Smart Enough Grid : Unlocking Consumer Behaviour to Drive Demand Flexibility
As renewable energy capacity continues to grow, the challenge is no longer only how electricity is generated, but when it is consumed. Across India and many other countries, solar generation peaks during the day while household electricity demand rises in the mornings and evenings, creating pressure on grids, increasing renewable curtailment, and driving continued reliance on fossil-fuel-based power. Unlocking demand flexibility will be critical to building cleaner, more resilient, and reliable energy systems.
Households are at the heart of this transition. Rising incomes, urbanisation, cooling needs, electric vehicles, and greater appliance ownership are rapidly increasing residential electricity demand. At the same time, new technologies, behavioural interventions, and emerging regulatory frameworks are creating opportunities to empower consumers to actively participate in demand flexibility and support grid stability.
This roundtable will bring together policymakers, regulators, utilities, researchers, behavioural scientists, and industry leaders to explore how consumer engagement, behavioural insights, smart technologies, and regulatory innovation can accelerate household participation in demand flexibility. The discussion will examine practical approaches to enabling flexibility while maintaining comfort, convenience, and affordability for consumers.
Drawing on global evidence, best practices, and real-world case studies, the session will explore what India and other Global South countries can learn from international experience, as well as the innovations and lessons they can contribute to the global energy transition. The discussion aims to move beyond supply-side decarbonisation, strengthen understanding of the behavioural dimensions of energy transitions, and identify opportunities for collaboration on household-centred demand flexibility initiatives that support both grid stability and climate goals. This roundtable will take place on 25 June from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM BST, followed by informal networking.