ELES DOO OPERATER KOMBINIRANEGA PRENOSNEGA IN DISTRIBUCIJSKEGA ELEKTROENERGETSKEGA OMREZJA

Their core work

ELES is Slovenia's national electricity transmission system operator (TSO), responsible for operating and maintaining the high-voltage power grid. In EU research, they contribute real-world grid infrastructure, operational data, and regulatory expertise to projects tackling electricity market integration, TSO-DSO coordination, and grid modernization. They serve as a critical testbed for validating new grid management tools, flexibility solutions, and cross-border energy trading mechanisms at transmission-system scale. Their participation brings the perspective of a mid-sized European TSO navigating the energy transition with limited domestic resources but strong cross-border interconnection needs.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ELES's early H2020 work (2015–2018) focused on fundamental energy transition challenges: integrating renewables via power electronics (MIGRATE), designing flexibility markets (OSMOSE), and building the eTrading platform for cross-border balancing as coordinator of FutureFlow. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward operational grid digitalization — TSO-DSO data exchange (INTERRFACE, OneNet), grid planning tools (FlexPlan), big data analytics (BD4NRG), and cybersecurity (CyberSEAS). A new thread in EV charging infrastructure (INCIT-EV) signals expansion beyond pure transmission into transport-energy coupling.

ELES is moving from market-level energy trading toward data-driven grid operations, digital security, and sector coupling with transport — expect future work in AI-assisted grid management and vehicle-to-grid services.

How they like to work

ELES primarily joins large consortia as a participant (11 of 12 projects), contributing real grid infrastructure and operational validation rather than leading research agendas. They coordinated one major project (FutureFlow, their largest at EUR 1.6M) focused on cross-border balancing — a topic where TSO leadership is natural. With 299 unique partners across 31 countries, they are a well-connected hub in the European energy research network, making them a reliable consortium partner who brings grid-operator credibility and demonstration capacity.

Exceptionally broad network of 299 partners across 31 countries, reflecting ELES's role in large pan-European energy system projects. Their reach spans virtually all EU member states, consistent with a TSO that operates at the intersection of national and cross-border electricity markets.

What sets them apart

ELES occupies a distinctive niche as a small-country TSO with outsized European engagement — 12 H2020 projects is remarkable for a Slovenian grid operator. Their combined transmission-distribution mandate (unusual in Europe where these are often separate entities) gives them integrated insight into the full electricity value chain from high-voltage transmission down to distribution. For consortium builders, ELES offers a real operational grid for demonstrations, regulatory access in a smaller EU market that moves faster than larger ones, and a bridge between Western and Southeastern European energy systems.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FutureFlow
  ELES's only coordinated project and largest funding (EUR 1.6M) — designed eTrading solutions for cross-border electricity balancing, positioning ELES as a leader in regional market integration.
• INTERRFACE
  Addressed the critical TSO-DSO-Consumer interface architecture with comprehensive scope covering network codes, pan-EU markets, and grid services — directly aligned with ELES's core mission.
• INCIT-EV
  Marks ELES's expansion beyond traditional grid operations into EV charging infrastructure including dynamic wireless power transfer and superfast chargers — a strategic move into transport electrification.