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ICCS-NTUA Presents Advanced Transformer Monitoring Research at ISGT Europe 2025 in Malta

From October 20 to 23, 2025, the ICCS-NTUA team successfully represented the Opentunity project at the IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Europe 2025 conference in Malta. Organized by IEEE PES, FIR.MT, and the IEEE Malta section, this prestigious forum brought together leading experts from the scientific community and the energy industry to explore the latest innovations in smart grid reliability.

Addressing Critical Infrastructure Risks

Power transformers are the backbone of the grid, but their failure can lead to cascading outages and significant financial losses.

Traditional monitoring methods are often reactive or rely on expensive,

 specialized sensors. To address this, the research presented by ICCS-NTUA, titled "Data Driven Model Agnostic Methodology for Transformers Top Oil Anomaly Detection," proposes a proactive, predictive maintenance approach.

The core of the study is a methodology that detects anomalies in top-oil temperature, a primary indicator of a transformer's health. Unlike complex physical models, this approach is "model-agnostic," meaning it can be applied across different types of equipment using only minimal, standard measurements: load current, ambient temperature, and top-oil temperature.

Innovative Methodology and Real-World Validation

The research combines Deep Neural Networks (DNN) with Statistical Process Control (SPC). The process involves:

• Predictive Modeling: A machine learning model is trained on historical data to predict the expected top-oil temperature under normal conditions.
• Anomaly Detection: By comparing real-time measurements against these predictions, the system uses SPC control charts to identify deviations that signify potential faults, such as cooling pump failures or insulation degradation.

The effectiveness of this tool was validated using data from two real-world autotransformers currently operating in the Greek Transmission System. The results showed a high predictive accuracy, with R² values exceeding 0.98. Crucially, the methodology successfully identified anomalies that correlated with significant deviations in bushing capacitance, a clear diagnostic indicator of a developing issue.

Impact and Reception

The presentation was highly valued by attendees, who particularly praised the quality and accessibility of the dataset used for the research. The technical session also sparked a productive debate regarding the algorithm's ability to distinguish between noise and real-world operational anomalies, highlighting the relevance of this work for future industrial applications.

By utilizing data already available via standard SCADA systems, this Opentunity-funded research provides grid operators with a cost-effective early warning system, enabling them to make informed maintenance decisions before a critical failure occurs.

Read the Full Paper

For a detailed look at the technical implementation, mathematical models, and complete case study results, you can access the full publication here:

Download Link: Data Driven Model Agnostic Methodology for Transformers Top Oil Anomaly Detection

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OPENTUNITY Advances Smart Energy Management with NILM Pilot Testing

Bringing appliance-level insights to users

The OPENTUNITY project has recently started testing its Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) module with participants across its pilot sites.

Users can now access the application and monitor the energy consumption of individual appliances in their homes or buildings, without the need for additional hardware.

From static labels to real performance

Early feedback highlights the app’s user-friendly design and the value of its dynamic energy label certification. This feature allows users to compare the real-time performance of their appliances with the static labels provided by manufacturers, helping to identify inefficiencies or potential malfunctions.

By making energy consumption more transparent, the tool supports more informed decisions and encourages more efficient use of energy.

Scaling up at European level

Beyond the pilot phase, OPENTUNITY is already extending the impact of this solution. The NILM module is being integrated into the Common European Reference Framework (CERF), developed within the Digital Europe project ECLIPSE. This framework aims to define a common architecture for Home Energy Management Systems across the EU, paving the way for large-scale adoption.

Towards smarter energy use

This milestone highlights OPENTUNITY’s focus on user-centric innovation and its role in bridging advanced research with real-world applications. As testing continues, further feedback will help refine the tool and strengthen its contribution to smarter, more efficient energy systems.

by opentunityproject.admin

Bridging TSO-DSO Operations: The OPENTUNITY Greek Pilot Featured in VITO European Report

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^TM), 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^TM Platform

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

By employing products like ShortFlex^TM, 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^TM, 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

by opentunityproject.admin

Synchronizing Europe’s Power System: How OPENTUNITY Aligns with ENTSO-E’s Federated Digital Twin Vision

The digital transformation of the European electricity grid has reached a pivotal milestone. ENTSO-E recently published a landmark report advocating for a federated approach to Digital Twins for the European power system. This strategy aims to accelerate the "Twin Transition"—digital and green—by creating dynamic virtual representations of the grid that are updated in real-time.

For OPENTUNITY, this report is more than just a policy document; it is a validation of our core mission. Our project has been actively developing the exact technologies—federated data architectures, interoperable grid models, and TSO-DSO coordination mechanisms—that the ENTSO-E report identifies as essential for a resilient energy future.

What is a Federated Digital Twin?

A Digital Twin is a dynamic virtual representation of a physical process or system. However, the European grid is too complex for a single, monolithic model. Instead, ENTSO-E proposes a federated approach: a network of interconnected digital twins managed by different Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) that can "talk" to one another across borders and organizational silos.

How OPENTUNITY is Leading the Implementation

The ENTSO-E report recommends several key actions that are already at the heart of OPENTUNITY’s 12 innovations.

1. A Foundation of Federated Data (FDEI)

The report highlights the need for secure, interoperable ecosystems. OPENTUNITY has successfully designed and implemented the Federated Data Exchange Infrastructure (FDEI). This architecture ensures:

• Data Sovereignty: Participants maintain full control over their own data while sharing it securely.
• Trust Services: Utilizing Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) to verify participants without centralized bottlenecks.

2. Standardized Ontologies and Gaia-X Alignment

ENTSO-E calls for a greater harmonization of open standards and common ontologies. OPENTUNITY is fully aligned with these requirements:

• Gaia-X Integration: Our Federated Catalogue uses the Gaia-X Trust Framework Ontology as its "lingua franca," ensuring that different energy actors understand each other's data and service offerings natively.
• CIM/CGMES Compliance: For grid topology, OPENTUNITY utilizes the Common Information Model (CIM), which ENTSO-E identifies as mandatory for grid model exchange at the European level.

3. Realizing TSO-DSO Coordination

The report is explicitly directed at TSOs and DSOs, urging them to build interoperable systems. The OPENTUNITY Greek Pilot serves as a real-world laboratory for this vision, bringing together HEDNO (DSO) and IPTO (TSO) to evaluate common coordination mechanisms and secure flexibility activation across different grid levels.

4. Advanced Asset Management and Lifecycle Models

ENTSO-E recommends models aligned with the lifecycle of assets. OPENTUNITY’s advanced asset management modules provide:

• Long-Term Reliability: Predicting the end-of-life for digital infrastructure like smart meters using machine learning.
• Short-Term Resiliency: Real-time monitoring and anomaly detection for critical assets like high-power transformers to prevent failures before they occur.

The Path Forward: A Scalable and Sovereign Grid

The alignment between ENTSO-E’s strategic vision and OPENTUNITY’s technical deliverables proves that the "federated" approach is the most viable path for Europe’s energy transition. By breaking down data silos and ensuring interoperability-by-design, we are not just building software; we are building the digital backbone of a decarbonized society.

Want to dive deeper into the technical architecture of our federated ecosystem?

📥 Download our latest public reports on the OPENTUNITY website:

• D3.2: Federated Data Exchange Infrastructure Architecture (v2)
• D5.5: OPENTUNITY Grid Integration Methodology
• D4.6: OPENTUNITY Flexibility Market (v2)

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Flexibility Markets Need Coordination: How OPENTUNITY Is Bridging TSO–DSO Operations

Flexibility is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful tools available to system operators to manage congestion, optimise grid capacity and support the large-scale integration of renewable energy. However, as flexibility markets grow and mature across Europe, one critical challenge has become increasingly evident: flexibility activation without proper coordination between Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) can compromise grid security instead of improving it.

Within the EU-funded OPENTUNITY project, partners are addressing this challenge head-on by developing and validating practical solutions that enable coordinated, market-based flexibility procurement across grid levels.

The Coordination Challenge Behind Flexibility Markets

Historically, TSOs and DSOs have operated within clearly separated technical and organisational boundaries. Today, with a rising number of flexible assets connected at distribution level, these boundaries are becoming blurred.

Uncoordinated flexibility procurement may lead to:

• Conflicting activations across transmission and distribution networks.
• Local congestion being shifted rather than resolved.
• Increased operational uncertainty for system operators.

To fully unlock the potential of flexibility, coordination must be embedded directly into market processes, supported by shared data, aligned operational rules and real-time communication.

OPENTUNITY’s Approach: Coordination by Design

A core ambition of OPENTUNITY is to demonstrate how secure, interoperable and coordinated flexibility markets can be implemented in real-world conditions. One concrete outcome of this work is the Market Coordination Module, developed by NODES in close collaboration with the Greek DSO HEDNO and the Greek TSO IPTO, developing the OPENTUNITY Greek pilot site.

Rather than treating coordination as an external or manual process, the module integrates it directly into the flexibility trading environment, ensuring that system-level constraints are considered throughout the entire procurement cycle.

Key Features Supporting Secure Operations

The Market Coordination Module introduces several capabilities that are essential for coordinated grid operation:

• A central coordination role, enabling oversight of market activities and supporting system-level decision-making.
• Dynamic grid node thresholds, allowing capacity limits to reflect real-time grid conditions.
• A traffic-light signalling mechanism, providing immediate visibility of potential or actual constraint violations.
• Real-time operator-to-operator communication, facilitating fast, transparent collaboration between TSOs and DSOs.

Together, these functionalities create a shared operational framework where flexibility can be activated safely and efficiently.

Real-World Validation Through OPENTUNITY Pilots

In OPENTUNITY, these coordination mechanisms are being tested in practice. In Greece, HEDNO and IPTO are jointly using the Market Coordination Module to procure flexibility for congestion management and balancing services within a common market environment.

This pilot allows the consortium to assess how coordinated market-based solutions can:

• Improve system security.
• Enhance transparency between system operators.
• Enable more efficient use of distributed flexibility.

The same coordination concept has also proven transferable beyond OPENTUNITY, with applications in Finland, reinforcing the scalability and robustness of the approach.

Building the Foundations for Europe’s Future Flexibility Markets

By embedding coordination into flexibility markets, OPENTUNITY contributes to a future where:

• Market-based solutions and grid security go hand in hand.
• TSOs and DSOs collaborate through shared digital tools.
• Flexibility can scale without increasing operational risk.

These developments are a key step toward a more resilient, efficient and integrated European energy system, one where flexibility supports both system needs and market innovation.

by opentunityproject.admin

AI Innovation from OPENTUNITY Takes the Stage at ENLIT 2025

At ENLIT Europe 2025, OPENTUNITY once again demonstrated its commitment to shaping the future of smart grid innovation. This year, the spotlight was on the work of Elektro Ljubljana, whose contribution showcased how artificial intelligence can dramatically improve reliability and performance in low-voltage distribution networks, an area where fault detection remains notoriously challenging.

The presentation, delivered by Dr. Klemen Nagode during the session “AI in Practice – Part 2”, offered an insightful look at a rapidly evolving field where data, algorithms, and operational expertise converge to strengthen tomorrow’s electricity distribution systems.

Bringing AI Into the Heart of Low-Voltage Operations

Unlike transmission grids, low-voltage networks are vast, complex, and traditionally less monitored, making it difficult for operators to quickly identify emerging issues. Faults such as bad neutral contacts, voltage anomalies, or early signs of component degradation often remain invisible until they escalate into service interruptions.

To tackle this, Elektro Ljubljana developed an AI-based anomaly detection system designed to uncover these hidden issues early on. The solution analyses a rich blend of data sources, smart meters, protection relays, historical fault records, and state estimators, to detect patterns that signal abnormal behaviour.

Behind the scenes, the team carried out extensive feature engineering, model training, and data validation, using advanced machine learning techniques such as weighted K-nearest neighbors with optimised parameters. The result is a system capable of identifying subtle anomalies with remarkable speed, supporting predictive maintenance and reducing operational uncertainty.

How OPENTUNITY Strengthens This Work

The development does not stand alone, it is actively supported by several tools created within the OPENTUNITY project. Among them:

• Fuse-burn detection modules offering early indicators of device or line distress
• Real-Time Thermal Rating (RTTR), enabling dynamic monitoring of conductor temperature and loading
• Failure forecasting tools, combining short-term and long-term risk modelling
• Advanced asset management systems, providing a structured view of network conditions

These components bring additional layers of insight to the anomaly detection framework, helping enrich datasets, refine machine learning models, and improve the robustness of the overall solution. This illustrates OPENTUNITY’s mission: to build interoperable, complementary tools that elevate grid management through digital intelligence.

A Human–Machine Partnership

One of the strongest points highlighted in the session was the importance of collaboration with field maintenance teams. Real-world verification of model predictions, by technicians working directly on the network, provided essential feedback, allowing the algorithms to evolve beyond theoretical accuracy and into practical, operational usefulness.

This iterative loop between AI systems and human expertise created a powerful validation mechanism, ensuring that the tool performs reliably in diverse, real-life scenarios.

Why This Matters for the Future of Grid Operations

This work marks an important step forward for European distribution system operators. By combining AI, operational data, and domain expertise, the approach significantly improves fault detection capabilities in low-voltage networks, historically one of the most difficult areas to monitor.

It also demonstrates the potential of the solutions being developed in OPENTUNITY: tools that are not only innovative but also applicable, scalable, and designed to support day-to-day decision making.

Download the Presentation

Interested in the technical details?

👉 Download the full ENLIT 2025 presentation slides here:

Robust AI-Based Anomaly Detection for Enhanced Performance in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks. – Opentunity

by opentunityproject.admin