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NEXT stagE of digitaL and virtuAlized substations to improve monitoring, control and resilience of distribution grids

Objective

NEXTELAR responds to the rising volatility and criticality of Europe’s distribution grids driven by DER integration, electrification and stronger service-quality requirements from critical infrastructures. DSOs and TSOs need better observability, faster monitoring/control and stronger resilience to climate-related hazards and cyber threats, yet substations remain limited by legacy SAS architectures where intelligence is centralised and digital data is under-exploited.

NEXTELAR will deliver 17 breakthrough innovations to transform distribution substations into Digital Substations of the Future (DSoF): active, software-defined intelligent nodes. NEXTELAR is structured in two domains. Domain I upgrades the substation internally with IEC 61850-based digital communications, virtualised protection/automation/control functions enabled by vSAL and vPAC, cloud/edge capabilities, and embedded cyber-security/cyber-resilience controls. Domain II links the DSoF backbone to the external grid environment (MV/LV assets, HV/MV interfaces and heterogeneous data sources), turning the substation into an operational intelligence nodes. Together, both domains contribute to the next generation substations by: (1) consolidated observability, monitoring and control; (2) improved resilience, restoration and condition-based maintenance; and (3) flexibility-enabled, programmable grid operation.

The innovations will be demonstrated at TRL7–8 in five complementary pilots across seven European countries. A 27-partner consortium unites DSOs, a TSO and RES operators with RTOs, universities, major substation manufacturers, SMEs, ensuring standardisation alignment and exploitation. NEXTELAR will strengthen EU industrial leadership in next-generation distribution substations and report results to BRIDGE and the ETIP SNET R&I Implementation Roadmap (PCC 6.3).

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2026-02

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Coordinator

FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOS
Net EU contribution
€ 1 145 000,00
Address
PARQUE EMPRESARIAL DINAMIZA, AVDA. DE RANILLAS, 3D
50018 Zaragoza
Spain
Region
Noreste Aragón Zaragoza
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 145 000,00

Participants (25)

Partners (1)