Imagine thousands of homes with solar panels on the roof — sometimes they produce more power than they use, sometimes less. The electricity grid wasn't built for this two-way traffic, and grid operators struggle to keep things balanced. Flex4Grid built a cloud-based platform that lets grid operators see what's happening across all these small producers in real time and adjust demand and supply flexibly — while keeping everyone's data private. They tested it in 3 real electricity networks across Europe.
Grid operators across Europe are struggling to manage the growing flood of distributed solar energy from homes and businesses. Traditional grids were designed for one-way power flow, and the unpredictable generation and consumption patterns of prosumers threaten grid stability. Meanwhile, energy aggregators who could help balance the grid often cannot access DSO data or infrastructure to offer their services.
A cloud-based smart grid management platform with a secure data exchange layer, a DMS interface component using OPC UA and CIM standards, a privacy and security module with anonymized data access, and prosumer flexibility management tools — all tested through two pilot deployment cycles in 3 live electricity networks.
If you are a DSO dealing with grid instability caused by growing rooftop solar installations — this project developed a cloud-based data management platform tested in 3 live electricity networks that lets you monitor and manage prosumer flexibility in real time, reducing the need for costly grid infrastructure upgrades.
If you are an energy aggregator struggling to access DSO grid data for your flexibility services — this project built an open data and service platform with secure third-party access that was piloted across 3 countries (Germany, Finland, Slovenia), letting new market entrants offer demand response and flexibility services without building their own infrastructure.
If you are a smart grid technology company looking for a proven integration layer between your devices and utility systems — this project delivered a DMS interface component using OPC UA and Common Information Model (CIM) standards (IEC 61970-301 and 61968-11), deployed in scenarios ranging from smart meter rollout to large-scale operation across 8 consortium partners.
The project received EUR 2,680,253 in EU funding across 8 partners. Licensing or adoption costs are not published in the project data. Contact the consortium coordinator (VTT, Finland) for commercial terms.
Yes. The system was validated in real-world pilots across 3 live electricity networks in different countries, with scenarios ranging from smart meter rollout and retrofitting to large-scale operation and federated multi-site demonstration.
The project was an Innovation Action with 5 industry partners (62% industry ratio) including 2 SMEs. The system was built from existing ICT components developed by consortium partners over many years. IP arrangements would need to be discussed with the coordinator, VTT.
The platform was designed with privacy by design. It includes a dedicated Security and Privacy Module (delivered in two iterations) and an anonymized data interface for third-party access to grid data.
The project explicitly targeted TRL 7 (system prototype demonstrated in operational environment). Two pilot deployment cycles were completed in live electricity networks. The system uses established standards like OPC UA and CIM.
Yes. A dedicated DMS interface component was built using OPC UA web services and CIM standards (IEC 61970-301 and 61968-11), specifically designed to interface with existing distribution management systems.
The project ended in March 2018. Based on available project data, ongoing development or maintenance status is unclear. The consortium included VTT and 4 other industry partners who may have continued development commercially.
The Flex4Grid consortium of 8 partners across 4 countries (Germany, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia) is heavily industry-oriented at 62%, with 5 industry partners and 2 SMEs alongside 3 research organizations. The coordinator is VTT, Finland's top applied research center, which brings credibility for technology transfer. The absence of universities and the Innovation Action funding type signal this was built for near-market deployment, not academic exploration. The mix of DSO partners providing live grid access and technology companies building the platform makes the results practically relevant for commercial adoption.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland — search for Flex4Grid project lead at VTT for direct contact
Want an introduction to the Flex4Grid team to discuss licensing or pilot deployment? SciTransfer can organize a direct meeting with the technology developers.
