A recently published report by VITO for the European Commission, titled “Specification and design criteria for Local Flexibility Markets,” has cast a spotlight on the innovative work being conducted within the OPENTUNITY project.

Specifically, the report features an in-depth look at the Greek Pilot, highlighting a successful interview and collaboration between the Greek TSO (IPTO), the market platform provider (NODES), and VITO researchers.

This recognition underscores OPENTUNITY’s role in “opening” the electricity ecosystem to multiple actors to create real decarbonization opportunities.

A Vision for TSO-DSO Coordination

The Greek Pilot, situated in the Mesogia area and interconnected islands such as Kea, Andros, and Tinos, is a cornerstone of the OPENTUNITY project. Its primary objective is to increase the digitization of both the DSO (HEDNO) and TSO (IPTO) while establishing critical synergies between them.

According to the VITO analysis, the Greek demo is one of the few initiatives in Europe moving toward a “Common Market” model.

In this setup:

• Both the TSO and DSO have access to the same flexibility assets connected at the distribution level.
• The market handles both congestion management and balancing services.
• Coordination is enhanced through a Federated Data Space Infrastructure, ensuring efficient and cybersecure data sharing.

Innovation in Action: The NODES Platform

The report details how the Greek Pilot utilizes the NODES market platform to facilitate these interactions.

By employing products like ShortFlex, the pilot allows for the activation of flexibility near real-time (2 hours ahead of delivery) to solve grid issues at boundaries where voltage is transformed from 150kV to 20kV.

This technical setup is designed to manage peaks at substations serving thousands of residential and commercial buildings, proving that small-scale consumer flexibility can support high-level grid stability.

Why This Matters for Europe

VITO’s report identifies the OPENTUNITY Greek demo as a key example of how to navigate the complexities of the upcoming Network Code on Demand Response (NC DR).

By testing these coordination mechanisms in real-world conditions, OPENTUNITY is providing the European energy sector with a blueprint for:

1. Interoperability: Ensuring different software modules and actors can “talk” to each other.
2. Market Efficiency: Minimizing procurement costs while maximizing the use of renewable energy.
3. Active Consumers: Reducing energy costs for citizens who contribute their flexibility to the grid.

Looking Ahead

As OPENTUNITY continues its journey, the insights shared in the VITO report will help refine the project’s 12 core innovations.

The collaboration between HEDNO, IPTO, NODES, and VITO serves as a powerful reminder that the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 requires not just new technology, but new ways for energy actors to work together.

📥 To explore the full VITO report and learn more about the Greek Pilot’s market design, visit our Library section: VITO – Specification and design criteria for local flexibility markets