Project Image Pool
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Terms of use: The pictures on this site originate from the projects in the frame of the programmes City of Tomorrow, Building of Tomorrow and the IEA Research Cooperation. They may be used credited for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC).
Classification of Flexibility Mechanisms
The table provides an overview and classification of different flexibility mechanisms used in electricity systems, based on key distinguishing characteristics such as pricing structure, activation triggers, participation mode, quantity determination, and spatial scope. It illustrates how diverse approaches—ranging from local flexibility markets and demand response programs to peer-to-peer trading, energy communities, flexible connection agreements, and variable grid tariffs—can be systematically compared. Each mechanism is categorized according to whether participants can actively set prices (price input option) or are subject to predefined tariffs (price given), and whether flexibility is activated explicitly through defined products or implicitly via incentive-based signals. Furthermore, the table differentiates between voluntary and involuntary participation, as well as whether the amount of flexibility can be freely chosen or is predetermined by the system design. Finally, it distinguishes between local and national implementations, reflecting the extent to which mechanisms address geographically specific grid constraints or broader system-level needs. Overall, the table highlights the wide spectrum of flexibility provision concepts and underscores the increasing importance of both market-based and regulatory instruments in enabling grid stability, integrating distributed energy resources, and supporting the transition toward more adaptive and decentralized energy systems.
Copyright: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Key drivers for Grid Investment
The graphic illustrates the four key drivers for grid flexibility and reinforcement: technological developments, particularly injection peaks from PV generation and electric vehicles; policy targets for renewable energy and EV adoption, which strongly influence investment decisions; regional challenges, as grid violations occur differently depending on location, grid design, and the distribution of generation and demand; and grid utilization, which allows for higher median loading of cables and transformers. Together, these factors determine where, when, and to what extent flexibility and grid reinforcement are needed.
Copyright: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Measures to avoid voltage problems
One of the key challenges in managing decentralized energy systems is preventing network violations. Network violations arise not only from exceeding the thermal limits of cables and transformers, a challenge typically managed through conventional congestion management, but also significantly from overvoltage or undervoltage, particularly in low-voltage (LV) networks. Possible measures to avoid these violations are shown in this figure.
Copyright: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Main pillars to form a successful capacity mechanism
The figure illustrates the key design principles of an effective Capacity Mechanism (CM), structured around four main dimensions: Incentives, Efficiency, Neutrality, and Missing Money. The Incentives pillar highlights the importance of creating appropriate signals for both producers and consumers, including investment security, stable revenue mechanisms, demand-side flexibility, and ensuring availability during scarcity situations. The Efficiency dimension emphasizes the need to control overall system costs while avoiding market distortions through well-designed market mechanisms and competitive structures. Under Neutrality, the figure stresses the importance of a technology- and climate-neutral approach that maintains a level playing field while enabling the participation of low-emission technologies. Finally, the Missing Money pillar addresses the issue of insufficient market revenues by introducing additional income streams and risk-mitigation mechanisms to ensure the financial viability of energy producers and long-term security of supply.
Copyright: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Gruppenfoto IETS Task 21 Consortium Meeting in Graz
On April 9, 2024, a full-day meeting of IETS Task 21 took place in Graz. The meeting provided a valuable platform for exchanging insights and planning further steps for the successful implementation of the tasks within Task 21.
Copyright: Gahleitner
Graphic illustration of different terms from Zeilerbauer et al. (2024)
Figure from Zeilerbauer et al. (2024) (https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2024.2408285), which uses a use case to discuss different terms from the area of Circular Carbon.
Copyright: Zeilerbauer et al. (2024)
Vision of the Energy/Carbon Future of Upper Austria 2040
The figure shows the visualized vision developed by the Energy Institute at the JKU in coordination with the stakeholders, which represents possible energy and resource exchanges in 2040 in annual quantities.
Copyright: Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Group picture of IETS Task 21 at the IETS Conference 2023
At the IETS conference from May 9-11, 2023 in Gothenburg, the subtasks and activities of IETS Task 21 were presented, and two key note presentations and two elevator pitches on the task were given.
Copyright: Rodin
Vision of a sustainable hydrogen economy
Green electricity from wind, water and solar power should primarily be fed directly into the electricity grid. Surpluses can be converted into H2 using power-to-hydrogen processes, distributed via suitable transport routes and stored using storage technologies. Green electricity and H2 are then supplied to industry, mobility and households for use.
Copyright: HyCentA Research GmbH
Stand of the different baterry technologies (IEA 4E EDNA Task on Batteries).
This graphic shows the state of the art of different battery technologies. 14 types are organized according to their state of development. 10 are lithium-based batteries, the other 4 use various chemistry compositions (Zinc or carbon nano-tubes), or use new concepts to increase their capacity.
Copyright: 4E EDNA
Biomethane Truck
Truck using biomethane as fuel in a Brazilian farm
Copyright: Bernhard Drosg
Lagoon-style biogas reactor
Biogas reactor as covered lagoon
Copyright: Bernhard Drosg
Stakeholder overview for decentralized building mass storage
Overview graphic of all stakeholders relevant for the active use of decentralized building masses as flexible energy storage.
Copyright: https_doi.org_10.1186_s42162-026-00673-2_CCL
CEPA Panel application
CEPA® System Demonstrator on the crane with visible thermal layer during mounting on the existing wall. Source: Climate and Energy Fund, Krobath
Copyright: Klima- und Energiefonds, Krobath
Temperature profiles in different materials
Comparison of simulated temperature profiles in TABS elements for varying materials with con-crete (left), and spruce and beech timber (middle to right) as specimens. To reach the same surface temperatures and therefore heating and/or cooling powers, significantly higher flow tem-peratures within the timber elements is necessary due to the much lower heat conductivity.
Copyright: FH Salzburg https_doi.org_10.1016_j.energy.2021.121138_CCL
Sandwich Panel
Prefabricated CEILTEC Flat slab with sandwich cross-section, separate upper and lower slabs with a cavity on the construction side during implementation
Copyright: Innogration GmbH
Terminology used for demand response within the framework of IEA EBC Annex 84
EBC Annex 84 distinguished between different "action types" and "control types".
Copyright: Authors of final report IEA EBC Annex 84
Overview demand response types
Combining the two action and control types there can be four different demand response types: 1) Direct Automated (e.g. action and control types are characterised by high reliability; 2) Indirect Automated (e.g. model predictive control in the building reacting to the DHC broadcasted signal), action and control types are characterised by low & high reliability, respectively; 3) Direct Manual (e.g. DHC operator vising the house or sitting in the control room and pressing the button), action and control types are characterised by high & low reliability, respectively; 4) Indirect Manual (e.g. end users changing the settings physically of via using the remote technology (walking in the house, sitting on the sofa and using app) as the reaction to the broadcasted signal), action and control types are characterised by low reliability.
Copyright: Authors of final report IEA EBC Annex 84
Joint workshop IEA EBC Annex 84 & IEA ES Task 43 („Standardized Use of Building Mass as Storage for Renewables and Grid Flexibility“)
Joint workshop IEA EBC Annex 84 & IEA ES Task 43 („Standardized Use of Building Mass as Storage for Renewables and Grid Flexibility“)
