OPENTUNITY Showcasing AI-Driven Innovations at Enlit Europe 2025

The OPENTUNITY project took part in Enlit Europe 2025, held from 18 to 20 November in Bilbao, Spain, joining one of the most important annual gatherings for the European energy community. As a leading event connecting policy-makers, DSOs, TSOs, researchers, technology providers, and innovators, Enlit offered the perfect stage for OPENTUNITY to present its progress and exchange insights with key stakeholders shaping the future of the energy transition.

Positioned in the EU Projects Zone, OPENTUNITY engaged with visitors at stand 5.F30–S02, sharing updates on the project’s technological developments, pilot activities, and the role of flexibility in enabling a more resilient and citizen-centric energy system.

Why Enlit Matters for OPENTUNITY

Participation in Enlit Europe is not merely a visibility exercise,it is a strategic opportunity to:

• show tangible progress on the technologies developed within the project,
• align with European policy priorities around digitalisation, flexibility and consumer empowerment,
• strengthen synergies with other EU-funded initiatives,
• and gather feedback from practitioners, system operators and industry leaders.

With the project entering its final operational phase, Enlit provided an ideal moment to demonstrate how the solutions developed over the past years are now being deployed and tested across Europe.

What OPENTUNITY Showcased at Enlit

At the stand, partners presented the 13 innovative technologies currently being integrated and demonstrated across the project’s four pilot sites in Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Greece. These innovations revolve around:

• AI-powered state estimation and topology detection.
• Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM).
• Local flexibility markets and TSO-DSO coordination.
• Real-Time Thermal Rating and asset management tools.
• Building and Home Energy Management Systems (BEMS/HEMS).
• Data-sharing infrastructures for interoperable grid intelligence.

Visitors were able to explore how these technologies contribute to a more flexible, reliable, and consumer-engaged electricity system, one capable of addressing the growing complexity of distributed renewable generation, electrification, and variable demand patterns.

OPENTUNITY in the Enlit Conference Programme

In addition to the exhibition stand, OPENTUNITY was also featured in the conference sessions. The project delivered a presentation summarising its current status, innovations and expected impact, highlighting the following themes:

1. Physics-Informed Neural Networks for State Estimation

OPENTUNITY showed how AI models enriched with physical grid constraints can address traditional observability gaps, providing DSOs with more accurate, real-time insight into grid conditions.

2. Real-Time Topology Detection

The project demonstrated how physics-informed AI can identify unreported topology changes, an essential capability for maintaining reliable grid models and enhancing operational safety.

3. NILM for Enhanced Prosumer Engagement

The session explored how NILM algorithms can disaggregate consumption from smart meter data without additional hardware, enabling prosumers to understand their usage patterns and optimise behaviour.

4. Multi-Country Pilots Testing 13 Technologies

The presentation highlighted the uniqueness of OPENTUNITY’s four pilot environments—urban, rural, industrial and community-based—which together create a robust testbed for validating AI tools and flexible market architectures.

Key Takeaways Shared at Enlit

The session concluded with several key messages:

• AI-driven state estimation significantly enhances DSO capabilities by combining machine learning with power system physics.
• Topology detection powered by neural networks allows operators to correct grid records in real time.
• NILM provides scalable prosumer-level intelligence without requiring additional hardware, unlocking new services and engagement models.
• Diverse, multi-country pilot testing is fundamental to ensuring the scalability and robustness of new energy innovations.

Looking Ahead

With development completed and demonstration activities underway, OPENTUNITY is entering a decisive stage. The feedback and interactions generated at Enlit Europe 2025 strengthen the consortium’s ambition to deliver solutions that are not only technologically advanced, but also operationally relevant and aligned with Europe’s evolving energy landscape.

As the project moves towards 2026, the focus remains clear: deploy, validate, and pave the way for large-scale adoption of smart, AI-enabled flexibility and grid-management tools across Europe.

by opentunityproject.admin

OPENTUNITY Completes Its Second Project Review in Granollers

The OPENTUNITY consortium recently met in Granollers (Spain) for its Second Review Meeting with the European Commission. This milestone marks an important step in evaluating the progress achieved over the past 16 months and preparing for the final phase of the project.

The review showcased substantial advancements in technology development, pilot deployment and flexibility market demonstration across Europe. The feedback from the European Commission was very positive, reinforcing the consortium's confidence in the relevance and quality of the work performed so far. At the same time, partners acknowledge that the upcoming months are crucial to complete all planned demonstrations and validate the project’s full potential.

A deep dive into the Spanish pilot

Alongside the review sessions, partners visited a key part of the Spanish pilot in Centelles, including a secondary substation that will host the Real-Time Thermal Rating (RTTR) demonstration.

During the visit, Anell presented:

• the origins and particularities of the local distribution grid,
• the industry characteristics of the region,
• and the societal importance of maintaining a reliable, modernised network.

Partners also reviewed the rationale for selecting the demonstration line, the expected benefits of deploying thermal sensors, and the adaptations required to test the innovative grid management tools developed within OPENTUNITY. This field visit provided valuable context and renewed motivation for all partners to continue supporting the energy transition at regional and local levels.

Pilot highlights: Four countries, one shared mission

The review dedicated a full session to the project’s four pilot sites, each demonstrating innovative solutions tailored to their local systems.

Greece: Coordinated Flexibility Procurement

HEDNO S.A. and IPTO showcased their coordinated approach using the NODES Flexibility Trading Platform, including a TSO-DSO coordination tool that ensures safe activation of flexibility across voltage levels.

Switzerland: Local Energy Community for Peak-Shaving

AEM SA demonstrated how flexibility from its local energy community is used to alleviate grid congestion during peak-demand hours.

Spain: Flexibility Orders and Grid Intelligence

Anell presented the use of ETRA’s grid analysis tools (ETER) to detect grid needs and generate flexibility requests submitted through the NODES platform.

Slovenia: User-Centric Energy Engagement

The Slovenian pilot, led by UL in collaboration with multiple partners, presented:

• ongoing citizen engagement campaigns,
• updated business models featuring concrete cost-benefit figures,
• and the steps toward full deployment of OPENTUNITY technologies, including flexibility algorithms and EV-related solutions.

Live demonstrations: Turning R&D into reality

A key part of the review was the demonstration of OPENTUNITY’s most advanced tools, including:

Optimal Market Selection Algorithm

Developed by Setup and partners, this tool identifies the most profitable market—or combination of markets—for deploying flexibility assets.

Optimal Flexibility Allocation Algorithm

A smart decision-making engine that distributes available flexibility across a portfolio of assets in a cost-efficient manner, preserving user comfort and respecting technical limits.

Real-Time Thermal Rating Demonstration

Using line sensors installed in Spain, the consortium demonstrated how dynamic thermal ratings can unlock additional capacity and reduce operational bottlenecks.

The Commission highlighted these innovations as high-impact contributions toward a more flexible, resilient and data-driven European energy system.

Entering the final phase of the project

With the review successfully closed, OPENTUNITY now moves into its final project phase, focusing on:

• completing all demonstrations across the four pilots,
• validating KPI improvements,
• ensuring interoperability across technologies, and
• preparing for large-scale replication of the most successful solutions.

The consortium remains committed to delivering meaningful, real-world impact and contributing to Europe's transition toward a future powered by flexibility, digitalisation and consumer empowerment.

by opentunityproject.admin

SETUP Develops an Optimal Market Selection Algorithm

Over the past 10 months, SETUP, in collaboration with Avantcar and the University of Ljubljana, has been working on an innovative algorithm designed to help flexibility providers make smarter decisions across multiple energy markets.

As part of the OPENTUNITY project, this work focuses on how the flexibility of distributed energy assets, such as electric vehicles, batteries, or demand-response resources, can be effectively offered in different market environments, each with its own technical and regulatory rules.

The result is an optimal market selection algorithm that identifies the most beneficial market combinations for flexibility providers. It analyses opportunities across day-ahead, intraday, ancillary services, and local DSO markets, recommending how and where flexibility should be offered to maximise its value.

By processing data on tariffs, market prices, and technical constraints, the algorithm provides:

• The optimal market or market combination for each asset,
• The expected revenues or cost savings, and
• The optimal operating schedule for flexibility deployment.

This development represents a significant step forward in enabling data-driven decision-making for aggregators and flexibility service providers, ensuring that flexibility assets deliver the greatest possible benefit to both the grid and end users.

by opentunityproject.admin

OPENTUNITY at the Renewable Energy Grid Integration Week 2025

Last 7–10 October 2025, OPENTUNITY was represented at one of the most important annual events in the renewable energy sector, the Renewable Energy Grid Integration Week 2025, which hosted the 24th Wind & Solar Integration Workshop in Berlin. The event, organised by Energynautics, gathered more than 420 participants from 38 countries, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss the challenges and innovations shaping the future of renewable energy integration.

Sharing Insights on Flexibility and Data Interoperability

Georgia Eirini Lazaridou from HEDNO presented a joint paper prepared by HEDNO, IPTO, and NODES, highlighting key findings and progress from the Greek Pilot of the OPENTUNITY project. The presentation focused on the importance of flexibility as a cornerstone for maintaining grid stability and reliability in systems with high renewable energy penetration.

The paper explored how Transmission and Distribution System Operators (TSOs and DSOs) can coordinate flexibility procurement through secure, transparent, and interoperable data exchange mechanisms, an approach that is central to OPENTUNITY’s mission.

📥 You can download the presentation slides here to explore the concepts and findings shared during the session.

OPENTUNITY presentation_Renewable Grid Integration Week 2025 – Opentunity

Flexibility: A Core Enabler for the Energy Transition

A recurring message throughout the workshop was clear: flexibility is the key enabler for addressing the operational challenges of modern power systems. As renewable energy sources like wind and solar become dominant, grid operators must adapt to manage variability and uncertainty in both demand and generation.

To achieve this, it is crucial to:

• Strengthen data exchange frameworks that are secure and interoperable,
• Encourage the participation of diverse flexible assets (such as distributed generation, storage, and demand-side response), and
• Support market-based operation models that reward flexibility contributions.

These topics are at the heart of OPENTUNITY’s ongoing work, particularly within the Greek Pilot, where HEDNO and IPTO are testing new coordination mechanisms for flexibility services and demonstrating their real-world potential.

Aligning Research and Practice

OPENTUNITY’s participation in the workshop reaffirmed how closely aligned its objectives are with the broader research and innovation community working on renewable integration. The discussions and feedback gathered in Berlin will help guide ongoing activities in the project, especially in refining data interoperability frameworks, flexibility market design, and grid operation strategies.

As the project moves into its final phase, these insights will play an important role in shaping the next generation of smart, flexible, and decarbonised European power systems.

by opentunityproject.admin

What Citizens Really Think: Smart Tools, Simpler Markets, and Informed Choices

At OPENTUNITY, we believe that real innovation begins with understanding people. That’s why our project continues to ask:

What do energy users need, want, and understand about the energy transition?

In this second round of stakeholder engagement via social media surveys, we explored perceptions around consumer empowerment, smart technologies, and barriers to participation. The insights help us refine the tools and strategies we’re developing, making the energy system not only smarter, but more inclusive.

Energy Markets: Still Too Complex for Most Citizens

Half of the respondents believe the energy market is too complicated for the average consumer, while the other half thinks consumers are slowly learning to navigate it. No one believed that consumers fully understand it.

Similarly, when asked whether consumers are aware of their ability to actively participate (e.g., via demand response or selling excess energy), a combined 86% said only a minority knows or participates, and 43% said “almost nobody knows.”

This perception gap highlights the need for clearer communication, education, and digital interfaces that guide citizens, something OPENTUNITY addresses through its local engagement campaigns, pilot demonstrations, and work package on knowledge transfer (WP8).

It also reinforces the importance of EU efforts like the Clean Energy Package, which aims to strengthen consumer rights and awareness in the evolving energy market.

Cost Is Still the Top Priority

We also asked: What really matters when choosing an energy provider? A resounding 80% of respondents selected "Cost of Services", while 0% chose “Sustainability Commitments”.

This sends a strong message: while climate awareness is rising, economic pressure remains the primary driver of consumer behavior. OPENTUNITY acknowledges this reality by focusing on solutions that reduce energy costs while enabling environmental gains, such as enabling flexible demand and self-consumption.

As energy prices remain volatile across Europe, especially in the context of geopolitics and the EU Green Deal, ensuring that smart = affordable is crucial for adoption.

Citizens Want Smart, Practical Solutions

When asked about their interest in using smart tools (like smart meters or automated energy management systems), 100% of respondents expressed interest, with 56% being highly interested. This confirms a clear trend: people are open to digital technologies that give them control over their consumption, especially when they simplify complex decisions.

This enthusiasm reinforces our strategy: OPENTUNITY is working to deliver intuitive, impactful digital tools that allow users to take control of their energy usage without needing expert knowledge. These include:

• AI-based energy management systems (EMS).
• Predictive analytics tools for asset health monitoring (e.g., transformers).
• User dashboards for flexibility participation.
• And upcoming energy awareness apps for consumers.

These tools are designed to turn real-time data into actionable guidance, making energy-saving decisions accessible to everyone, not just experts.

Energy Decisions Are Social

Surprisingly, 100% of respondents said friends and family have an impact on energy-related choices, with most rating it as “moderately impactful.”

This social dimension of energy behavior confirms that peer influence, community engagement, and trust-building are key levers. It validates our pilot strategies in Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Greece; where OPENTUNITY combines technical deployment with citizen workshops, local surveys, and real-world demonstrations.

Smart Tools as Habit-Changers

Finally, 100% of participants believe that smart tools can help change our energy habits to be more sustainable. This overwhelming consensus aligns perfectly with OPENTUNITY’s mission.

From smart home integrations to predictive maintenance and flexibility services, we are working on tools that don’t just monitor, they guide, recommend, and empower. The goal: create a feedback loop where data leads to action, and action leads to savings, both economic and environmental.

From Feedback to Features

Each of these survey results fuels the design and delivery of OPENTUNITY’s innovations. Whether through AI-powered analytics, intuitive dashboards, or community-based pilots, we are building a smarter, more inclusive energy system, one that listens, adapts, and empowers.

Because the energy transition won’t succeed without the people it’s meant to serve.

by opentunityproject.admin

OPENTUNITY is developing an advanced Short-Term Asset Management Tool

Reliable operation of power grids depends heavily on the health and performance of critical infrastructure components, especially assets like transformers. Unplanned outages and equipment failures can cause significant disruptions, operational inefficiencies, and a decline in customer trust. Traditional maintenance approaches, often based on routine inspections or scheduled servicing, do not always detect emerging problems in time and can result in unnecessary interventions.

To address these challenges, the OPENTUNITY project is pioneering a smarter, more proactive approach to asset management.

Advanced Monitoring Powered by Machine Learning

As part of this mission, ICCS has developed an advanced Short-Term Asset Management Tool that leverages real-time sensor data and cutting-edge machine learning techniques. This innovative solution enables Distribution and Transmission System Operators (DSOs and TSOs) to monitor, analyze, and protect their most valuable grid components more effectively.

By processing high-frequency data from key equipment, such as transformer oil temperature and dissolved gas levels, the tool applies predictive algorithms to detect early signs of deterioration or failure. These insights empower operators to act before problems escalate, minimizing downtime and avoiding costly repairs.

Operator-Centric Design for Real-World Use

To ensure seamless integration into daily operations, ICCS has also finalized a user-friendly interface 

tailored to the needs of grid operators. Through a clear and interactive dashboard, users can monitor the health of all critical assets at a glance, receive real-time alerts about abnormal conditions, and access six-hour-ahead forecasts of key parameters.

The tool employs industrial standards and advanced anomaly detection methods, delivering both situational awareness and actionable intelligence. This allows operators to transition from reactive maintenance to predictive intervention, ultimately improving system reliability and efficiency.

Benefits for Grid Resilience and Efficiency

With its powerful analytics engine, intuitive design, and predictive capabilities, the Short-Term Asset Management Tool is set to become a cornerstone of data-driven asset management in the energy sector. Among its key benefits:

• Reduced operational and maintenance costs.
• Minimized equipment failure and downtime.
• Extended lifespan of critical assets.
• Improved grid stability and service continuity.

By combining advanced technology with practical application, OPENTUNITY is redefining how utilities safeguard the backbone of their infrastructure, making the grid smarter, greener, and more resilient.

by opentunityproject.admin

What Do Citizens Really Think About the Energy Transition?

At OPENTUNITY, we believe that the energy transition must reflect not only technological advancement, but also the real interests and concerns of citizens. That’s why we’ve launched an online stakeholder engagement campaign through short LinkedIn surveys — aiming to better understand how experts and the broader public perceive energy innovation and flexibility.

We’ve received 48 insightful responses, offering a valuable snapshot of current attitudes, expectations and barriers. Below, we explore the main takeaways and how they connect with OPENTUNITY’s objectives and ongoing developments.

Economic Value Drives Interest in Renewable Adoption

The survey data shows that consumer interest in renewable energy adoption is strong, with 90% expressing either strong or moderate interest in solutions like solar panels or wind turbines. This indicates an encouraging openness to change — but it’s not just environmental concern fueling this interest.

When asked what would most motivate consumers to participate actively in the energy market, a resounding 78% cited the potential to reduce energy bills as their top driver. In contrast, environmental sustainability and gaining control over energy usage each received just 11%, and access to innovative technologies received no votes.

These results highlight a key insight: Interest in renewables is high — but it’s primarily driven by tangible, economic benefits.

This has direct implications for OPENTUNITY. Through its OPENFLEX innovations, dynamic pricing tools, and demand-side flexibility solutions, the project is not only facilitating the integration of renewable sources but also helping consumers translate participation into real savings. It's a strong validation of OPENTUNITY’s dual focus on technical innovation and economic empowerment.

The Challenge: Complexity and Uncertainty

When asked about the biggest barrier to participating in energy initiatives like OPENTUNITY, the most common answer (of 50 percent) was technological complexity. This was followed by uncertainty about the benefits, and a perceived lack of accessible information. Interestingly, data privacy did not appear to be a major concern.

These results highlight the importance of our OPENABILITY pillar, which is focused on improving interoperability and user-friendliness of energy systems. If people are open to adopting new technologies, but are held back by confusion or lack of clarity, then making solutions intuitive and transparent becomes critical.

What Matters Most? Costs and Reliability

We also explored what consumers consider the most valuable outcomes of the energy transition. The top priority was lower energy costs (named by 60 percent), followed by improved reliability. Surprisingly, reducing carbon emissions and boosting energy efficiency received less attention in this round of polling.

This feedback is closely aligned with OPENTUNITY’s goals. Our smart flexibility algorithms, advanced grid tools, and local market frameworks are designed to deliver both cost savings and grid stability. By focusing on economic and practical benefits, we ensure our solutions meet people’s most immediate needs—while still supporting long-term sustainability.

Communication: Going Where People Are

Finally, we asked how citizens prefer to receive information about energy initiatives. Social media was by far the most popular channel (named by 80 percent), with project newsletters a distant second. Traditional media and webinars were not favored at all.

This finding reinforces the importance of our digital communication strategy. Through our LinkedIn and X (Twitter) channels, we’re not just sharing updates—we’re opening a conversation with stakeholders, citizens, and future energy users. And that conversation is shaping how we evolve the project.

Looking Ahead: People-Powered Innovation

These early results provide confirmation for OPENTUNITY’s approach: combining technological excellence with clear communication, citizen engagement, and real-world benefits. By listening closely to the people the energy transition will affect most, we can build systems that are not only smarter, but also more inclusive, responsive, and scalable.

More survey insights are on the way. Stay tuned for future articles exploring how citizens view flexibility, smart technologies, and the evolving role of consumers in Europe’s energy future.

by opentunityproject.admin