Software That Balances Electricity, Gas and Heat Networks as One Unified System

Imagine you're juggling three different energy systems — electricity, gas, and district heating — and trying to keep them all balanced while wind and solar power keep changing unpredictably. PLANET built planning software that lets grid operators see all three networks on one screen and figure out the smartest way to shift energy between them. Think of it like a GPS for energy: instead of routing cars, it routes power, gas, and heat to wherever they're needed most. The tools were validated using real data from utility companies in Italy and France that actually manage all three types of networks.

What needed solving

As Europe pushes toward 97% renewable electricity generation by 2050, grid operators face a massive balancing problem. Wind and solar output swings wildly, and managing electricity, gas, and heating networks in separate silos wastes the flexibility that cross-network energy conversion could provide. Operators and planners currently lack the software tools to see all three networks together and make data-driven decisions about where to invest in power-to-gas, power-to-heat, or thermal storage infrastructure.

What was built

PLANET delivered three core software components: an Integrated Decision Support System with a Monitoring and Orchestration Cockpit (IDOC) for cross-network operational planning, a Communication Middleware for interoperability between system components, and a fully integrated ICT platform tested and documented for deployment. In total, the project produced 39 deliverables covering simulation of electricity, gas, and heat network integration.

Who needs this

Who can put this to work

Quick answers

Who built it

This is a strong, industry-heavy consortium with 16 partners from 7 countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Italy, UK). With 11 industry partners out of 16 (69% industry ratio) and 5 SMEs, the project was clearly designed for practical application rather than pure academic research. Politecnico di Torino coordinated, bringing academic rigor, while the majority-industry consortium ensured the tools were built for real operator needs. The validation with two actual distribution network operators — one in Italy, one in France — who manage electricity, gas, and heating networks provides credible proof that the technology works with real infrastructure. For a business buyer, this consortium composition signals that the tools were shaped by people who actually run energy grids, not just model them on paper.

• POLITECNICO DI TORINOCoordinator · IT
• IREN SMART SOLUTIONS SPAthirdparty · IT
• IREN ENERGIA SPAthirdparty · IT
• ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXISparticipant · EL
• MERIT CONSULTING HOUSEparticipant · BE
• TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OYparticipant · FI
• IREN MERCATO SPAthirdparty · IT
• VAASAETT LTD AB OYparticipant · FI
• SOREA SOCIETE DES REGIES DE L'ARCparticipant · FR
• ITM POWER UK LIMITEDparticipant · UK
• HYPERTECH (CHAIPERTEK) ANONYMOS VIOMICHANIKI EMPORIKI ETAIREIA PLIROFORIKIS KAI NEON TECHNOLOGIONparticipant · EL
• IREN SPAparticipant · IT
• FORSCHUNGSGEMEINSCHAFT FUER ELEKTRISCHE ANLAGEN UND STROMWIRTSCHAFT E.V.participant · DE
• FONDAZIONE LINKS - LEADING INNOVATION & KNOWLEDGE FOR SOCIETYparticipant · IT
• IRETI SPAthirdparty · IT
• MERIT CONSULTING HOUSE - OLOKRIROMENES SYMVOULEFTIKES IPIRESIES EPIXEIRISEON IDIOTIKI KEFALAIOUXIKI ETAIREIAparticipant · EL