The Role of the Flexibility Aggregator within the Flexibility Value Chain and Associated Research Needs

This paper discusses important issues concerning the role of the flexibility aggregator within the flexibility value chain. Specifically, main business and operational characteristics of the aggregator are being exposed, together with gaps found in earlier research. Consequently, it became possible to extract the key research needs that future scientific work focusing on the flexibility aggregator should pay attention to. Based on the investigation carried, it was concluded that, in the course of future research on the topic, attention should be paid on ensuring robust estimates for flexibility baseline and predictions, adequate risk assessment of various flexibility assets compositions, appropriate usage of timing and pricing, attractive contract regimes and optimized aggregation/disaggregation approaches.