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: