Month: December 2024
BRIDGE Highlights OPENTUNITY’s Contributions to the Energy Sector
We are excited to share that OPENTUNITY has been featured in the latest BRIDGE initiative newsletter and on its website. This milestone highlights the progress and contributions of our project within the context of Europe’s energy transition efforts.
BRIDGE, a European Commission initiative, brings together Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects in the energy sector to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment. By uniting experts in smart grids, energy storage, and digitalization, BRIDGE serves as a vital platform for OPENTUNITY to engage with like-minded initiatives and share its impact on the flexibility market and energy systems.
Summary of the Article on BRIDGE
The article on BRIDGE provides an overview of OPENTUNITY’s objectives and recent achievements. It focuses on how the project is advancing flexibility markets by developing innovative tools and fostering collaboration between stakeholders, including system operators, energy communities, and end-users.
Some key points discussed in the article include:
- Development of tools for flexibility markets: OPENTUNITY’s progress in enabling more efficient resource management and renewable energy integration.
- Pilot projects and use cases: How the consortium is testing innovative solutions to validate their real-world impact.
- Focus on collaboration and data sharing: The role of interoperability and secure data exchange in achieving project goals.
For the full article, we invite you to visit the BRIDGE website and read more about OPENTUNITY’s contribution to Europe’s clean energy future.
A Step Forward in the Energy Transition
This feature on BRIDGE demonstrates OPENTUNITY’s growing influence and its role in shaping the future of Europe’s energy systems. We are proud to collaborate with the BRIDGE community and look forward to contributing further to its mission of fostering a more sustainable, flexible, and inclusive energy sector.
📖 Read the full article on BRIDGE’s website: BRIDGE - OPENTUNITY Article.
Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more updates on OPENTUNITY’s achievements and upcoming milestones!
Driving Smarter EV Infrastructure: Avantcar and SETUP’s Data-Driven Journey
From Data to Insight: Understanding EV Charging Patterns
In collaboration with Kolektor SETUP, Avantcar embarked on a transformative software development initiative over the past nine months, revolutionizing the management and optimization of EV charging stations. This innovative project aimed to collect critical measurement data and develop baseline forecasts, laying the foundation for smarter, more sustainable energy management within Avantcar’s charging network.
At the start of 2024, SETUP delved into analyzing measurement data from Avantcar’s EV charging points, uncovering usage patterns that revealed key insights. During January and February, the team identified various EV charger types, conducted essential communication tests, and dissected data from a “typical week.” Peaks in charging activity were mapped to morning, midday, and afternoon hours, with distinct differences observed between workdays and non-workdays. This data served as the basis for evaluating the system's capacity to manage peak power demands effectively.
Figure 1: Example of data analysis of AVA’s charging points.
Forecasting the Future: Advanced Algorithms for Energy Management
The next phase advanced the project by leveraging sophisticated forecasting techniques. Using diverse features—including season, month, hour, workday/non-workday status, temperature, and precipitation—three advanced algorithms were tested: Random Forest Regressor, LightGBM, and Histogram-Based Gradient Boosting Regression Tree (HGBRT). All three achieved impressive results, with a ~5% normalized Mean Absolute Percentage Error (nMAPE). HGBRT emerged as the preferred model, thanks to its consistent accuracy and robust performance.
This collaboration underscores the power of data-driven insights in shaping the future of EV infrastructure. By integrating advanced analytics and predictive modeling, Avantcar and SETUP are not only enhancing energy efficiency but also paving the way for smarter, more reliable EV charging solutions that align with evolving consumer needs and environmental goals.
Figure 2: Avantcar fleet
Expert Insights: The Road Ahead for the Energy Sector in 2025
As we approach 2025, the OPENTUNITY consortium have shared their goals, visions, and ideas for advancing the energy sector. Their insights highlight a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, paving the way for a transformative year ahead.
What Do Partners Hope to Achieve with OPENTUNITY in 2025?
Flexibility Markets and Energy Efficiency
For many OPENTUNITY partners, the goal in 2025 is to develop and implement flexible energy solutions that maximize efficiency and promote collaboration among stakeholders. Reduxi emphasizes the importance of establishing a “fully functional, collaborative ecosystem that maximizes energy efficiency.” He sees OPENTUNITY as a way to enable plug-and-play flexibility solutions that can benefit a wide range of energy sector participants. Similarly, NODES aims to support the development of flexibility markets and help transition research results into practical solutions that improve grid management and increase renewable energy share.
“Our goal is to create leading technology solutions to support the establishment of flexibility markets for all pilot partners,” says NODES.
HIVEPOWER also emphasizes leveraging flexible resources, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable storage systems, to enhance both grid reliability and sustainability.
Empowering End-Users and Promoting Decarbonization
Empowering consumers is central to the vision of several partners. JOANNEUM RESEARCH stresses the need for accessible, citizen-centric energy tools:
“We aim to see OPENTUNITY’s tools adopted by a great number of citizens, ensuring that the energy transition is both effective and fair.” states JOANNEUM RESEARCH.
Similarly, Estabanell is working to prove the usability of OPENTUNITY’s solutions, aiming to empower users to optimize their energy consumption while maintaining their comfort. HYPERTECH shares this vision by focusing on integrating Home and Building Energy Management Systems (HEMS/BEMS), enabling efficient energy management for all users.
Technological Advancements and Smart Grid Management
Technological innovation is another important theme in partners' aspirations for OPENTUNITY in 2025. ICCS hopes to see the widespread deployment of OPENTUNITY tools across demo sites, enabling smarter energy management through advanced asset management and strategic network planning. This aligns with ETRA I+D, which focuses on completing the development of technologies like NILM (Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring) and grid software solutions to demonstrate their real-world impact.
“We are eager to see the final output of all the work performed in the last two years,” says ETRA I+D.
What Innovative Practices or Tools Do Partners Want to See in 2025?
Digitalization and Smart Grid Tools
A key area of focus for many partners is the digitalization of the energy sector. Kolektor and HEDNO both highlight the importance of adopting advanced digital tools to improve grid management. Kolektor envisions a more proactive role for system operators in shaping and managing local flexibility markets through digital tools, while HEDNO stresses the need for the continued digitalization of energy systems to address emerging challenges in grid management.
“Next year, we would like to see the expansion of energy systems' digitalization through new tools,” says HEDNO.
UNE echoes this call for digitalization, pointing out the significant shift toward online standardization procedures, such as the Online Standards Development (OSD) tool, which will digitalize the standardization process for energy technologies. This digital shift is seen as crucial to the continued development and deployment of flexible, scalable solutions. AEM envisions integrating AI to create Digital Twin models for distribution grids, helping electricity companies with limited infrastructure data.
“AI-integrated Digital Twins could greatly benefit electricity companies lacking well-digitalized maps of their infrastructure,” explains AEM, adding that regulatory clarity around AI-related data handling is crucial.
Flexibility Markets and Demand-Side Response
Partners like Kolektor, Estabanell, and IPTO continue to prioritize flexibility markets as a key solution to optimize energy resources. IPTO also hopes to see progress on TSO-DSO coordination mechanisms, enabling more efficient allocation of flexibility resources. Estabanell envisions the development of demand-side response legislation in Spain, allowing for the viability of flexibility markets for residential applications using real-time metering and aggregation.
Estabanell hopes to see Spain progress in developing demand-side response legislation, defining new roles for flexibility service providers (FSPs) and making flexibility markets viable for residential applications. Kolektor also envisions a greater role for system operators in local flexibility markets. They see these markets as essential for optimizing energy resources and integrating renewable energy sources more effectively into local grids.
“In 2025, we hope to see system operators playing a more proactive role in managing local flexibility markets,” shares Kolektor.
HIVEPOWER focuses on integrating diverse assets into decarbonized and user-centric systems using advanced software and predictive AI algorithms.
Community-Centric Solutions and Fair Energy Transition
The transition to a fairer and more inclusive energy system is a common theme across many partners’ responses. JOANNEUM RESEARCH stresses the importance of placing citizens at the center of the energy transition, with tools that make energy more accessible to a wider population. They emphasize the need for affordable energy storage solutions and the expansion of decentralized systems, such as peer-to-peer energy trading, to empower communities and create resilient, self-sufficient energy systems.
Similarly, BLUESUN anticipates significant advancements in decentralized energy markets, enabling consumers to trade renewable energy directly with their neighbors. They also see AI-driven smart grids as a game-changing technology that will enhance grid flexibility and integration of renewables.
“The widespread adoption of decentralized energy markets and AI-driven smart grids will revolutionize how we produce and consume energy,” says BLUESUN.
Federated Data Exchange and Interoperability
QUE TECH emphasizes the need for a Federated Data Exchange Infrastructure to support interoperability and secure data exchange across energy systems. Their vision includes the widespread adoption of Data Spaces to enable robust and secure energy data exchange, ensuring that data sovereignty is maintained.
"We aim to see the OPENTUNITY project establish a fully functional and scalable Federated Data Exchange Infrastructure,” says QUE TECH.
A Shared Vision for 2025 and Beyond
The partners’ contributions offer a clear picture of the collective aspirations for the energy sector in 2025. Flexibility markets, technological innovation, and the empowerment of consumers are central to the vision of OPENTUNITY. Whether through the digitalization of grid systems, the expansion of demand-side response solutions, or the development of community-centered platforms, the goal is to create a more resilient, efficient, and inclusive energy system.
The OPENTUNITY consortium is united in its mission to foster collaboration, drive technological advancements, and ensure that the benefits of the energy transition reach all stakeholders. As we look ahead to 2025, these shared goals will guide the consortium’s efforts to shape the future of the energy sector, making it smarter, greener, and more equitable.
We wish all our partners, and everyone in the energy sector, a successful and transformative 2025. Together, we can achieve a more sustainable and inclusive energy future. Happy New Year! 🌟
12ª Conferencia del Programa Marco de I+I de la UE en España
On November 28, 2024, OPENTUNITY was proudly showcased at the 12th EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Conference, held in Oviedo, Spain. This event, organized by CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology), brought together key stakeholders from research, innovation, and industry to highlight the transformative projects driving Europe’s future under the Horizon Europe framework.
12th EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Conference
The conference serves as a premier platform to explore cutting-edge advancements in science and technology funded through Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program. This year, the event included a poster exhibition, featuring projects coordinated by Spanish entities, selected based on their excellence, impact, and collaboration. CDTI’s meticulous evaluation process emphasized the scope of the projects, public-private partnerships, and their contributions to advancing key EU priorities.
OPENTUNITY’s Participation
ETRA I+D represented OPENTUNITY at the poster exhibition, engaging with numerous attendees who expressed interest in the project’s objectives and innovations. The poster presented how OPENTUNITY is driving the energy transition through:
- Decentralized flexibility solutions that empower system operators and flexibility service providers.
- Tools that enhance public-private collaboration within Spain’s energy ecosystem.
- Innovative approaches to support a sustainable and resilient energy grid across Europe.
The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with stakeholders, exchange ideas, and further promote OPENTUNITY’s contributions to modernizing energy systems and supporting the EU’s climate and energy goals.
OPENTUNITY_POSTER_CDTI
The Role of CDTI
As the organizer of the event, CDTI plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and research in Spain. By supporting initiatives like OPENTUNITY, CDTI helps bridge the gap between research and industry, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies are applied to real-world challenges.
Looking Ahead
OPENTUNITY’s presence at the conference reaffirmed its importance in the Horizon Europe framework and highlighted the potential of its innovative solutions. As the project continues to advance, it remains committed to driving Europe’s energy transition and promoting collaboration across sectors and regions.
SAEE Conference 2024: Leveraging EV Fleet Flexibility
The SAEE Conference, a premier event focused on sustainable energy and environmental advancements, recently brought together experts, researchers, and practitioners to discuss cutting-edge solutions for global energy challenges. This year’s conference highlighted transformative ideas in renewable energy, smart grids, and sustainable mobility—areas at the heart of the OPENTUNITY project.
One of the standout contributions came from Janez Gregor , a researcher from the University of Ljubljana, who presented the paper: "Analysis of Consumption Forecasting and Flexibility Utilization of an Electric Vehicle Fleet in the OPENTUNITY Project". Co-authored with Klemen Peter Kosovinc (Kolektor sETup), Miha Valentinčič (Avantcar), and Tomi Medved (University of Ljubljana), the paper delves into the potential of electric vehicle (EV) fleets to optimize energy usage and support the green transition.
Transforming Mobility with Energy Flexibility
As the EU aims to ban sales of new CO₂-emitting vehicles by 2035, the mobility sector is rapidly shifting toward electric vehicles. Avantcar’s EV-sharing service, with over 50,000 users, exemplifies this trend but also reveals an untapped opportunity: leveraging EV fleets for advanced energy management. The study presented at SAEE highlights how new mobility infrastructure—vehicles and charging stations—can contribute to grid stability and operational efficiency.
OPENTUNITY’s Role in Innovation
The OPENTUNITY project, funded by Horizon Europe, integrates cutting-edge methodologies and machine learning models to analyze and forecast energy consumption from EV fleets. By aggregating data from charging stations and identifying usage patterns, the project develops algorithms to determine flexibility potential. This approach not only optimizes fleet operations but also strengthens grid reliability, showcasing the critical role of EVs in the energy transition.
Key Takeaways
The presentation by the OPENTUNITY team underscored the importance of:
- Forecasting consumption patterns using advanced data analysis and machine learning.
- Utilizing flexibility from EV fleets to support grid stability and enhance efficiency.
- Aligning mobility innovations with sustainability goals to drive a greener energy system.
A Step Forward for Sustainable Mobility
The SAEE Conference served as a platform to share OPENTUNITY’s insights with a global audience, fostering collaboration and innovation in sustainable energy practices. With contributions like this, the project reinforces its commitment to developing practical, impactful solutions for the energy sector.
Access the Full Paper
For those interested in a deeper dive into the methodologies and findings, the full paper, "Analysis of Consumption Forecasting and Flexibility Utilization of an Electric Vehicle Fleet in the OPENTUNITY Project" is available in Slovene.
Read the paper here: