Abstract

This IDC Tech Buyer Presentation represents one of the IDC keynotes at the 10th anniversary of the IDC European Utilities Executive Summit that was held in Marbella, Spain, on May 9 and 10, 2022.

The presentation looks at the concepts of sector coupling and energy system integration from the perspective of utilities. It starts from outlining the challenges facing the European energy system during the next 10 years in terms of decarbonization of production and electrification of demand. It then quantifies some of the deriving needs in terms of system flexibility. It offers official definitions of sector coupling and provides a high-level view of the EU's Energy System Integration strategy announced in 2020. Finally, it provides concrete evidence of sector coupling initiatives as they emerge in IDC Energy Insights' recent survey data as well as real-world examples of innovative projects carried out by European utilities.

Coverage