and energy effortlessly
Why should you as an energy consumer care about flexibility? One key reason is that it can help you to save money without you even noticing. Your household can participate in the flexible energy system by adding smart charging, and - if you don’t have district heating already - heat pump solutions to your home. These solutions automatically optimise usage and improve the flexibility of the energy system on the consumption side without any losses in comfort. There are also many other things you can pay attention to in order to use energy more effectively.
Energy storage
Energy storage is one of the great challenges of the energy transition, and as electrification accelerates, battery technology must also become sustainable.
Read about our Battery Solutions
Read more about flexibility
Fortum and Telia agree on new data center connection to the electricity market
FORTUM BUSINESS PRESS RELEASE 18 January 2022Fortum and Telia have signed a collaboration agreement to connect the Helsinki Data Center (HDC) to the electricity market. Through the collaboration, HDC’s Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems manufactured by ABB will take part in balancing…
Frequency dip in the grid? Data centres to the rescue!
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Why are power prices now much higher than last year, and does it matter?
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Why do we need hydropower?
Hydropower’s role and significance in the Finnish electricity system has changed over time. When the Imatra hydropower plant was commissioned in 1929, it was Finland’s biggest hydropower plant – and it remains the biggest with its 192-megawatt capacity. Upon commissioning, it was believed that the…
Understanding how the power market creates social welfare and utilises flexibility is essential for the implementation of a carbon-free future
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Energy flexibility is everyone's cup of tea
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Renewables growth will slow down without the support from electrification
The share of renewables in EU27 electricity generation has already grown close to 35%, but for renewables expansion to continue at full speed and replace fossil fuels in the power mix, the system integration aspect needs to be put into the spotlight. The gap that is left by exiting fossil production…
A flexible energy system balances seasonal changes
The production and consumption of energy vary depending on the time of year. People use more energy in the winter as homes are heated to keep away the cold – especially in the Nordic countries, where the winters can be very cold. In warmer countries it is the opposite: peak electricity demand can…
Batteries and hydrogen – balance boosters of the energy system
The fight against climate change calls for quick decarbonisation. At the same time, the need for energy keeps growing as fossil fuels will be replaced with electricity-powered solutions across industries. How do we ensure that there is enough sustainable, affordable energy to meet the needs of…