From Local Experiments to Lasting Markets: The Future of DSO Flexibility

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Time: 11:30 am - 01:00 pm
Hall: ICM München
Room: Room 4

As distribution system operators (DSOs) gain experience with local flexibility markets, the focus is increasingly shifting from pilot projects to stable, scalable and enduring solutions. This session will examine what it takes to move from experimental local flexibility schemes to robust markets that can be reliably integrated into system operation and investment planning. The discussion will address regulatory readiness, market design choices, standardization, coordination with other system operators and the conditions needed to provide long-term security for flexibility providers. By bringing together DSOs, policymakers, market actors and technology providers, the event aims to identify practical pathways towards sustainable local flexibility markets that support a resilient and decarbonized electricity system.

11:30 am - 11:35 amWelcome and Introduction

Michael Villa

Executive Director

smartEn

11:35 am - 11:45 amFrom Local Experiments to Scalable Flexibility Markets: What Europe Is Learning

11:45 am - 11:55 amUnlocking Local Flexibility - One Market, Multiple Buyers

Guro Grotterud

Director of Regulatory Affairs and Senior Project Manager

NODES

11:55 am - 12:05 pmSmall Batteries, Big Flexibility: Aggregated Distributed Storage for DSOs

12:05 pm - 12:15 pmFrom the Living Room to the Grid: How Matter + OpenADR Enable Mass-Market Flexibility

Rolf Bienert

Managing Director

OpenADR Alliance

12:15 pm - 12:25 pmFrom Pilot to Portfolio: Making Local Flexibility Work for DSO in Different Member States

Torsten Knop

European Regulation

E.ON SE

12:25 pm - 01:00 pmPanel Discussion

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Speakers

Speaker

Torsten Knop, E.ON SE

European Regulation

Germany

Torsten Knop spent his whole career in the utility industry. After a brief period working for an industry association he joined the RWE Group (today E.ON) in 1999. Here he was mostly focused on public affairs issues concerning transmission and distribution grids. With the start of formal regulation in Germany in 2005 he moved to regulatory affairs and is currently responsible for European Regulation at E.ON SE. He is an economist by qualification.

Speaker

Rolf Bienert, OpenADR Alliance

Managing Director

As Managing & Technical Director of the OpenADR Alliance, Rolf Bienert oversees all aspects of the Alliance, including strategy, technical developments, and certification programs. Rolf has been an active member and manager of many industry organisations for over 25 years, driving the development of new technologies with a specific focus on standardisation, certification, and interoperability. Prior to the OpenADR Alliance, Rolf was the Technical Manager for a Telecom and Global Competence Center for emerging communication protocols at a global testing firm, Executive Directors for several industry alliances, and VP North America for an international test house.

Speaker

Michael Villa, smartEn

Executive Director

Belgium

Michael Villa is Executive Director of smartEn - Smart Energy Europe, the European business association integrating the decentralized solutions of the clean energy transition. He joined smartEn in 2018 when he led the advocacy efforts as Head of Policy. Before joining smartEn, he worked as Senior Consultant to provide specific advocacy support to clients both in the EU and Middle East in the energy sector. Among others, he led the Secretariat of a cross-sectorial business organisation, the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), and supported Knauf Insulation as Public Affairs Adviser in Italy. Michael worked also in the European Parliament for a Cypriot MEP and at the Embassy of Italy in Copenhagen during the UN Climate Change Conference COP15. Michael has a Master at the Institute for European Studies in Brussels and a bachelor degree from the Catholic University of Milan.

Speaker

Guro Grotterud, NODES

Director of Regulatory Affairs and Senior Project Manager

Norway

Guro Grøtterud is the Director of Regulatory Affairs and a Senior Project Manager at NODES. Guro has been working in the European Energy sector since 2006, with main focus on regulating electricity markets. Prior to joining NODES in 2023, she held positions in the National Regulatory Authorities for Energy in France and Norway, and in EDF. She also worked as a national expert in ACER in 2021-2022. Guro is part of SmartEN's Board of Directors and chairs the Markets & Networks Committee. Guro holds Engineering degrees (MSc) from Ecole Polytechnique (2004) and Ecole des Mines de Paris (ParisTech, 2005