Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BeFlexible (BOOSTING ENGAGEMENT TO INCREASE FLEXIBILITY)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-03-01 bis 2025-08-31
BeFlexible is advancing toward a more flexible, interoperable, and consumer-centric electricity grid, contributing to EU goals for decarbonization, digitalization, and citizen empowerment. The project demonstrates how flexibility can be effectively integrated in the networks. During the second period, major progress was achieved across all pilot sites in Spain, France, Sweden, and Italy, enabling real-world validation of flexibility services and digital platforms.
In the South-Mid EU Demonstrator (Italy), coordination between DSOs and TSOs was validated through simulated use cases, including the Traffic Light Mechanism and integration of the Crowd Balancing Platform and Flexibility Register. PMUs and PGUIs were tested to improve observability and control, and water system assets proved effective for local congestion management.
In the Northern EU Demonstrator (Sweden), local flexibility markets expanded to 12 regions, including a summer pilot for generation-driven congestion. Batteries, heat pumps, and district heating assets were integrated through predictive control and aggregation tools. The SWITCH platform now automates forecasting, activation, and coordination with TSO markets, while multi-market strategies are being tested to maximize asset value.
In the South-West EU Demonstrator (Spain and France), 8 pilot service groups were launched, covering consumer-, grid-, and cross-sector-focused solutions such as energy communities, battery optimization, EV charging, and thermal control. The GDBN platform integrated with OMIE for seamless market data exchange.
Overall, 31 services have been deployed, platforms validated, and business models refined. BeFlexible pilots highlight the need for regulatory adaptation to enable flexibility markets and support EU policy goals for a resilient, consumer-driven electricity grid.
In the South-Mid EU Demonstrator (Italy), coordination between DSOs and TSOs was validated through simulated use cases, including the Traffic Light Mechanism and integration of the Crowd Balancing Platform and Flexibility Register. PMUs and PGUIs were tested to improve observability and control, and water system assets proved effective for local congestion management.
In the Northern EU Demonstrator (Sweden), local flexibility markets expanded to 12 regions, including a summer pilot for generation-driven congestion. Batteries, heat pumps, and district heating assets were integrated through predictive control and aggregation tools. The SWITCH platform now automates forecasting, activation, and coordination with TSO markets, while multi-market strategies are being tested to maximize asset value.
In the South-West EU Demonstrator (Spain and France), 8 pilot service groups were launched, covering consumer-, grid-, and cross-sector-focused solutions such as energy communities, battery optimization, EV charging, and thermal control. The GDBN platform integrated with OMIE for seamless market data exchange.
Overall, 31 services have been deployed, platforms validated, and business models refined. BeFlexible pilots highlight the need for regulatory adaptation to enable flexibility markets and support EU policy goals for a resilient, consumer-driven electricity grid.
29 System Use Cases following IEC 62559-2 were defined across four domains, identifying key requirements for cloud-based DERMS and Open ADMS. A Reference Architecture for a Cross-sector Interoperable Network of Platforms was developed, linking architecture analysis with pilot use cases. Technical specifications and data models were produced, and the Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) platform implemented, integrating services such as grid segmentation, RECreation for energy community management, battery optimization, and third-party platforms like OMIE local flexibility market.
Also, the Congestion Management (DSO-G-CM) and Voltage Control (DSO-G-VC) services were developed within the modular, microservices-based control-centre software solution (SOGNO) compliant with CIM (IEC), fully implemented and lab-tested on OPSD data, ready for Demo 1.
The main achievements on the project’s 3 Demos have include:
- South-mid EU demo: Coordination schemes were tested in a simulated environment, while field trials of innovative devices (PGUI, CCI, Chain3 emulator, PMU) are ongoing. The flexibility potential of water grid assets was successfully assessed.
- North EU demo: Local flexibility markets in Sweden were deployed and refined through two winters for demand-driven congestion in 10 local markets and a new pilot summer market for generation-driven congestion was designed and launched. Progress includes enhanced DSO and FSP operations and system operator coordination, market operations improvement within flexibility service qualification, forecast evaluation and automation tools development.
- South-west EU demo: In Spain and France, demonstration platforms were completed and pilots launched. Data collection and analysis are ongoing.
Finally, a methodology for assessing regulatory recommendations on DSO service acquisition and remuneration for flexibility was defined. Diagnostic interviews with demo leaders began to map customers and data needs. In addition, it has been developed customised toolkits, value-testing methods, and social-KPI architecture, quantification methodology for CBA, scalability/replicability, including benchmarked against BRIDGE/EU projects; clusters BUCs/KPIs per demo and data templates and collection.
Also, the Congestion Management (DSO-G-CM) and Voltage Control (DSO-G-VC) services were developed within the modular, microservices-based control-centre software solution (SOGNO) compliant with CIM (IEC), fully implemented and lab-tested on OPSD data, ready for Demo 1.
The main achievements on the project’s 3 Demos have include:
- South-mid EU demo: Coordination schemes were tested in a simulated environment, while field trials of innovative devices (PGUI, CCI, Chain3 emulator, PMU) are ongoing. The flexibility potential of water grid assets was successfully assessed.
- North EU demo: Local flexibility markets in Sweden were deployed and refined through two winters for demand-driven congestion in 10 local markets and a new pilot summer market for generation-driven congestion was designed and launched. Progress includes enhanced DSO and FSP operations and system operator coordination, market operations improvement within flexibility service qualification, forecast evaluation and automation tools development.
- South-west EU demo: In Spain and France, demonstration platforms were completed and pilots launched. Data collection and analysis are ongoing.
Finally, a methodology for assessing regulatory recommendations on DSO service acquisition and remuneration for flexibility was defined. Diagnostic interviews with demo leaders began to map customers and data needs. In addition, it has been developed customised toolkits, value-testing methods, and social-KPI architecture, quantification methodology for CBA, scalability/replicability, including benchmarked against BRIDGE/EU projects; clusters BUCs/KPIs per demo and data templates and collection.
29 System Use Cases (SUCs) were defined to promote flexibility across multiple domains, covering consumer- and grid-centric flexibility, TSO–DSO coordination, and cross-sector flexibility. Many introduce innovative energy services advancing grid operation planning and extending their TRL through real-field demonstrations.
Building on the Flexibility-Centric Value Chain (FCVC), the innovative Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) digital platform was developed to support all key flexibility processes, from consumer engagement to activation, verification, and settlement. It includes business services for stakeholder matchmaking, secure data exchange, contract management, and interoperability with external systems.
Integration of energy services with the GDBN is nearly complete, demonstrating its role in enabling the flexibility value chain.
Ongoing discussions address its exploitation potential, focusing on interoperability to support energy communities and aggregators in multiple flexibility markets.
In the Northern EU demo, collaboration between system operators was initiated to facilitate local/global market coordination as well as proposing standard national products for local markets.
In the South-west EU demo, innovative flexibility services are being deployed and validated, combining consumer-, grid-, and cross-sector solutions for DSO congestion management. The GDBN platform enables interoperability across energy and mobility services, supported by tools such as grid segmentation, EV routing, and battery-agnostic energy management.
Building on the Flexibility-Centric Value Chain (FCVC), the innovative Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) digital platform was developed to support all key flexibility processes, from consumer engagement to activation, verification, and settlement. It includes business services for stakeholder matchmaking, secure data exchange, contract management, and interoperability with external systems.
Integration of energy services with the GDBN is nearly complete, demonstrating its role in enabling the flexibility value chain.
Ongoing discussions address its exploitation potential, focusing on interoperability to support energy communities and aggregators in multiple flexibility markets.
In the Northern EU demo, collaboration between system operators was initiated to facilitate local/global market coordination as well as proposing standard national products for local markets.
In the South-west EU demo, innovative flexibility services are being deployed and validated, combining consumer-, grid-, and cross-sector solutions for DSO congestion management. The GDBN platform enables interoperability across energy and mobility services, supported by tools such as grid segmentation, EV routing, and battery-agnostic energy management.