2M€ will allow different companies, in, at least, 10 Member-states, to prototype the technology

The EU funded InterConnect project, which gathers 50 European entities from the energy and IoT value chain, is focused on developing solutions for connecting and converging digital homes and buildings to a cleaner, secure and affordable electrical system. A new goal is set: contribute to the Common European Reference Framework (CERF) in helping consumers to reduce their energy use, especially during peak hours. Up to 10 different EU countries will be involved.

The geopolitical tensions resulting from the war in Ukraine, that led to sharp electricity prices increase and even the need to adjust demand in certain countries, required a fast and committed response from the EC, that was materialized in the Digitalising the energy system’ EU action plan, that defined as priority the development of a Common European Reference Framework (CERF) for a consumer application (Energy Applications), that incentives voluntary reductions and shifts in electrical energy consumption.

The work developed in InterConnect, namely its cutting-edge approach to interoperability via the Semantic Interoperability Framework, appears naturally as a lever for the development of Energy Applications, as the main outcome of the project is precisely a framework that allows overcoming the barriers between different systems in different member states.

By using information from grid operators and service providers, consumers can support the stability of the EU energy system by adjusting their energy use based on signals they may receive in the Energy Applications. These signals will be translated into recommendations, that will benefit end-users and allow them to use energy in a more efficient way and consequently reduce the electricity bill.

The roadmap for this development started with a strong contribution from the work developed by ETRA (that recently published the ‘Landscape analysis on energy platforms and consumer applications’ ) and the Smart Grids Task Force , Expert Group 3 ‘Consumers’. This work, together with additional state of the art analysis, constitutes the Blueprint to enable the development of Energy Applications.

The next step is development and testing in the field. For this, InterConnect will be dedicating 2 M€, with internal resources as well as a cascade funding mechanism. That will allow different companies, in different countries, to prototype these applications as proof of concept. Within the scope of the project, a first generation of the application will be tested on at least 3 member states that have pilots running. Other countries will be reached via the cascade funding where additional companies that are familiar with the topic and are already developing energy applications will cover 7 additional geographies, totalling 10 countries using the Energy Applications.

The first generation of the Energy Applications, that will be developed and tested until Mar. 2024, will explore existing data from different public platforms, complemented by segmented information from users’ behaviour and characterization, providing clear information, objective eco-tips and energy efficiency suggestions that may be used by consumers directly.

A second-generation, will explore the lessons learned for the implementation and testing of prototypes in the 1st generation to provide insights and recommendations to the next gen where the use of energy management systems and automated action will be a common reality. A winter package will be delivered by the InterConnect project that will allow the EC experts to be better prepared to promote and support the wider development and use of the energy applications, paving the way for a clean, secure and affordable European electrical system.

The main activities and pilots currently running can be followed at the project website , where a detailed description of how the project is impacting the 10 involved countries is presented.