The project aims at improving on the performances of electricity networks since they have a central role to address the increasing complexity of the electricity system, while remaining the starting point for progressing towards an energy system approach because of its potential connections with heat, transport, gas, etc.

The project aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies, solutions and mechanisms in a scalable Cross-Functional Platform (CMP) of replicable solutions to connect existing energy networks with diverse stakeholders with enhanced observability of both generation and consumption profiles which will facilitate the optimal and dynamic operation of the Distribution Grid, fostering the stability of the electricity grid and coordination of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and innovative collaborative Storage schemes within a continuously increased share of Renewable Energy (RES).

The project aims at demonstrating how DSOs enable the different stakeholders to actively participate in the energy market and to develop and implement new business models, making use of new data management and consumer involvement approaches. This project looks for demonstrating scalable and replicable solutions in an integrated environment that enable DSOs to plan and operate the network with a high share of DRES in a stable, secure and economic way, using flexibility inherently offered by specific technologies and by interaction with different stakeholders.

GoFlex will innovate, integrate and demonstrate smart-grid technologies, enabling the cost effective use of demand response in distribution grids: increasing the grids available adaptation capacity, safely supporting an increasing share of renewable electricity generation, improving observability and manageability of distribution grid for use of demand response and supporting localized concentration of prosumers DR for DSO to prevent congestion and energy imbalance.

FutureFlow links interconnected control areas of four transmission system operators of Central-South Europe which today do face increasing challenges to ensure transmission system security: the growing share of renewable electricity units has reduced drastically the capabilities of conventional, fossil-fuel based means to ensure balancing activities and congestion relief through redispatching. Research and innovation activities are proposed to validate that consumers and distributed generators can be put in a position to provide balancing and redispatching services, within an attractive business environment.

The project focus is the development and demonstration of a flexible smart metering architecture, based on cheap and already available components, that can be implemented in a plug-and-play way, combining metering of different services (electricity, water, gas, district heating), providing advanced services to the users, to the DSOs and to the other utilities, and enhancing the possibilities of the retail market.

The project aims to demonstrate that the deployment of novel services in the electricity retail markets, such as advanced monitoring, local energy control and flexibility, can be accelerated thanks to an open European marketplace for standardised interactions among electricity stakeholders within and across borders. This will open up the energy market to new players at EU level.

Flex4Grid aims at creating an open data and service framework that enables a novel concept of prosumer flexibility management, i.e. managing flexibility of prosumer demand and generation for the benefit for all key stakeholders: Cloud service providers will be able to offer new services to Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and prosumers; DSOs benefit from external services, peak load reduction and generation‐demand gap reduction; prosumers benefit by becoming an active market player for both, demand and generation; new market players will be able to offer services based on the third party data interface.

The EMPOWER concept aims to encourage and enable the active participation of citizens that consume and produce energy in the electrical system. It is based on the insight that a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and an increase of energy efficiency require radical changes in the way we produce and consume energy.

The research project aims to make a cost/benefit analysis for smart grid infrastructure. The goal of ENERGISE is to provide an expert tool that can be used in deciding whether to expand the ICT infrastructure in a shared or dedicated form. In addition, ENERGISE offers all participating stakeholders a platform for discussion, enabling them to share information on trends and developments in the area of “ICT infrastructure for smart grids.”