AnyPLACE · Project

Smart Metering Platform That Turns Energy Consumers Into Active Market Players

energyPilotedTRL 7

anyplace2020.org

Imagine your electricity meter could do more than just count how much power you use — it could actually help you sell energy back, shift your usage to cheaper hours, and keep the grid stable when the sun stops shining. AnyPLACE built a modular, plug-and-play box that sits between your home (or business) and the energy market, handling electricity, gas, heating and cooling in one device. Think of it like a smart router, but instead of internet traffic, it manages energy flows in both directions. The team designed it to cost under €100 per unit and tested it in real-world field trials.

By the numbers

<€100

Target cost per unit configuration

Consortium partners

Countries represented (AT, BE, DE, PT)

Industrial partners in consortium

Total project deliverables

Real-world field trial completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Energy utilities and grid operators face a growing mismatch: more renewable energy sources mean more unpredictable supply, but most metering infrastructure is one-directional and passive. Consumers cannot participate in balancing the grid or respond to price signals because they lack the hardware and software interface to do so. Meanwhile, deploying advanced metering infrastructure remains expensive and fragmented across different energy types and regulatory contexts.

The solution

What was built

The project built a modular, plug-and-play smart metering platform (both hardware and software) that acts as a bidirectional gateway between end users and energy markets. It covers electricity, gas, heating and cooling metering, was tested in laboratory and real-world field trials, and produced near-market prototypes targeting a unit cost under €100. A total of 11 deliverables were completed including the field trial implementation.

Audience

Who needs this

Distribution System Operators managing grid congestion from renewablesEnergy retailers building demand response programs for residential customersDemand response aggregators needing affordable endpoint devicesSmart meter manufacturers looking for next-generation modular designsBuilding management companies adding energy optimization to their platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Energy Utilities

enterprise

Target: Distribution System Operators (DSOs) managing grid stability with growing renewable penetration

If you are a distribution system operator dealing with voltage fluctuations and grid congestion from rooftop solar and wind — this project developed a modular metering platform tested in field trials that enables demand response and active grid management. The plug-and-play design targets a cost under €100 per unit, making large-scale rollout economically viable. The platform handles bidirectional energy flows, letting you balance supply and demand without expensive grid upgrades.

Energy Retail & Aggregation

mid-size

Target: Energy retailers and demand response aggregators looking for customer engagement tools

If you are an energy retailer or aggregator struggling to engage residential customers in demand response programs — this project built a gateway platform that turns passive consumers into active market participants. It was designed as a bidirectional service exchange connecting end users with market representatives, tested in real field conditions. The modular architecture means you can configure it for different regulatory contexts across European markets.

Smart Home & Building Automation

SME

Target: IoT and building management companies integrating energy services into their platforms

If you are a building automation or IoT company looking to add energy management capabilities — this project created a modular hardware and software platform covering electricity, gas, heating and cooling metering in one device. The plug-and-play design with a target cost under €100 means it can be retrofitted into existing installations. Field trial results from 4 European countries provide validated performance data.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this platform at scale?

The project explicitly targeted a unit cost not exceeding €100 per device configuration, including retrofitted solutions. A cost-benefit analysis on different module combinations was developed as part of the project to ensure economic viability across deployment scenarios.

Has this been tested beyond the lab?

Yes. The project included both smart grid laboratory testing and a real-world field trial, confirmed by a dedicated deliverable ('Implementation of a Field trial'). Near-market prototype versions were produced and transferred to industrial consortium partners.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

The project was coordinated by INESC TEC (Portugal) with 8 partners across 4 countries including 3 industrial partners. IP arrangements would need to be discussed with the consortium. The project explicitly aimed for technology transfer to industrial partners and general industry.

Does this comply with European energy regulations and standards?

The platform was developed in parallel with current and expected regulatory initiatives and standards. The project specifically analyzed different regulatory contexts across European markets and designed configurations adaptable to each. It addresses energy and telecommunications standards compliance.

How long would integration take with our existing systems?

The platform uses a modular, plug-and-play architecture designed for flexibility. Different module combinations address different deployment scenarios, and retrofitting options were specifically developed. Based on the project completing field trials by mid-2018, integration timelines would depend on your specific configuration needs.

Can this handle multiple energy types, not just electricity?

Yes. The platform was designed for remote metering of electricity, gas, heating and cooling. The modular approach means you can select which energy vectors to monitor and manage based on your specific requirements.

What countries and market conditions has this been validated in?

The consortium spans 4 countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Portugal. The field trial and laboratory testing validated performance across these different European market conditions and regulatory environments.

Consortium

Who built it

The AnyPLACE consortium of 8 partners across 4 countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal) brings a balanced mix: 3 industrial partners (38%), 2 universities, 2 research organizations, and 1 other entity. The coordinator, INESC TEC, is a well-established Portuguese research and technology organization. The absence of SMEs and the focus on established industrial partners suggests the project was designed for utility-scale deployment rather than startup-driven innovation. The geographic spread covers key European energy markets — Germany (largest EU electricity market), Austria and Portugal (high renewable penetration), and Belgium (interconnection hub). With 3 industrial partners directly involved, the technology transfer pathway to market is relatively clear, though no SME participation may limit agility in commercialization.

INESC TEC - INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES, TECNOLOGIA E CIENCIACoordinator · PT
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIENparticipant · AT
KREIS LIPPE DER LANDRATparticipant · DE
EFACEC ENERGIA - MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS ELECTRICOS SAparticipant · PT
TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE OSTWESTFALEN-LIPPEparticipant · DE
JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSIONparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

INESC TEC - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência, Portugal. Contact via CORDIS or project website.

Order a report on this consortium See INESC TEC - INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES, TECNOLOGIA E CIENCIA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the AnyPLACE smart metering platform or connecting with the development team? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the right technical contact at INESC TEC.

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