As 2025 comes to an end, it’s clear that the energy transition has once again pushed the boundaries of innovation, collaboration and system transformation. This year was defined by strong momentum: more electrification, more renewable integration, and critically a stronger recognition of energy flexibility as an essential building block for a resilient energy future. Across industries, policymakers and technology developers, a collective sense of urgency has taken shape. The question is no longer if we transition, but how fast and how effectively.
Energy flexibility takes center stage
One of the most significant shifts in 2025 was the widespread acknowledgment that energy flexibility is a strategic necessity. As grid congestion increased and renewable production fluctuated more than ever, companies realized that aligning consumption with system needs brings both operational and financial benefits.
Key drivers included:
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Rising electrification of industrial processes
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The need to stabilize an increasingly renewable grid
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New revenue possibilities through flexibility markets
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Improved technology for real-time monitoring and control
What was once considered a niche domain has become a central pillar of energy system design.
Digitalization makes flexibility work
Digitalization acted as the enabler behind many of this year’s advancements. From forecasting tools to automated control systems, industries gained access to technology that allows them to manage flexible assets intelligently and safely. This evolution turned flexibility from a theoretical potential into a measurable, manageable and monetisable capability. At Entras, we saw this daily. Industrial sites discovering flexibility they didn’t realize they had and realizing how accessible it becomes when complex technology is simplified into a plug-and-play solution.
Decarbonising heat, a growing priority
While electricity receives much of the attention, thermal energy had a breakthrough year as well. District heating networks supported by initiatives from EnergyVille, VITO and others continued to expand, guided by clearer regulation and more mature project experience.
Industries increasingly explored:
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Low-carbon heat options
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Integration between heat and electricity systems
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Thermal buffering as a flexibility resource
Heat is no longer an afterthought in the transition, but a critical lever for decarbonisation.
Collaboration strengthens the path forward
The challenges of the transition are too big for any single player. In 2025, we saw deeper cooperation between research institutions, industry leaders, policymakers and technology firms. Initiatives like the Galileo-project, in which Entras collaborates with VITO, ELIA and KU Leuven, demonstrate how cross-sector partnerships can accelerate progress and help bridge the gap between ambition and implementation.
Looking ahead: what 2026 will bring
As we enter 2026, three trends are set to define the next chapter:
1. Flexibility becomes mainstream
Not only for large industry, but across a broader network of energy users, from heat networks to SMEs and energy communities.
2. Integration is the new standard
The lines between heat, power, storage and flexibility will blur, creating hybrid systems that optimize across all vectors.
3. Simplicity will determine adoption
For the energy transition to scale, solutions must be understandable, accessible and frictionless.
This is exactly where we see our role at Entras: transforming technical complexity into practical, plug-and-play flexibility for industry.
