The ESTELAR project is dedicated to modernizing power grids to accommodate renewable energy sources and enhance energy efficiency, focusing specifically on the virtualization of substations to improve the grid's sustainability and resilience. By redefining the operation and concept of substations—key components within the power grid infrastructure—ESTELAR aims to facilitate the energy transition towards carbon neutrality. ESTELAR is based on three innovative pillars: advanced communication strategies, a robust computational framework, and the transformative Digital Substation of the Future architecture. The first pillar focuses on enhancing substation communication systems to facilitate seamless and real-time integration of physical and virtual components. The second pillar aims to boost the processing and data handling capabilities of substations across both cloud and edge computing platforms for future computational demands. The third pillar is centered on developing a modular and scalable substation architecture that incorporates advanced monitoring, protection, and control through digital twinning. To ensure the efficacy and readiness of these technologies, ESTELAR will conduct rigorous validations in two Virtualization Testing Laboratories located in Spain and The Netherlands. These facilities will allow for realistic, controlled testing environments to refine and perfect the technologies prior to widespread implementation. The project unites nine partners from four EU countries, combining expertise from research centers, technology providers, and distribution system operators to comprehensively approach substation virtualization. ESTELAR facilitates renewable energy integration, bolsters grid resilience, and supports wider electrification. This positions it as a key player in accelerating the EU's transition to a climate-neutral economy.

The transition towards a low-carbon economy is significantly transforming the power system from a unidirectional, centralised and fossil-based system towards a bidirectional, distributed and renewable-based one. In this context, DSOs and TSOs are facing more complex grid operations, including challenges like reverse power flows, additional power flows in transmission systems and grid stability issues. Available tools for grid management in this changing environment have often underperformed for several reasons (e.g. unavailability of grid models, data management restrictions, use of conventional approaches to the application algorithms, etc.). INTERPRETER will overcome limitations of existing tools through a modular grid management solution consisting of a set of 10 software applications for an optimal design, planning, operation and maintenance of the electricity grid – with a special focus on the distribution network – that will be offered to grid operators through an open-source interoperable platform. These tools will support DSOs and TSOs to move from a traditional grid management approach to an active system management approach, considering the rapid deployment of distributed energy resources as well as growing environmental concerns. INTERPRETER activities will be conducted by a strong and well-balanced consortium composed by 5 RTOs, 2 DSOs, 1 SW developer company leader in its sector and 1 SME specialised in communication & dissemination. The project includes an ambitious validation phase, in which the solutions will be tested in 3 pilots in Belgium, Denmark and Spain, thus ensuring a high replicability across Europe. Overall, the project aims to achieve an annual economic impact in the project pilots from investment deferrals of 36.6 M€ due to the remuneration of assets and of 28.15 M€ due to the amortisation of the capacity assets, as well as a recovery of 665,576 € from non-technical losses detection and 11,422 € from reduced outage frequency.

SEHRENE’s new electrothermal energy storage (ETES) concept is designed to store renewable electricity (RE) and heat and to restitute it as needed. It is very energy-efficient (80-85%), is geographically independant and uses no critical raw materials. It enables 8-12 times longer storage duration than Li-ion, with LCOS of 80 – 137 €/MWh, depending on the use-case. This is lower than pumped hydro, the lowest-cost commercial electricity storage. Its lifetime of 20-30 years is 2 – 3x longer than Li-ion. A TRL4 prototype and the digital twins of 3 full use-cases will be delivered: (i) ceramics plant storing excess, on-site PV power in a micro-grid and industrial waste-heat for continuous green H2 production and self-consumption, (ii) a smart-grid, and (iii) a geothermal power plant. The ETES integrates: (i) a novel heat-pump design with a coefficient of performance of 50% the theoretical maximum, (ii) a novel thermal energy storage system with energy density of 90 kWh/m3 (+30%), containing phase-change material in a novel metallic Kelvin cells-like foam and (iii) ORC with novel operating parameters. New digital tools will optimise the energy management of the storage and facilitate investment decisions by potential end-users taking LCA and technico-economic factors into account. SEHRENE unites 5 R&D teams with top-level expertise in prototyping, physics-based modelling, characterisation and digital twins of thermo-electric systems, thermal storage and AI-based energy-management; 1 RE producer, 1 DSO, 1 ceramics company, 1 SME developing decision-support tools, and 1 SME for dissemination and communication. The exploitation plan aims to implement the solution in the first factory in 2029. SEHRENE’s market penetration will enable to capture 1% of the market by 2040 avoiding 90Mm3 of NG and 15Mt CO2/year. R&D and industrial partners project to generate 5.8M€ in revenues by 2035 from sales of heat pumps, thermal storage, ORC, licenses to R&D results and consulting services.

The iAMP-Hydro project will improve the digital operation of existing plants through the development of 6 expected results (R) which will collectively form iAMP - a novel intelligent Asset Management Platform (see result R5 in Fig. 1) encompassing secure open and transparent data sharing protocols (R4) and three novel digital solutions: R1. Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance modelling; R2. Ecological status monitoring and water management; R3. Improved weather and flow forecasting. The full package of digital solutions will be validated at a diverse set of five real-world existing hydropower plants producing evidence for policy making to support the green and digital transition of hydropower (R6). The existing plants include differing power capacities, electro-mechanical equipment type, water end-use, flow and head regimes, climatic conditions, and environmental sensitivities (biodiversity). The project will increase the technology competitiveness of existing hydro by reducing O&M costs by 5-10%, improving generation and revenues, increasing flexibility and data-driven decision making in hydropower operations. It will also increase the market penetration of renewables in the grid by 8.4 TWh, and getting closer to the EU 2030 Climate and Energy targets, and EU green deal. iAMP-Hydro will improve environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the existing hydropower fleet by reducing operating costs by €1 billion per annum, reducing CO2 emissions by 1260 tonnes, creating 10,000 future-proof jobs, and enabling environmentally sustainable flow regulation using digital solutions. The project will advance the scientific basis for hydropower digitalization by developing, validating and providing a roadmap for the further development of 5 new digital technologies. We will produce 10 peer reviewed journal publications and 20 conference publications.

The RESCUE project aims to strengthen the resilience, security, and adaptability of critical infrastructure systems through advanced edge computing, AI-driven anomaly detection, and robust communication networks. In an era of increasing cyber threats, environmental challenges, and resource uncertainties, maintaining stable and secure critical infrastructure is vital for societal well-being and economic continuity. RESCUE focuses on real-time data processing at the edge, resilient communication channels, and advanced cybersecurity to enable continuous operation and rapid response to risks. The project will deliver cutting-edge solutions to enhance the reliability of power distribution, urban infrastructure, and communication networks by implementing flexible, autonomous systems that maintain functionality even in the face of unexpected disruptions. By integrating diverse sensor data, strengthening multi-channel connectivity, and employing AI for predictive insights, RESCUE ensures that infrastructure systems can detect, classify, and respond to threats autonomously. The project combines technical innovations with a strong emphasis on data privacy and security, aligning with EU regulations like the Cyber Resilience Act and the AI Act. Through rigorous testing and demonstrative use cases across Europe, RESCUE’s solutions will set new standards for critical infrastructure resilience, paving the way for safer and more dependable smart city and energy systems.