Luís Rodrigues (CPES)

Luís Rodrigues (CPES)

“In the European project BeFlexible, Luís participated actively in the definition and evaluation of consumer-based business models for energy flexibility provision, including energy communities, and in the conceptual development of the flexibility value chain that will serve as basis for a digital platform to support all business activities related to the value chain. In February, he made decisive contributions to INESC TEC in completing two technical reports, demonstrating a remarkable evolution in producing high-quality scientific work, complemented by scientific publications.”

– CPES coordinators

You are part of the BeFlexible project; could you tell us a bit more about it (main objectives/goals, main differentiating aspects, potential impact, etc.), as well as the work you’ve done so far (like the aforementioned business models, for example)?

BeFlexible is a European project that started in 2022; it aims to increase the flexibility of the electrical system, i.e., the ability to adapt to consumption and production patterns to support the integration of renewable energy sources. To achieve this, one of the main objectives of this project is to promote the participation of prosumers (consumers capable of producing energy) in the flexibility value chain through the definition of new strategies, regulatory proposals, and innovative business models. Regarding the work carried out thus far, it focuses on the development of business models that generate value for prosumers willing to provide their flexibility (direct or aggregated) – thus actively participating in the operation and development of the electrical system. Another task carried out by INESC TEC in the context of this project focuses on creating a digital platform called Grid Data and Business Network, which aims to connect various agents in the flexibility value chain, including consumers, retailers, aggregators, DSOs, and TSOs.

What are the main challenges of this project? How do you manage to balance your activities in this initiative with other tasks, such as scientific publications?

Some of the main challenges lie in the complexity of developing business models that are both innovative and economically sustainable, and in overcoming regulatory barriers that may hinder or even, in some cases, prevent prosumers from actively participating in certain activities. Additionally, developing a platform like Grid Data and Business Network is also a demanding task due to its complexity since it is carried out by a multidisciplinary team. To balance activities in BeFlexible with other tasks, like scientific publications, it is necessary to adopt a strategy that allows integrating the project’s results into these publications, ensuring that both efforts complement and improve each other.

Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

What I value most about my work is the opportunity to develop new ideas and create solutions with great potential for real-world application. It’s gratifying to see how these solutions can solve problems and have a positive impact on society. Additionally, I enjoy the topics I’m currently working on, and I highly value the work environment I’m in, where the spirit of cooperation prevails. Opportunities for constant learning and professional development are also important to me.

How do you comment on this nomination?

I’m deeply grateful for this acknowledgement. It’s very rewarding to know that I’ve added value to our Centre, and I would like to share this nomination with everyone I have the opportunity to work with – because accomplishing these tasks goes far beyond individual work and is only possible thanks to a team effort.