eNeuron, a project funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme from November 2020 until January 2025, has successfully concluded.

eNeuron goal was to set out a practical and evidence-based framework for optimising the design and operation of local energy communities. These offer a bottom-up approach to producing, managing and using energy, nevertheless they face many challenges. The project, using the energy hub concept, developed a suite of innovative tools designed to dynamically balance supply and demand across multiple energy carriers.

To test such framework and tools, four pilots were established in Bydgozecz, Poland, Skagerak, Norway, Lisbon, Portugal and Ancona, Italy.

Key accomplishments and impacts include:

• Possibility to optimise energy flows on two levels: one related to their planning and design and the other to the operational phase, thanks to the refined eNeuron toolbox.
• Contribution to policy and standards at the European level through scientific publications and a comprehensive body of knowledge obtained on a variety of market use cases, as well as proposed regulations.
• Exchange of lessons learned thanks to the organised webinars, attendance of events, participation to BRIDGE Working Groups, and the resources created within the framework of eNeuron.

Within the project, IREC has played a key role in the testing and validation of the eNeuron’s toolbox by conducting simulations with tools for both long-term optimal design and the operational phase. This process helped identify potential issues and provide valuable feedback to developers. Additionally, IREC participated in distributed laboratory simulations where real-time communication between labs was established. These simulations validated the energy hub software functionalities, integrating hardware-in-the-loop testing and real-time cloud-based data exchange to replicate real-world conditions prior to pilot deployment. IREC also designed user interactions and specified applications for the eNeuron’s toolbox to enhance both usability and functionality. Finally, IREC assessed scalability and replicability to strengthen the impact of eNeuron’s developments at European level.

To conclude the project, eNeuron hosted a final event on January 21, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.

Although the project has concluded, its impact will continue to resonate thanks to the results obtained, the best practice book and the resources available on eNeuron’s website.

The project has involved a team of 21 partners from 10 countries:  ENEA (coordinator), FOSS Research Centre for Sustainable Energy of the University of Cyprus, IEn, IREC, SINTEF, TECNALIA, DERlab, EPRI, Università Politecnica Delle Marche (UNIVPM), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), ENEA OPERATOR, Lede, EDP LABELEC, EDP Comercial, Smart Energy Lab, ICONS, Eneida, Ministerio da Defesa Nacional, City of Bydgoszcz, Eindhoven University of Technology, and EDP NEW.

Acknowledgements

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 957779.