The results of the Flexibility Potentials and user Behaviour Analysis project (FlexBeAn) are now available, marking the completion of a three-year collaborative effort to better understand how electricity consumption can support the stability of Luxembourg’s grid.
Conducted between 2022 and 2025 by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Creos and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust at the University of Luxembourg, the project provides new data, models and recommendations to help integrate growing shares of renewable energy into the national electricity system.
Addressing a growing challenge for the grid
As Luxembourg increases its reliance on renewable energy, maintaining the balance between electricity supply and demand is becoming more complex. Unlike conventional power plants, renewable sources such as solar and wind are variable, while electricity demand is rising with the electrification of mobility and heating.
At every moment, the grid must remain balanced: too much or too little electricity can affect system stability. In this context, flexibility — the ability to adjust consumption or production — is emerging as a key lever for the energy transition.
FlexBeAn focused specifically on demand-side flexibility, exploring how consumers, from households to industry, can adapt their electricity use to better match available supply.
LIST’s role: from modelling to behavioural insights
LIST played a central role in the project, leading the analysis of both technical and behavioural aspects of flexibility.
On the technical side, LIST developed models to assess how much flexibility different sectors can provide, and when it is available. These models covered industry, services and households, with detailed simulations for residential uses such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and smart appliances. They also explored future scenarios up to 2040, reflecting the expected growth of electrification and decentralized energy systems.
In parallel, LIST researchers contributed to understanding how households engage with flexibility. Through surveys and dedicated tools, the research examined how energy literacy and user motivation influence the willingness to adapt electricity consumption.
Insights from project partners
The project combined complementary expertise across partners.
The SnT focused on the economic dimension of flexibility, analyzing how financial incentives and market mechanisms, such as dynamic pricing, can encourage consumers to adapt their electricity use.
Creos, as a national grid operator, provided the operational context and will use the project’s results to support future grid management and planning.
From research to practical outcomes
Beyond analysis, the project delivers concrete outputs for both operational and policy use.
A key result is a simulation tool developed by LIST, enabling grid operators to model flexibility under different scenarios and adjust assumptions over time. This allows for a more dynamic approach to grid planning, rather than relying on static forecasts.
In addition, the project produced a “North Star” document, summarizing key findings and outlining recommendations for policymakers and regulators to help unlock demand-side flexibility at scale.
Key findings and next steps
The project confirms that consumers can play a significant role in balancing the electricity grid. Much of the flexibility potential lies in decentralized technologies, particularly in the residential sector, including batteries, smart EV charging and heat pumps.
However, the findings also highlight that technical potential alone is not sufficient. Behavioural factors and well-designed economic incentives are essential to translate this potential into real-world impact.
With the project completed, the focus now shifts to implementation. The results have been shared with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and the national regulator, to inform future regulatory frameworks and market mechanisms.
The publication of the project’s reports and tools makes these insights accessible to a broader audience, supporting ongoing efforts to build a more flexible, reliable and sustainable electricity system in Luxembourg.
Downloads
- The North Star document
- Technical flexibility potentials - Full report
- Executive Summary - Flexibility Potentials
- Household energy literacy and behavioural drivers of flexibility (WP2 Report)
- Residential Flexibility Supply – economic incentives (WP3 Report)
The FlexBean recommendation poster
