Working with the European Commission, for the 4th consecutive year, we are excited to give a platform to numerous EU funded projects contributing to the digitalisation of energy.
For more information on the EU Commission's objective and endorsement of Enlit Europe click here
The Need For Innovation In The European Energy Landscape
The shift towards a low carbon economy – especially the deployment of renewable sources of energy and the decentralization of energy generation – calls for increasing digitalisation of the energy system. The digital developments (big data, the internet of things, smart grids, smart metering, smart homes and buildings, smart charging solutions for electric vehicles, and the more recent artificial intelligence, 5G and high-performance computing) impact multiple aspects of the European energy landscape.
The greater use of digital technology contributes to using energy more intelligently and efficiently and to optimising transmission, distribution and consumption (energy efficiency). Moreover, the increased use of digital in energy production, transport and distribution is making cybersecurity a key concern, thus calling for appropriate consideration of this challenge in the development of solutions.
The energy sector is a good example of where digital products and services can provide new opportunities for consumers and European companies, thus creating high value-added employment and offering new business opportunities based on technology, research and innovation.
H2020 has put together basic elements in addressing some of these challenges and in putting the basis for the creating of a market for energy services (by notably supporting the creation of partnerships and critical mass in addressing such challenges).
However, the establishment of such market and the further creation of innovative solutions and services is still a challenge that calls for an elevation of the European efforts with emphasis (in parallel to research and innovation) on measures aiming at the creation of better conditions for access to knowledge, infrastructure and services deployment.
The urgent need now is to scale up innovative solutions and ensure large-scale deployment of digitally-enabled markets for energy services. This requires an interoperable ecosystem.
The Commission aims to foster and facilitate this nascent development via the plans recently put forward for the next MFF. The ambition is to bridge research and innovation to be supported by Horizon Europe, with investments in smart grids and the operational digital platforms, which will contribute to the digitalisation of energy, under the new CEF2 programme and the large-scale deployment of services envisaged under the Digital Europe Programme.
