The integration of prosumers into the energy markets is promoted both at the European level, for example in the so-called winter package, but also at the national level in order to actively involve the prosumers in the market and to integrate fluctuating renewable energies by using their flexibility. From a technical point of view, automatically-controllable prosumer components such as heat pumps, electric boilers, battery storage and e-mobility are particularly suitable for this purpose. Surveys in the MBS+ and EcoGrid EU projects have shown that there is a great interest on the prosumers side to make their flexibility available externally, in order to contribute to a rapid energy supply that is affordable for society. Unlike in Austria, there are already existing business models in the area of private flexibility marketing in Germany and Switzerland.

However, due to the different legal, regulatory and economic circumstances, these can not be transferred one-by-one to Austria. Studies in the above research projects also show that the willingness of the prosumer to participate is very strongly influenced by certain factors,

such as the their own interests - an aspect which is not or only insufficiently taken into account in existing business models in the other countries. By comparison, financial interests play a less important role. In order to exploit the existing potential from an economic point of view, the needs of the prosumer must therefore be taken into account accordingly.