FHP · Project

Smart Software That Turns Building Heating Systems Into Grid Batteries for Renewable Energy

energyPilotedTRL 6

fhp-h2020.eu

Imagine your office building's heating system is like a giant rechargeable battery — it can store heat when there's extra wind or solar power on the grid, and release it later when energy is scarce. The FHP project built software that does exactly this, coordinating heating and cooling equipment across buildings so they absorb surplus renewable energy instead of letting it go to waste. They tested it at two real sites in the Netherlands and Sweden, proving that buildings can help the power grid stay stable while cutting energy costs. Think of it as turning every thermostat into a tiny power plant that works with the grid instead of against it.

By the numbers

3,500 TWh

Annual space heating and cooling energy consumption in Europe

30-40%

Share of building energy consumption from HVAC systems

22%

Potential increase in renewables share over total electric consumption from current technical limits

17%

Air conditioning share of total electricity consumption in EU27 residential buildings

Real-world demonstration sites validated (Netherlands and Sweden)

60%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Buildings waste enormous amounts of energy because their heating and cooling systems run on fixed schedules, completely disconnected from what's happening on the power grid. When wind farms or solar parks produce excess electricity, that energy gets curtailed — thrown away — while buildings nearby keep drawing power at peak prices. This disconnect costs utilities billions in wasted renewables and costs building owners more than they should pay for energy.

The solution

What was built

The project built a Power-to-Heat (and Cooling) solution package with a management interface for buildings and grid operators, plus a practical prototype that was deployed and validated at two demonstration sites: Ecovat in the Netherlands and Karlshamn in Sweden. The system coordinates distributed thermal flexibility to absorb excess renewable generation while maintaining building comfort.

Audience

Who needs this

District heating operators looking to integrate more renewables into their thermal networksCommercial building managers wanting to cut HVAC energy costs (30-40% of total building energy)Energy aggregators seeking new sources of demand-side flexibilityGrid operators dealing with congestion and voltage stability from variable renewablesEnergy service companies (ESCOs) developing flexibility-as-a-service offerings

Business applications

Who can put this to work

District heating and energy utilities

enterprise

Target: District heating operators and energy utilities managing thermal networks

If you are a district heating operator dealing with excess renewable generation and grid congestion — this project developed a Power-to-Heat solution package that coordinates thermal flexibility across your network. It was validated at real sites in Sweden (Karlshamn) and the Netherlands (Ecovat), showing how HVAC systems that consume 30-40% of building energy can absorb surplus renewables. This means fewer curtailment losses and new revenue from grid flexibility services.

Commercial real estate

mid-size

Target: Building managers and facility operators of large commercial properties

If you are a building manager struggling with rising electricity costs from HVAC systems that represent 30-40% of your total energy bill — this project built a management interface that optimizes when your heating and cooling runs based on grid conditions. By shifting consumption to periods of cheap renewable surplus, you cut energy costs while providing flexibility services to grid operators. The system was designed for easy integration with existing building management systems.

Energy aggregation and trading

any

Target: Flexibility aggregators and energy service companies (ESCOs)

If you are an energy aggregator looking for new sources of demand-side flexibility — this project proved that distributed thermal systems in buildings can provide services to grid operators, RES owners, and power market actors. With heating and cooling representing 17% of residential electricity and over 19% in commercial buildings, the untapped thermal flexibility pool is massive. The FHP solution was tested across two European grid contexts, demonstrating cross-market applicability.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this system in our buildings?

The project data does not include specific pricing or implementation costs. As a publicly funded research project (RIA), the technology was validated at demonstration scale. Pricing would depend on building size, existing HVAC infrastructure, and the flexibility services contract with your grid operator. Contact us for a tailored assessment.

Can this work at industrial scale across hundreds of buildings?

The system was designed to manage complexity across distributed thermal assets and was validated in two different demonstration scenarios — one in the Netherlands (Ecovat) and one in Sweden (Karlshamn) — representing diverse parts of the European power grid. The consortium included 6 industry partners and 4 SMEs, indicating strong commercial interest in scaling. The project targeted the enormous flexibility potential from 3,500 TWh of annual heating and cooling consumption across Europe.

Who owns the IP and how can we license this technology?

The project was coordinated by VITO (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek) in Belgium, a major research and technology organization. IP rights are typically shared among the 10 consortium partners according to their Horizon 2020 grant agreement. Licensing inquiries should be directed to the coordinator or the specific partner that developed the component you need.

Does this comply with EU energy market regulations?

The project was specifically designed to work within European power market structures, providing services to grid operators, aggregators, and RES owners. It was tested across two different European grid contexts (Netherlands and Sweden) to ensure regulatory compatibility. As regulations vary by country, specific compliance would need to be verified for your market.

How long does it take to deploy this system?

The project ran from November 2016 to October 2019, with the validation phase producing results at both the Karlshamn and Ecovat demonstration sites. Based on available project data, the prototype was developed and deployed within the 3-year project timeline. Actual deployment time for a commercial installation would depend on your existing infrastructure.

Can this integrate with our existing building management system?

The FHP project specifically developed what they call an 'easily accessible interface aimed at buildings and power grid actors.' The solution was designed to manage the complexity of distributed thermal flexibility through this interface, suggesting integration capability with existing systems. The consortium's 60% industry ratio indicates the solution was built with real-world compatibility in mind.

Consortium

Who built it

The FHP consortium is well-balanced for commercialization with 10 partners across 5 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden). With 6 industry partners (60%) and 4 SMEs, this is not an ivory-tower research effort — the majority of participants have direct market interest. The coordinator VITO is a major Belgian research and technology organization with strong industry transfer credentials. The geographic spread across Northern and Southern Europe, combined with validation sites in both the Netherlands and Sweden, demonstrates the solution works across different climate zones and grid architectures. The presence of 4 SMEs suggests agile partners likely positioned to bring specific components to market.

VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V.Coordinator · BE
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN ABparticipant · SE
HONEYWELL, SPOL. S.R.Oparticipant · CZ
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENthirdparty · BE
NODAIS ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

VITO (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek), Belgium — contact through SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the research team.

Order a report on this consortium See VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how FHP's thermal flexibility technology could reduce your energy costs or create new revenue streams? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner for your specific needs.

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