Smart Talks with Jovan – Season 9, Part 2: Flexibility with Gráinne O’Shea

In the second part of our interview, I continue to explore critical aspects of flexibility mechanisms, focusing on smart metering, data management, cybersecurity, and their role in implementing market-based flexibility. With decades of experience, I offer insights on the current risks and actionable steps that can be taken to move forward in the energy sector.

How critical are smart metering, advanced data management, and cybersecurity for reliable flexibility mechanisms, and where do you see the biggest risks today?

From my perspective, smart metering, advanced data management, and cybersecurity are not just enablers—they are fundamental components of flexibility mechanisms. Smart meters provide the critical data we need to unlock flexibility, offering a clear evidence base for managing our network. This data allows us to manage demand in a more granular way, ensuring that flexibility products match the precise metering information.

Advanced data management systems are equally important for improving visibility across networks. Real-time data from smart meters, combined with operational insights, is necessary for validating flexibility and ensuring efficient system operation. As flexibility mechanisms grow, cybersecurity becomes even more crucial. The risks we face today are primarily about compromised data signals or breaches, which could undermine trust in the market and the integrity of operations. The biggest risk right now lies in the potential mismatch between systems or gaps in cybersecurity, which could hinder the effective implementation of flexibility.

If you were advising this regulator in Europe today, what would be the first realistic and high-impact step toward implementing market-based flexibility?

If I were advising regulators today, my approach would be both practical and iterative. The first step is to truly understand what flexibility is—and, just as importantly, what it isn’t. We need to experiment with different mechanisms to optimize the grid, without any preconceived notions. A critical part of this is understanding customer behavior and ensuring that we provide clear, actionable signals for consumers.

I’d also recommend starting with small pilot projects to test out various flexibility solutions. This allows us to demonstrate the feasibility of market-based flexibility without overcomplicating things. The lessons we learn from these pilots will be invaluable in refining larger market strategies. Above all, regulators should prioritize collaboration with other stakeholders, including Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and market participants, to make sure that everyone is aligned and that market development is fostered.

What is the most important lesson you learned throughout your career?

Throughout my career, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to seize every opportunity with an open mind. There have been times when I wasn’t sure about certain roles or tasks, but I’ve found that diving into them with a willingness to learn always brings value. This mindset has helped me navigate my career, especially in areas like energy distribution.

For younger professionals entering the energy sector today, my advice would be to recognize that the energy transition—particularly the decarbonization effort—is one of the most exciting opportunities for impact. If you want to make a real difference in terms of climate change, working within Distribution System Operators (DSOs) is a great place to start. It’s a place where new challenges emerge regularly, and these challenges require both innovation and a deep understanding of traditional systems.

Conclusion

Smart metering, data management and cybersecurity are not supporting elements, but core foundations of market-based flexibility. Without reliable metering data, real-time visibility and protected data signals, flexibility mechanisms cannot be trusted, validated or used effectively in system operation.

Regulators should approach flexibility through practical experimentation rather than fixed assumptions. Small pilot projects can help test different mechanisms, understand customer behavior and create clear signals for consumers before scaling market-based flexibility more broadly.

Flexibility will only develop successfully if regulators, DSOs and market participants work together from the beginning. Collaboration is essential to align technical capabilities, market design and consumer participation, so that flexibility becomes a functioning market mechanism rather than a theoretical regulatory concept.

Question for the audience

Can market-based flexibility succeed without trust in data and strong collaboration between regulators, DSOs and market participants?