How FlexBean is helping Luxembourgers adapt to smart electricity tariffs
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"What time to switch on the washing machine to pay less?" - is no longer an idle question. Luxembourg is introducing dynamic electricity tariffs, and from now on the time of consumption becomes a key factor not only for the wallet, but also for the ecological footprint.
To prepare citizens for the new energy reality, the team of Prof Gilbert Fridgen from the University of Luxembourg, with the support of Creos and LIST, has launched FlexBean App! - a learning mobile app that teaches users how to make energy consumption decisions based on time of day and weather conditions. Project website: one2day.flexbean.lu
Why all this? The answer is simple: solar and wind energy are unpredictable and their reliable utilisation requires flexibility on the part of consumers. As Professor Friedgen explains, "renewable energy must be consumed when it is produced. Otherwise, there are problems with storage, transport and even losses.
The app not only helps consumers, but also collects anonymous behavioural data so that scientists can better understand households' potential to reduce their carbon footprint. After all, as Assistant Professor Joachim Geske points out, even if the economic sense of installing solar panels is clear, not all households can afford it.
The next step is a new version of the app in the autumn, which will show the price and carbon footprint of electricity in real time, helping everyone make informed choices - not just about money, but about conscience.
