Imagine a neighborhood that acts like a giant battery, producing and storing its own power, heat, and fuel. Instead of relying on a distant power plant or imported gas, it uses a smart brain to balance wind and solar energy across homes and factories. It's like moving from a giant supermarket for energy to a local community garden that provides everything you need year-round.
EU energy systems are too dependent on centralized generation and unreliable fuel imports. This creates price volatility and security risks for local businesses and municipalities.
A living lab in the Netherlands and a Replication Toolbox containing design, governance, and business modeling guides. They also developed a scalable Digital Twin for local energy systems.
If you are a DSO dealing with grid instability from intermittent renewables — this project developed a Digital Twin and smart piloting system that balances supply and demand for 3000 households and 300 businesses. This reduces stress on the main grid by creating self-sufficient local clusters.
If you are a developer dealing with high energy costs and fossil fuel dependency — this project developed a Replication Toolbox to build energy valleys. This allows you to design sites that meet energy needs on an annual basis through local sourcing.
If you are a software firm dealing with the complexity of managing multiple energy types — this project developed a data-driven AI platform to cascade electricity, heat, cold, gas, and hydrogen. This provides a scalable model for managing hybrid energy platforms.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or implementation costs are not provided.
The project is being validated in a living lab in Boekelermeer, Netherlands, serving a community of 3000 households and 300 businesses.
Based on available project data, specific IP or licensing terms are not mentioned, though a Replication Toolbox is being developed for EU-wide rollout.
The project is designed to align with REPowerEU goals by reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and diversifying energy supplies.
The project runs from November 2023 to October 2028, with the first reporting period completed in January 2025.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercial application, with a 40% industry ratio consisting of 12 industrial partners, including 7 SMEs. With 30 partners across 10 countries, the group balances academic research (9 entities) with a strong operational focus, ensuring the resulting Replication Toolbox is grounded in market reality rather than just theory.
Contact Vrije Universiteit Brussel for details on the Boekelermeer living lab.
Contact SciTransfer to find a partner for the REFORMERS Replication Toolbox.
