Frauke Thies is Executive Director of smartEn, the European business association for digital and decentralised energy solutions (formerly SEDC). smartEn’s membership includes innovators in services and technology for energy and data management, finance and research. By taking an integrated perspective on the interaction of demand and supply, the association engages in promoting system efficiency, encourage innovation and diversity, empower energy consumers and drive the decarbonisation of the energy sector. Thies is uniquely positioned to highlight the integrated approach needed to better match supply and demand in an increasingly renewable electricity system, and particularly with regards to the role of market players in flexibility.