Month: May 2026
JOANNEUM RESEARCH Presents Carsharing Flexibility at STS Conference Graz
Between May 4 and 6, 2026, our partner JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JR) represented the OPENTUNITY project at the STS Conference Graz 2026 in Austria. Organized by the Graz University of Technology, this event is a cornerstone for the scientific community to discuss the intersections of Science, Technology, and Society.
The Focus: Can Carsharing Support Grid Flexibility?
The core of JR’s participation was the presentation of their latest research titled: “Shared cars, flexible charging: When cost savings meet additional effort”. The study addresses a fundamental challenge in the energy transition: how to manage the volatility of renewable energy by utilizing the inherent flexibility of electric vehicles (EVs).
The research specifically explores whether integrating flexibility into a carsharing business model (such as the one operated by our partner Avant car in Slovenia) is viable from both a technical and social perspective.
Key Insights: Flex On-the-Go vs. Flex at Home
The study, based on a survey of over 950 Avant car customers, analyzed two main scenarios for flexible charging:
- Flex on-the-go: Charging the rented vehicle at suggested points during the trip to support the grid.
- Flex at home: Taking the rented vehicle home and allowing it to be charged flexibly overnight.
The findings were revealing:
- Motivation: Cost savings remain the primary driver for users (over 85% interest), followed by a desire to support sustainability and the energy transition.
- Barriers: For many users, the "additional effort" is a significant hurdle. Many feel that since they are paying for a mobility service, they do not want the extra complexity of managing charging schedules.
- Feasibility: The research suggests there is no "quick win," but flexibility models can succeed if cost savings are high enough and the additional effort for the user is kept to an absolute minimum.
Scientific Exchange and Future Outlook
For the OPENTUNITY project, participating in the STS Conference was a "great opportunity for exchange between applied research and colleagues with a more academic approach". This collaboration with Avant car allowed the team to access real-world field data, reducing sampling bias and ensuring that the project's innovations are grounded in actual user behavior.
By exploring these social and technical boundaries, OPENTUNITY continues to pave the way for a more integrated and decarbonized European electricity ecosystem.
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Resources for Download
You can access the full technical details and the results presented at the conference through the following links:
📥 [Download the Presentation Slides] (PDF)
Enhancing Grid Reliability in Slovenia: OPENTUNITY Deploys Advanced Transformer Monitoring
In the drive toward a more resilient and decarbonised European energy grid, monitoring critical infrastructure is paramount. On April 18, 2026, a significant milestone was reached in the Slovenian pilot site of the OPENTUNITY project. Our partner Elektro Primorska (EP), in collaboration with ICCS, successfully installed specialized measurement equipment on three Medium Voltage/Low Voltage (MV/LV) transformers located in the Ajdovščina industrial park.
The Challenge: Real-Time Asset Management
Power transformers are essential components of the electricity distribution network, but they are often the most vulnerable to failure. Traditionally, asset management has been a long-term process, looking at equipment health over months or years. However, to ensure grid stability, there is a growing need for short-term asset management.
The tool developed by ICCS is designed to operate in a near real-time context. Its primary goal is to identify transformers that may be on the verge of failure within hours, allowing operators to intervene before a blackout occurs.
Innovation through Indirect Measurement
To predict these failures, the tool requires precise data on transformer load current,
ambient temperature, and top-oil temperature. A technical challenge arises because many older MV/LV transformers are not equipped with built-in top-oil temperature sensors.
To solve this, the team at Elektro Primorska developed an innovative, purpose-built measuring system. Instead of invasive procedures, the system uses Pt100 sensors with magnet holders placed directly on the transformer housing. This allows for the indirect measurement of top-oil temperature through a direct correlation with the housing temperature.
A Robust Technical Setup for Smart Monitoring
The installation at the Ajdovščina pilot site features a high-tech stack of industrial components designed for reliability and speed:
- Data Acquisition: The system utilizes Advantech components, including IoT gateways and RTD input modules, for local data storage and transmission.
- Environmental Sensing: Along with transformer housing temperature, the system includes an ambient probe to measure surrounding air temperature and relative humidity.
- High-Speed Connectivity: Data is transmitted via a secure MQTT protocol over a mobile LTE/4G network.
- Real-Time Visualization: Measurements are received at 5-second intervals and stored in an SQL database. This high frequency allows for a real-time dashboard where operators can monitor current and historical data instantly.
Why This Matters for the Future of Energy
This activity falls under the OPENGRID category of the OPENTUNITY project, which focuses on supporting Distribution System Operators (DSOs) in managing grid issues more effectively. By transforming standard transformers into "smart" assets, Elektro Primorska is demonstrating how existing infrastructure can be upgraded to support a more flexible and digitalised energy ecosystem.
As part of the broader Slovenian pilot, which also involves portions of the grids of Elektro Ljubljana, these advancements are crucial for utilizing the flexibility potential of domestic assets and electric vehicles while maintaining a stable and secure grid.
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Project Overview
- Location: Ajdovščina industrial park, Slovenia.
- Partners Involved: Elektro Primorska (EP) and ICCS.
- Key Innovation: Indirect top-oil temperature monitoring for predictive maintenance.
Standardising Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading: Opentunity Leads the Way with New CENELEC Agreement
OPENTUNITY is proud to announce significant progress in its contribution to European standardisation. As a primary promoter, the project is spearheading the CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA) titled “Impact of P2P trading at distribution grid level,” a critical step toward harmonising decentralised energy markets across the continent.
A Collaborative Effort for European Standardisation
Launched in 2025, this CWA is the result of a strategic collaboration between two major Horizon Europe projects: OPENTUNITY and FEDECOM. A CWA serves as a formal standardisation deliverable that reflects a consensus between the individuals and organisations responsible for its development. By drawing on the collective outcomes of these projects, the agreement aims to establish a common framework for the implementation of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading.
Defining the Framework for P2P Implementation
The agreement is designed to be a comprehensive guide for the energy sector. It focuses on several technical and operational pillars necessary for successful P2P integration at the distribution level, including:
- Use Cases and Requirements: Identifying specific scenarios for P2P trading and the necessary data exchange and interoperability standards.
- Grid Observability: Addressing how decentralised trading impacts the monitoring and management of distribution grids.
- Validation Approaches: Establishing KPI-based methods to measure the performance and impact of these schemes.
This CWA will provide essential implementation guidance for a wide range of stakeholders, including Distribution System Operators (DSOs), energy community coordinators, and technology providers such as aggregators and IT integrators.
The Path to Official Publication: Public Engagement
Following the development of a mature draft based on contributor consensus, the document is currently undergoing formal approval by Workshop participants. Once endorsed, the project will enter a vital Public Commenting phase.
This phase allows any interested party to review the text and submit feedback, ensuring the document meets the highest standards of transparency, openness, and technical quality. Engaging a wider pool of stakeholders is considered a highly beneficial step in refining the final agreement.
Building the Foundation for Future Standards
After the public review, the Workshop will assess all comments to finalise the text for official publication as a CENELEC Workshop Agreement. This document will not only provide a consensual reference for immediate use but will also serve as the foundational roadmap for future European Standards (EN) and Technical Specifications (TS).
By leading this initiative, OPENTUNITY continues to ensure that the innovations developed within the project contribute to a more integrated, standardised, and efficient European energy landscape.