Use of open-source P2P energy sharing platforms for energy democratization

Project Information

U2Demo

Grant agreement ID: 101160684

DOI

10.3030/101160684

EC signature date 25 June 2024

Start date 1 September 2024

End date 29 February 2028

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 5 819 380,00

EU contribution

€ 4 999 883,13

Coordinated by

INESC ID INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INVESTIGACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM LISBOA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - U2Demo (Use of open-source P2P energy sharing platforms for energy democratization)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2026-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The transition to a decarbonised, decentralised, and citizen-driven energy system is a key EU priority. Policies such as the Clean Energy Package and the Green Deal promote Energy Communities (ECs) and active consumer participation. However, the deployment of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading and Energy Sharing remains limited due to regulatory uncertainty, lack of interoperability, low user engagement, and the absence of open, trustworthy digital solutions.

U2Demo addresses these challenges by developing and validating consumer-centred strategies that enable accessible, reliable, and scalable P2P trading and Energy Sharing. The project brings together 20 partners from eight countries, combining technical, social, regulatory, and market expertise to deliver open-source, interoperable, and secure tools.

Key challenges addressed include: limited tools for consumers and prosumers; operational and governance barriers in ECs; integration of distributed energy resources (DERs); lack of real-world evidence for policymakers; and fragmented, non-interoperable solutions.

Objectives:

Develop advanced methods for trading, Energy Sharing, forecasting, and decision support.
Implement an open-source platform based on microservices and blockchain/DLT.
Demonstrate solutions in four ECs.
Assess performance, scalability, and user acceptance.
Provide policy recommendations and business models.
Promote interoperability and standardisation.

By M18, 11 tasks and 15 deliverables have been completed, with strong progress in platform design, algorithms, and pilot preparation.

Pathway to impact:

Design: definition of user roles, needs, and market architecture.
Development: creation of algorithms, platform, and user applications.
Demonstration: pilots in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal testing diverse use cases.
Exploitation: KPI evaluation, guidelines, policy recommendations, and standardisation.

Expected impact:

Consumers: increased autonomy and reduced costs.
ECs: improved governance and operations.
System operators: better DER integration and grid stability.
Policymakers: evidence-based insights.
Market: open-source, replicable solutions.

U2Demo will accelerate the adoption of Energy Communities, foster digitalisation, and contribute to EU decarbonisation and energy democracy goals.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1 is completed. It mapped EU and national legislation (PT, IT, BE, NL) and performed a comparative legal analysis (D1.1). It characterised pilot contexts through interviews and workshops, defining requirements for the platform (D1.2). A comprehensive assessment of open-source tools identified 204 solutions, evaluated via KPIs and TRL, and selected 30 key tools with interoperability analysis (D1.3). A Use Case Repository (10 UCs) covering EC operations, P2P markets, and flexibility services was developed (D1.4).

WP2 is completed. It defined the conceptual architecture for P2P trading and Energy Sharing, integrating regulatory, social, and technical aspects (D2.1). It developed interoperable methodologies for forecasting, analytics, and optimisation (D2.2). Local energy sharing and P2P trading models and proof-of-concepts were created (D2.3). Flexibility provision was analysed and integrated into models, with validation using pilot data (D2.4).

WP3 is ongoing. The platform architecture and open-source guidelines were defined (D3.1). A harmonised ontology, interoperability standards, and cybersecurity framework were developed (D3.2). Platform development, integration, and UX design are in progress.

WP4 is ongoing. Algorithmic foundations were established, including data models and shared libraries ensuring interoperability (D4.1). Initial algorithms were implemented and tested with real pilot data. Work continues on specifications, validation, and flexibility integration.

WP5 is ongoing. Pilot preparation is advancing across sites in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal, including infrastructure setup, participant engagement, flexibility deployment, digital twin development, and data availability for testing.

WP6 is ongoing. Standardisation activities have started, with engagement in IEC initiatives (WG8) and alignment of project contributions to support distributed energy trading frameworks (D6.2).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

WP1 mapped the legal and regulatory framework for energy sharing and P2P trading across EU countries, analysing consumer roles, motivations, and social dynamics within Energy Communities (ECs). These insights were translated into requirements guiding tool and strategy development in subsequent WPs. It also assessed open-source solutions through a comprehensive review of functionalities, interoperability, and maturity, identifying gaps and opportunities. Additionally, WP1 defined Business and System Use Cases (BUCs/SUCs) with associated KPIs, enabling evaluation, replication, and reuse via an open repository.

WP2 delivered a proof-of-concept integrating forecasting, analytics, optimisation, and DER valorisation into a unified framework supporting EC decision-making. It developed and assessed multiple P2P trading and energy-sharing mechanisms, showing that heuristic approaches scale better for large communities, while pricing and allocation methods require fairness adjustments. Flexibility mechanisms were integrated, demonstrating economic benefits. The WP also analysed EC participation in DSO/TSO services, identifying regulatory barriers and opportunities.

WP3 defined the architecture of the U2Demo platform, including the Digital Spine, interoperability standards, APIs, and data formats. It developed a harmonised ontology structured around key domains and established a robust cybersecurity and privacy framework aligned with major standards (e.g. ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, NIS2), ensuring secure and interoperable deployment.

WP4 established the foundations for algorithm integration by defining interoperable data models and Data Transfer Objects (DTOs), enabling modular and reusable development. Several algorithms, including optimisation, bidding, and market-clearing, were implemented and validated with pilot data. Tools were containerised and shared as open-source. The WP also analysed flexibility frameworks and DSO services, identifying opportunities for EC participation and new business models.