What is demand flexibility?

Demand flexibility is the adjustment of electricity consumption timing to match current grid availability. Appliances with flexible scheduling shift their operation to times when power is plentiful and cheap, without you noticing a thing. With heating, it is about when a home or boiler tank is heated, not about how much heat is delivered.

Examples of demand flexibility at home

•      Heat pump: shifts heating to cheap or sunny hours.

•      Electric car: preferably charges at night or during the day using solar power.

•      Washing machine or dishwasher: runs at a cheaper time using a timer.

•      Home battery: stores cheap electricity and supplies it back during peak hours.

Why is it becoming increasingly important?

Three developments are at the root of this. A growing share of Dutch electricity comes from solar and wind, sources that do not provide a continuous supply. In the day-ahead market, the most expensive source still being used—usually gas—determines the price for the entire market: the merit order. And the grid is already under pressure in parts of the Netherlands due to grid congestion, especially during the evening peak.

A current example: in the first week of August 2026, the Dutch day-ahead price rose from approximately 80 to 150-200 euros per MWh, because drought limited the cooling water capacity of European power plants and gas-fired plants had to step in (source: NOS, August 2026).

What do you need to get started?

Three things: a dynamic energy contract so that shifting pays off, appliances that can automatically manage based on price or supply, and a smart meter that measures your actual consumption.

How does this work with heating?

With a heat pump, demand flexibility works through thermal storage: heat generated at a cheap time is stored until it is needed. We call this the 'home-as-a-battery' principle. It is precisely why we do not call ourselves a heat pump manufacturer, but an energy platform: our heat pumps will soon all run on Weheat Intelligence, the software that continuously monitors EPEX prices, weather forecasts, and your usage patterns, and automatically chooses the best time to heat.

What does it deliver?

With a dynamic contract, shifting to cheap hours translates directly into a lower bill. With solar panels, even with a fixed contract, the benefit lies in higher self-consumption instead of feeding back into the grid, which is more relevant now that net metering is being phased out by 2027. Through fleet management—centrally controlling all connected heat pumps simultaneously—this also relieves peak load on the grid, exactly when it is needed most.

Does it also work without a dynamic contract?

Partially: without a dynamic contract you won't benefit from hourly price fluctuations, but with solar panels you will benefit from higher self-consumption.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between demand flexibility and demand response?

They are often used synonymously. Demand response usually refers to reacting to a specific signal, for example from a grid operator; demand flexibility is the broader term.

What is the difference between demand flexibility and a dynamic contract?

Demand flexibility is the shifting of energy consumption. A dynamic contract is the pricing model that financially rewards that shifting.

Do I need solar panels?

No, but with solar panels you benefit even more: from higher self-consumption, and with a dynamic contract, also from lower market prices.

Does it change my living comfort?

No, only the timing of the heating shifts, not the amount of heat or the level of comfort.

What is the merit order?

The principle whereby the most expensive energy source currently in use determines the price for the entire market.

Want to know what demand flexibility means for your home? Discuss the possibilities with your installer.

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