Insights into tomorrow’s Energy Market

Nederlandse versie

Key Takeaways from the 2026 Global Energy Market Facilitation Forum

The energy system is evolving, partially driven by the increase of renewable energy, electrification across various sectors, and increasing grid congestion. The Global Energy Market Facilitation Forum brought together energy market facilitators from various countries. Despite differences in regulations and underlying drivers, these countries largely face the same challenges. Over two days, executives and experts discussed how flexibility, data exchange, and emerging technologies are shaping the future energy system.

There was a clear and consistent message: these are not separate topics, but interdependent capabilities. Flexibility cannot scale without data exchange. Data exchange is valuable when it supports operational led decision-making. And emerging technologies only create real system value when governance and market dynamics evolve alongside them.

Five key takeaways from the event:

1. Flexibility is evolving from ambition to execution: the focus is no longer only on why flexibility is needed, but on how it can be made accessible and valuable.
2. Data exchange is becoming the central nervous system: real-time data exchange is essential for effective decision-making and system coordination.
3. Market design determines the data architecture: reliable data exchange will be achieved through varying degrees of centralization, depending on a country’s energy needs and market structure.
4. Emerging technologies are accelerating the need to act: they can either strain or relieve the energy system, depending on how quickly market dynamics and coordination evolve.
5. Coordination is becoming a strategic tool for facilitating the energy market: the focus is shifting from control to facilitation—identifying issues and addressing them by engaging stakeholders and agreeing on measures.

Flexibility is evolving from ambition to execution

Flexibility was one of the most clearly identified priorities. The arguments in its favor are varied: it can address grid congestion, minimize costly grid expansions, and improve the use of renewable energy generation. The real challenge, however, is creating the conditions that enable parties across the energy system to access flexibility and generate value from it.

Identified barriers include inefficient coordination between parties, not always clearly defined prioritization rules, and the complexity of combining flexibility services. The same physical assets can provide flexibility to meet different system needs, either simultaneously or at different times. However, the resources delivering flexibility may compete with one another. Without clear roles, rights, and timing, conflicts can quickly arise. Taken together, these barriers point to the same conclusion: flexibility must be seen as a system capability embedded in physical infrastructure and assets, with markets and commercial arrangements providing the means for different parties to create value from it and to effectively manage conflicts and synergies.

Data exchange is becoming the central nervous system

If flexibility was the main theme of the Forum discussions, then access to data and enabling data exchange formed the underlying layer. This requires rich, timely, and well-governed data exchange between the various parties in the energy system. It goes beyond meter readings. The future model increasingly depends on controlled access to asset information, event-based updates, and accurate signals on tariffs and consumption to support real-time decisions.

Market design determines the data architecture

The discussion around data exchange naturally led to a debate on the suitability of different architectures to support that exchange. Centralized models are often better suited to monitoring data quality and facilitating common processes. Decentralized models can also support these outcomes, but typically with greater coordination complexity. As the energy system becomes more distributed, a hybrid approach may prove most effective: the use of centralized or decentralized models will largely depend on data needs and the structure of each country’s market.

Emerging technologies are accelerating the need to act

The Forum’s discussion on emerging technologies was pragmatic, focusing on the solutions and opportunities that evolving market designs can bring. At the same time, the pace of change is real: emerging technologies often move faster than the flexibility rules and coordination mechanisms intended to support them. This can become a risk if the sector responds too slowly, or a clear opportunity if market facilitators are able to respond quickly.

Electric vehicles are a strong example. They can be seen either as a threat to balancing the energy system or as a readily available, distributed energy buffer. Without proper management, they can increase pressure on already congested networks. When integrated intelligently, they can become a significant source of flexibility. The difference depends on access restrictions, settlement design, and the ability of different parties to collaborate.

AI-driven automation was discussed in a similar light. Its added value lies in improving decision-making, forecasting, and coordination in an increasingly dynamic market. However, automation alone does not eliminate the need for high-quality data, clear governance, and well-defined business models. In fact, the more automated the market becomes, the more important these underlying foundations are.

Coordination is becoming a strategic capability for market facilitation

Overall, the Global Energy Market Facilitation Forum 2026 highlighted that findings from one country can provide valuable insights for addressing similar challenges in another—provided they are adapted to the local context. The key is understanding why an approach succeeded or failed and comparing market factors.

It became clear that market facilitation is evolving into a strategic coordination function. This involves removing barriers, aligning processes, and enabling interoperability. It also means shifting away from trying to define and control every outcome toward a more facilitative role: clearly articulating needs, identifying issues, and reaching agreement on actions.

The challenge now is to treat flexibility as a system capability in relation to physical assets, supported by commercial arrangements; to establish data sharing as a trusted model; and to translate emerging technologies into practical system value. For market facilitators, this is no longer a future agenda, but the focus of today.

English profile Tim ten Brundel | CGI.com (author blog)