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INTERRFACE · Project

A Digital Platform That Lets Grid Operators and Customers Trade Energy Services Across Europe

energyPilotedTRL 7
interrface.eu

Imagine Europe's electricity grid as a massive highway system where power flows in both directions — from big power plants down to homes, but increasingly also back up from rooftop solar panels and batteries. Right now, the companies managing the highways (grid operators) and the companies managing local roads (distribution operators) don't coordinate well when buying services like "please use less power now" or "store energy for later." INTERRFACE built a shared digital platform — think of it as an Uber-style marketplace — where grid operators can buy these flexibility services from anyone, including households with solar panels, using blockchain and big data tools to keep everything transparent and secure.

By the numbers
48
consortium partners involved in development and validation
16
European countries where the architecture was tested
34
industry partners ensuring commercial viability
71%
industry ratio in the consortium
9
SMEs participating in the project
14
total project deliverables produced
The business problem

What needed solving

European electricity grids are struggling because renewable energy flows in both directions — from large plants and from millions of small producers like solar rooftops and batteries. Grid operators at the transmission level (TSOs) and distribution level (DSOs) currently buy balancing and congestion management services separately, creating inefficiency and leaving distributed energy resources untapped. This fragmentation means higher costs for grid management, slower integration of renewables, and missed revenue opportunities for flexibility providers.

The solution

What was built

INTERRFACE developed an interoperable pan-European Grid Services Architecture — a digital platform that serves as the interface between grid operators (TSOs and DSOs) and energy customers, enabling coordinated procurement of balancing, congestion management, and ancillary services. The platform uses blockchain for transparent transactions and big data management to optimize distributed energy resources, with a web portal for communication and 14 deliverables covering the full system.

Audience

Who needs this

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) managing increasing renewable penetrationTransmission System Operators (TSOs) needing better coordination with distribution-level resourcesDemand response aggregators and virtual power plant operators seeking cross-border market accessEnergy software companies building grid management or trading platformsNational energy regulators implementing EU Network Codes for TSO-DSO cooperation
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Electricity Distribution
enterprise
Target: Distribution System Operators (DSOs) managing regional power grids

If you are a distribution grid operator struggling to manage congestion from growing rooftop solar and EV charging — this project developed an interoperable grid services architecture that coordinates procurement of balancing and congestion management services between transmission and distribution levels. With 48 partners across 16 countries validating the approach, the platform enables you to tap into distributed energy resources you currently cannot access.

Energy Aggregation & Flexibility
mid-size
Target: Demand response aggregators and virtual power plant operators

If you are a flexibility aggregator trying to sell demand response services but hitting barriers because TSO and DSO markets are fragmented — INTERRFACE designed pan-European market structures specifically to let distributed energy resources participate in wholesale and ancillary services markets. The blockchain-based tools provide transparent settlement, reducing disputes and speeding up payments for your flexibility services.

Energy Technology & Software
any
Target: Smart grid software vendors and energy management platform providers

If you are an energy tech company building grid management tools but each country requires different integrations — INTERRFACE created an interoperable architecture tested across 16 European countries. The platform's open design and digital tools based on blockchain and big data management offer a proven blueprint you can integrate into your products to serve TSOs and DSOs across multiple markets.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this platform?

The project data does not include specific implementation costs or licensing fees. As an Innovation Action with 48 partners, significant development investment was made. Contact the coordinator European Dynamics Luxembourg SA for pricing and deployment options.

Can this work at industrial scale across multiple countries?

Yes — the architecture was specifically designed for pan-European scale and tested across 16 countries with 48 consortium partners. The 71% industry ratio (34 industry partners) indicates the solution was built with real operational requirements in mind, not just academic theory.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

Based on available project data, IP is held by the consortium of 48 partners coordinated by European Dynamics Luxembourg SA. As an EU Innovation Action, results are expected to be exploitable commercially. Specific licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the consortium.

Does this comply with EU electricity market regulations?

The project was explicitly designed around EU Network Codes and Guidelines for TSO-DSO cooperation. It directly addresses the European Commission's legislative proposals on energy market coordination, making it regulation-aligned by design.

How long would integration take for an existing grid operator?

The project ran from 2019 to 2022 and is now closed. Based on available project data, the architecture is interoperable by design, meaning it should connect with existing systems. Actual integration timelines depend on your current infrastructure and would need to be discussed with the technology providers in the consortium.

Can this connect with our existing SCADA and grid management systems?

The platform was designed as an interoperable architecture — its core purpose is to act as an interface between different power system operators and customers. With 34 industry partners involved in development, real-world integration requirements were central to the design.

Consortium

Who built it

This is one of the larger EU energy consortia with 48 partners across 16 countries — a serious cross-border effort. The 71% industry ratio (34 out of 48 partners) signals this was built for commercial reality, not just academic papers. The coordinator, European Dynamics Luxembourg SA, is a private company (not a university), which typically means stronger focus on exploitable results. With 9 SMEs in the mix and 10 universities providing research backing, the consortium blends operational know-how with cutting-edge technology. The geographic spread across 16 countries — including major energy markets like Germany, Spain, Italy, and Finland alongside emerging markets like Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia — suggests the architecture was validated across very different grid conditions and regulatory environments.

How to reach the team

European Dynamics Luxembourg SA (Luxembourg) — a private technology company specializing in IT solutions for public and private sector. Search for their energy division or INTERRFACE project lead.

Order a report on this consortiumSee EUROPEAN DYNAMICS LUXEMBOURG SA profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the INTERRFACE team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right technical contact for your specific grid integration needs.

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