Interoperability
OPENTUNITY Showcased Flexible Energy Solutions at Power2Drive Europe 2026
From 22 to 25 June 2026, the OPENTUNITY project was represented at Power2Drive Europe, Europe's leading exhibition for charging infrastructure and electric mobility, held as part of The smarter E Europe in Munich, Germany.
Project partner Hive Power presented OPENTUNITY's work to an international audience of energy professionals, highlighting how the project is helping build a more flexible, interoperable and user-centric energy ecosystem for Europe's electricity grids.
Strong interest from the e-mobility sector
Power2Drive brought together key players from across the electric mobility value chain, providing an ideal setting to discuss the role of flexibility in future energy systems.
According to Hive Power, the greatest interest came from charge point operators and fleet managers, who
were particularly interested in understanding how smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies can unlock flexibility services while making better use of existing charging infrastructure.
The project's interoperability approach also attracted considerable attention. Many visitors recognised the need for solutions capable of connecting different platforms and technologies, rather than introducing additional complexity into an already fragmented ecosystem.
Discussions focused on flexibility and market value
Throughout the event, conversations frequently centred on two key topics that are also at the heart of OPENTUNITY.
The first concerned the assessment of flexibility available from electric vehicles and battery storage systems, and how these distributed resources can actively contribute to demand response programmes and grid services.
The second focused on the business perspective, exploring how the value created through flexibility services can be fairly distributed among prosumers, aggregators and grid operators, an essential aspect for accelerating the adoption of flexibility markets across Europe.
Within OPENTUNITY, Hive Power contributes to these challenges by developing solutions to estimate flexibility from EVs and battery storage while optimising demand response actions through interoperable software integrated into the project's wider flexibility ecosystem.
Creating opportunities beyond the exhibition
Participation in Power2Drive also opened the door to new collaborations. Hive Power established several promising contacts with fleet operators and managers, with follow-up meetings already scheduled to explore how electric vehicle fleets could participate in future flexibility markets.
These discussions demonstrate the growing interest in practical flexibility solutions and reinforce the relevance of OPENTUNITY's work in supporting Europe's transition towards a smarter, more resilient and consumer-centred energy system.
OPENTUNITY and the Rise of AI in Energy
A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), titled "Energy and AI", offers a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of how artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape the global energy landscape. The report emphasizes both the transformative potential of AI and the energy challenges it may bring, particularly concerning the soaring electricity demand of data centers.
According to the IEA, the electricity demand from data centers could more than double by 2030, reaching 945 TWh—more than the current total electricity consumption of Japan. AI-optimized data centers are expected to account for the majority of this increase. In countries like the United States, data centers could drive nearly half of the projected electricity demand growth over the next five years.
Yet, while the rising energy consumption poses challenges, the report also highlights how AI can offer powerful solutions: reducing costs, enhancing system efficiency, increasing competitiveness, and lowering emissions. These insights align closely with OPENTUNITY’s mission.
What This Means for OPENTUNITY
The OPENTUNITY project is dedicated to designing and testing innovative energy solutions that promote digitalization, flexibility, and sustainability in the energy system. AI plays an increasingly important role in enabling smarter, data-driven decision-making across the energy value chain—from optimizing grid operations to empowering end-users to manage their consumption more efficiently.
Several OPENTUNITY innovations, such as federated data exchange frameworks, intelligent grid flexibility mechanisms, and user-centered energy management tools, are designed to not only accommodate but leverage AI technologies. As the IEA report points out, such technologies can help mitigate the growing demand of AI itself by improving the overall energy system’s efficiency and enabling cleaner energy integration.
Bridging Innovation and Infrastructure
A critical point in the IEA report is the urgent need for investment in generation and grid infrastructure to support AI’s rising electricity demand. This complements one of OPENTUNITY’s key areas of focus: enhancing grid flexibility and promoting better coordination between distribution system operators (DSOs), transmission system operators (TSOs), and end-users.
Through its pilot projects across Europe, including initiatives focused on smart grid management, local flexibility markets, and data sovereignty, OPENTUNITY directly contributes to the kind of systemic transformation the IEA envisions—where technology, policy, and infrastructure evolve together to unlock a sustainable energy future.
Looking Forward
The IEA also notes that the full potential of AI in the energy sector will require strong cooperation between policymakers, technology providers, and energy stakeholders. This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of the OPENTUNITY project, bringing together 21 partners from 9 countries to develop interoperable solutions that are scalable across Europe.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in both scientific discovery and energy system operations, OPENTUNITY will continue to explore its role in accelerating clean energy innovation and ensuring that digital technologies remain aligned with Europe’s sustainability goals.
📄 Explore the full IEA report here: IEA Energy and AI Report
Want to learn how OPENTUNITY is preparing for an AI-driven energy future? Follow us for more updates.
Integration of Avantcar’s EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices with Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform
Integration of Avantcar’s EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices with Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform
10/05/2024
Kolektor sETup’s is an independent aggregator specialising in the optimisation of flexibility asset portfolios and the provision of ancillary services to Slovenian DSOs and a TSO. A primary focus of Kolektor sETup’s endeavors is to introduce innovative approaches to ancillary service provision, leveraging fleets of, for example, EV charging points or home energy management systems (HEMS) devices rather than utilising solely individual, larger flexibility assets such as diesel generators. This objective is integral to the OPENTUNITY innovation initiative, driving forward our commitment to pioneering solutions in the energy sector.
Over the past six months, Kolektor sETup has been fully immersed in integrating Avantcar’s fleet of EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices fleet with its aggregator platform. This process began with the seamless integration of a single EV charging station and a single HEMS device to test the monitoring and management capabilities of these individual devices. With the successful validation of this initial integration, Kolektor sETup swiftly progressed to integrate over 70 EV charging stations and more than 50 HEMS devices into its aggregator platform.
Real-time consumption data from both fleets is now systematically collected and securely stored within the databases of Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform. With the completion of the integration phase, Kolektor sETup has initiated the data collection period, paving the way for the subsequent development of forecast algorithms tailored to each fleet. These algorithms will serve as the foundation for offering ancillary services, marking a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to innovate and optimize within the energy sector.
