Empowering energy consumers and promoting system flexibility in the age of artificial intelligence

This workshop will examine how digitalisation and artificial intelligence can enhance consumer empowerment and system flexibility in the EU energy market, focusing on the development of a common energy data space and the adequacy of existing consumer protection rules.

The Internal Energy Market (IEM) ultimately aims at providing greater choice and better prices to energy consumers, through a sustainable energy system, and at promoting security of supply. Empowering energy consumers, so that they take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the IEM, has proven to be a challenge since the liberalisation of the European retail energy market. At the same time, the energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation, with an increasing penetration of renewable sources to pursue decarbonisation and security of supply, with the related challenge of making the energy system more flexible. Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) open new perspectives for energy-related services to consumers and support the greater flexibility of the energy system. This Workshop focuses on two relevant aspects associated with the digitalisation of the energy sector and the potential role of AI: (i) the need and the best way to enhance energy data exchange across the EU and to develop AI Foundational Models for the energy sector; and (ii) the need to assess to what extent the current horizontal and sectoral consumer protection legislation is fit for the future.

The Workshop will be structured in an opening part followed by three sessions:

–       Session I, in the morning, will discuss the value of enhancing energy data exchange across the EU for improving the planning and operation of the energy system, for facilitating the development of innovative energy-related services for consumers and for supporting the development of AI models for the energy sector, identifying the main uses of the data and models, but also highlighting any challenge in the process;

–       Session II, also in the morning, will focus on the governance of energy data exchange across the EU, exploring different frameworks and evaluating merits and challenges of each of them.

–       Session III, in the afternoon, will discuss the consumer protection framework within which consumers, and in particular residential customers, will be able to be engaged in the future energy sector.

Please note that this event is by invitation only and exclusively reserved for donors of the Florence School of Regulation. However, the FSR might exceptionally admit one representative from an organisation interested in becoming an FSR donor. Interested organisations are invited to submit an expression of interest by email to : ilaria.conti@eui.eu

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.