IELECTRIX · Project

Proven Tools for Grid Operators to Connect Local Energy Communities Profitably

energyPilotedTRL 7

ielectrix-h2020.eu

Imagine a neighborhood where everyone has solar panels and batteries, and they want to trade electricity with each other and the grid. The problem is, the companies that run the power lines don't have the digital tools or the flexible equipment to handle this two-way flow without expensive upgrades. IELECTRIX brought together 4 European grid operators and one Indian one, tested mobile battery containers that can be moved between substations, and built software that lets local communities manage their own energy while still keeping the grid stable. They ran real-world demos across 5 countries with different regulations to prove it works everywhere, not just in a lab.

By the numbers

Countries with live demonstration sites (Austria, France, Hungary, Germany, India)

Consortium partners across the project

Countries represented in the consortium

European DSOs participating (E.ON, ENEDIS, E.DIS, Güssing Stadtwerke)

Functional use cases tested simultaneously in Austria and India

77%

Industry partner ratio in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Grid operators face a costly dilemma: every time a local energy community wants to connect renewables, the DSO must decide whether to invest in permanent infrastructure upgrades — without knowing if demand will justify the cost. Meanwhile, low-voltage networks lack the digital tools to let prosumers participate in grid balancing, leaving flexibility value on the table. This creates a bottleneck that slows renewable integration and frustrates both communities and utilities.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered mobile battery storage units that can be repositioned between substations to defer costly fixed upgrades, plus a software platform for forecasting distributed energy resources, managing prosumer demand response with personalized flexibility profiles, and enabling grid-forming islanding for community resilience. All solutions were implemented, measured against KPIs, and documented with business models and deployment roadmaps across 5 countries.

Audience

Who needs this

Distribution System Operators planning grid upgrades for renewable connectionsEnergy community developers needing proven business models for regulatorsSmart grid technology vendors seeking field-validated use casesMunicipal utilities exploring mobile storage to manage grid congestionEnergy regulators evaluating grid code updates for local energy communities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Electricity Distribution

enterprise

Target: Distribution System Operators (DSOs) managing medium and low voltage grids

If you are a DSO struggling with costly grid upgrades every time a new renewable community wants to connect — this project demonstrated a mobile storage concept at substation level, tested across 3 countries (Hungary, Germany, Austria), that lets you defer fixed infrastructure investment and reduce connection uncertainty. The approach was validated across 5 different regulatory regimes with 4 European DSOs including E.ON and ENEDIS.

Energy Technology & Software

any

Target: Smart grid software vendors and energy management platform providers

If you are an energy tech company looking for field-validated use cases to build products around — this project tested 3 functional use cases simultaneously in Austria and India: DER forecasting and scheduling, context-aware flexibility profiles for prosumers, and grid-forming islanding for community resilience. ATOS and Schneider were involved in the solution delivery, and the results include KPI-evaluated demonstration data.

Renewable Energy Development

SME

Target: Local energy community developers and renewable energy cooperatives

If you are setting up or managing a local energy community and need to prove your business case to the grid operator — this project produced viable business models and regulatory adjustment proposals tested in 5 countries. The 26-partner consortium documented deployment roadmaps and replication guidelines, with scaling tested by HEDNO in Greece and E.ON in Sweden.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement these solutions?

The project data does not include specific per-unit costs for the mobile storage or software platforms. However, the demonstrations produced KPI evaluations and investment barrier risk analyses that could inform your business case. Contact the coordinator for access to the cost-benefit data from the 5 demonstration sites.

Can this scale beyond the demonstration sites?

Yes — scaling and replication were explicitly tested by HEDNO in Greece and E.ON in Sweden, beyond the original 5 demo countries. The consortium designed solutions for replication across different regulatory regimes, and the 77% industry ratio (20 out of 26 partners) suggests strong commercial orientation.

What about IP and licensing for the technologies?

Based on available project data, the solutions were developed by commercial partners including ATOS and Schneider Electric within an Innovation Action. IP arrangements would be governed by the consortium agreement. Interested companies should contact the coordinator ENEDIS or the specific technology providers directly.

Does this work under my country's regulations?

The project was specifically designed to test across 5 different regulatory regimes: Austria, France, Hungary, Germany, and India (Delhi). The deliverables include proposals for legal, regulatory and grid code updates, making it easier to adapt to additional regulatory environments.

How long until these solutions can be deployed?

The project ran from 2019 to 2023 and completed full demonstration cycles including factory tests, implementation, and KPI evaluation. The deliverables include deployment roadmaps for the most promising use cases. Several solutions are at pilot-proven stage ready for commercial deployment decisions.

Can these tools integrate with our existing grid management systems?

The project implemented international technology standards with regard to interoperability and replication of technical solutions, as documented in their deliverables. Solutions were tested on real networks operated by major DSOs (E.ON, ENEDIS, E.DIS), suggesting compatibility with standard utility infrastructure.

Consortium

Who built it

The IELECTRIX consortium is exceptionally industry-heavy with 20 out of 26 partners (77%) coming from industry, supported by just 2 universities and 4 research centers. This signals a project built for real-world deployment, not academic publishing. The consortium includes 4 major European DSOs — E.ON, ENEDIS, E.DIS, and Güssing Stadtwerke — plus Indian utility TATA, giving it direct access to operational grid infrastructure across 5 regulatory environments. Technology delivery came from established players like ATOS and Schneider Electric. With 6 SMEs in the mix and scaling work by HEDNO (Greece) and E.ON (Sweden), the consortium was designed to move from demonstration to replication. For a business looking to adopt these solutions, the heavy involvement of real grid operators means the technology was tested under actual operational conditions, not just simulated ones.

ENEDISCoordinator · FR
ENERGIE GUSSING GMBHparticipant · AT
FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOSparticipant · ES
SMART INNOVATION NORWAY ASparticipant · NO
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC FRANCE SASthirdparty · FR
ODIT-Eparticipant · FR
MERIT CONSULTING HOUSEparticipant · BE
E ON ENERGIDISTRIBUTION ABthirdparty · SE
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHENparticipant · DE
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SASparticipant · FR
UNIVERSIDAD PONTIFICIA COMILLASparticipant · ES
WIRTSCHAFTSAGENTUR BURGENLAND FORSCHUNGS- UND INNOVATIONS GMBHparticipant · AT
VAASAETT LTD AB OYparticipant · FI
DIACHEIRISTIS ELLINIKOU DIKTYOU DIANOMIS ELEKTRIKIS ENERGEIAS AEparticipant · EL
E.ON GROUP INNOVATION GMBHthirdparty · DE
ATOS SPAIN SAparticipant · ES
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC ESPANA SAthirdparty · ES
HYPERTECH (CHAIPERTEK) ANONYMOS VIOMICHANIKI EMPORIKI ETAIREIA PLIROFORIKIS KAI NEON TECHNOLOGIONparticipant · EL
EUROPAISCHES ZENTRUM FUR ERNEUERBARE ENERGIE GUSSING GMBHparticipant · AT
ATOS IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES IBERIA SLthirdparty · ES
E.ON DEL-DUNANTULI ARAMHALOZATI ZARTKORUEN MUKODO RESZVENYTARSASAGthirdparty · HU
E.ON ESZAK-DUNANTULI ARAMHALOZATI ZARTKORUEN MUKODO RTparticipant · HU
MERIT CONSULTING HOUSE - OLOKRIROMENES SYMVOULEFTIKES IPIRESIES EPIXEIRISEON IDIOTIKI KEFALAIOUXIKI ETAIREIAparticipant · EL
GECO GLOBAL APSparticipant · DK

How to reach the team

ENEDIS (France) — major French electricity distribution operator. Use the project website or CORDIS contact form to reach the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See ENEDIS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the IELECTRIX team and help you assess which demonstrated solutions match your grid challenges. We handle the introductions so you can focus on evaluation.

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