A green, efficient and affordable energy system fit for the future
As society continues to transition from analogue to digital, organisation and use of data becomes easier, making our energy system more connected, intelligent, efficient, reliable and sustainable. The use of digital technologies such as AI, cloud computing, blockchain and the internet of things will improve how we use energy and help find ways to decarbonise our energy systems. Digitalisation will contribute to the European Green Deal and a Europe fit for the digital age policy initiatives and support the objectives of the Energy Union by promoting connectivity, operability and use of renewable energy. The aim is for sustainable, competitive and affordable energy, and energy independence and security, which meets the EU 2030 and 2050 energy and climate targets for a low-carbon economy. The need for more flexible electricity markets to match demand with supply from renewables, which is often episodic and unpredictable, is growing as renewables comprise a larger portion of Europe’s energy supply. In addition, modern power grids are moving away from centralised, infrastructure-heavy transmission system operators towards distribution system operators (DSOs) more capable of managing diverse renewable energy sources. All this will require an infrastructure fit for the future, with common standards, gigabit networks and secure clouds of both current and next generations. Such infrastructure will enable consumers to engage in the energy transition in a new way, while benefiting from better services based on digital innovations, and saving energy. Digitalisation, therefore is an essential tool to achieve the transformation of the energy system. It allows for more efficient load balancing, facilitates dynamic markets to provide a more secure and diversified supply, improves energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the uptake of renewable energy. Results will empower consumers and make possible the emergence of prosumers and the uptake of breakthrough technologies. The use of digitalisation to facilitate the shift towards more decentralised and variable solutions, such as smart grids, will also alter conventional energy production, distribution and consumption. This new CORDIS Results Pack focuses on 15 Horizon research projects that demonstrate the EU’s commitment to a digitalised, green and resilient energy system. The key areas covered include the development of a Europe-wide data sharing infrastructure for new energy services, empowering consumers by increasing control over their energy use and bills through new digital participation tools. The research also addresses the increase in the uptake of new digital tools for the energy system and strengthening of cyber security and resilience throughout the energy system to meet real-time requirements. The EdgeFLEX project developed a 5G application programming interface for power providers to connect and manage devices in the field, while PARITY created a local flexibility market platform that integrates the internet of things and blockchain technologies. X-FLEX developed solutions for optimising decentralised flexible energy assets. The ebalance-plus project will increase the energy flexibility of distribution grids. OneNet enables the European electrical system to operate as a single network, allowing stakeholder participation at every level – from small consumer to large producers. INTERCONNECT conducted real-life testing of advanced solutions for connecting smart homes and buildings to the electricity network. PlatOne used blockchain technology to meet the needs of modern DSOs, including data management. FLEXIGRID built an integrated architecture to balance energy supply and demand. SMART4RES created next-generation tools to improve renewable energy forecasting performance. Heating and cooling buildings constitutes around half of the EU’s energy consumption. To help make homes and offices more energy efficient, PHOENIX used AI and cloud computing technologies to transform existing buildings into smart buildings, while the doMos project developed an integrated energy management ecosystem for smart buildings. BRIGHT enabled communities to take complete control of their local energy systems, while REDREAM built a platform to help consumers and prosumers exploit the benefits of flexible energy consumption on demand using cloud services and AI. MATRYCS developed a new decision-making and data analytics solution for energy-efficient buildings. Finally, EUniversal produced a universal market enabling interface to foster interoperability across Europe for a sustainable, secure and stable electricity supply.
