At this very moment the electricity and gas market with respect to the individual customer is not really taking off: some small price reductions are the only element available for the time being. It is generally recognized that active demand side participation, by which the energy user really becomes involved in the system, is the only way ahead. Furthermore, the energy system should be developed in such a way that the user receives incentives to actively pursue energy efficiency in every possible way. A third element is the need for integration of different energy sources, often renewables, available at local consumer level and that have a variable, non-controllable nature. The user has to be in the centre of the system, which has to accommodate his/her demands. The integration of electric vehicles may be both a challenge (more grid load) and a solution (flexible storage).

Therefore, research and development needs to take a full systems approach to the problem. It aims at developing products and services that will allow domestic energy users to get the most out of their renewable sources integrated locally, to take advantage of the integration of different energy sources and to optimise their demand in an economic and energy efficient way. Rather than remaining a passive consumer, he will become an active pro-sumer (producer and consumer). This challenge is in accordance with the ideas put forward by the FP7 Smartgrids Technology Platform.

By doing so, the local grid (gas and electricity) will be used far more efficiently both in terms of energy and investment.  By doing so, it becomes feasible to cover the likely increase in energy demand for mobility.  For the development of the future energy grid, it is essential that innovative pilot and demo projects are set up.    To go beyond the level of a purely technological show case, intensive measuring and monitoring programmes are needed, to collect data about  the present and future use of electrical energy (for example after the introduction of plug-in hybrid or full electrical vehicles) and the complementary potential of local generation of electricity.

Next, research has to be oriented on how an optimal portfolio of distributed resources together with control equipment can be made. Initially this will concern guidelines, but in a later phase, this acquired knowledge can be applied to concrete projects.