BRIDGE UPDATE
date: 29/06/2023
New BRIDGE report available
The BRIDGE Consumer & citizen engagement working group has released a new report titled Exploration of citizen engagement methodologies in European R&I projects 3.0”. The study issued on the Publications Office of the EU, is available on the BRIDGE website.
The ETIP SNET and BRIDGE held the successful Key Results and Steps Forward event
Smart grids are at the forefront of the energy transition, playing a leading role in the shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. They enable the seamless integration of renewable energy into our power grid, making it more efficient and effective. Using advanced digital technologies, smart grids manage the flow of electricity and information between power generators, consumers/prosumers, and the grid itself. This brings numerous benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting the use of electric vehicles and smart homes, and even lowering consumer bills. By embracing smart grids, we can create a resilient energy system that supports a greener future for all.
This has been the cornerstone of the ETIP SNET and BRIDGE – Key Results and Steps Forward event that Brussels witnessed on 20 June 2023, where the two European Commission's initiatives at the forefront of Smart energy systems research and innovation (R&I) showcased their progress and prospects. The event encompassed a presentation and panel discussion with high-level EC officials from CINEA and DG ENER, the ETIP SNET Chairmanship, and the BRIDGE Working Group. Several key stakeholders in the energy field gathered at the event to champion the energy transition. The event was a Sustainable Energy Day within the framework of the European Sustainable Energy Week 2023 (EUSEW).
By bringing together a multitude of stakeholders and experts from the energy sector, the ETIP SNET assists the EC in identifying R&I priorities to support Europe's energy transition towards low carbon-neutral energy. The Platform fosters extensive collaboration among its various and diverse stakeholders, leading to significant advancements in renewable energy integration, grid optimisation, and innovative energy management systems.
Another fertile soil from where to harvest precious experience and information for a better energy future is the sibling EC initiative BRIDGE, which brings together various Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects in smart grids, energy storage, islands, and digitalisation. BRIDGE pursues a structured approach to address cross-cutting challenges encountered in the project demonstration phase, which may constitute an obstacle to innovation. The initiative is among the most robust pillars at the European Commission's disposal to contribute to the implementation of the roadmaps and actions drawn by the ETIP SNET. It started with 17 projects, now unites 98, and is set to continue expanding.
Throughout the event, speakers outlined that the contributions and scope of the two initiatives continue evolving and serve as a guiding light for our endeavours. Step by step, they help expand our focus to include emerging energy sectors, recognising the ever-increasing importance of integrating renewables and actively involving consumers and prosumers in this transformative process. Nonetheless, while significant progress has been made, much work is still ahead of us.
Only by continuing to collaborate, engage in meaningful dialogue, and foster exchanges among the various stakeholders part of the two initiatives can we effectively address the challenges associated with the energy transition. We must unite the efforts of industries, universities, research centres, and other key players in this journey. Indeed, it is only through collective action and cooperation that we can navigate the complex path toward a sustainable energy future. Here lies the very critical contribution that the two EC initiatives can give.
The ETIP SNET, BRIDGE and the ETIPs FORUM took part to EUSEW 2023
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2023 is the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe and comprises a series of activities aimed at building a secure and clean energy future for Europe. It brings together public authorities, private companies, NGOs, EU project partners, researchers and consumers to promote initiatives to go green and digital for Europe's energy transition. Launched in 2007 by the European Commission, EUSEW is organised by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), in close cooperation with Directorate-General for Energy.
Similar to last year's edition, the ETIP SNET, BRIDGE and the ETIPs FORUM took an actively part in the event, participating in two sessions within the Policy Conference.
Maria Laura Trifiletti, in the role of facilitator of the ETIPs FORUM, participated in the session "Revision of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan: boosting skills and competitiveness in clean energy technologies", which aimed at raising awareness about the need to accelerate R&I n energy and thus inform the audience about the revised SET Plan. The session was divided into two separate panel discussions, the first titled "Announcement and discussions about the SET Plan revision" and the second "Zooming-into SET Plan new activities on skills".
The other session, "Empowering energy communities: building capacity for social innovation", received the contribution of Marialaura di Somma, coordinator of the BRIDGE project eNeuron. The session focused on the social innovation aspects of energy communities, touching on the next steps envisioned through Fit for 55, the ways in which energy communities help respond to the energy crisis, and inform the National Energy and Climate Plans updates, which will provide a useful monitoring tool in this context for EU Member States. To this end, the session explored non-regulatory issues and barriers related to social innovation, project design, development and implementation, as well as the design of suitable policy measures to help overcome these barriers.
Furthermore, the ETIP SNET, BRIDGE and the ETIPs FORUM shared a stand at the Energy Fair, where members from the joined Secretariat showcased the latest achievements and results of the three initiatives.
Lastly, two recent events organised by the EC initiatives were acknowledged as Sustainable Energy Days. The first is the ETIP SNET & BRIDGE Key results and steps forward that took place on 20 June. The second is the webinar ETIP SNET-RHC ETIP Sustainable Energy Day Joint webinar – Coupling of Heating/Cooling and Electricity sectors in a renewable energy-driven Europe that took place on on 29 June.
ETIP SNET, BRIDGE and 8 projects took part in the EM-Power Europe Conference
From 14 to 16 June 2023, the ETIP SNET and BRIDGE took part in the EM-Power Europe Conference, the International Exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions held every year in Munich. The two European Commission’s initiatives shared a stand with eight BRIDGE projects they facilitated the attendance of and organised a panel session with them.
The EM-Power Europe Conference is part of the wider event, smarter E Europe, the largest European platform for the energy industry. The event is widely attended, with more than 85,000 attendees that took part this year. Within this framework, three other energy exhibitions – Intersolar Europe, ees Europe and Power2Drive Europe – are organised in parallel to EM-Power Europe, providing the framework for exchange between the solar, storage and e-mobility sectors.
The BRIDGE projects that joined the ETIP SNET and BRIDGE were:
The panel session, “The Latest from EU Innovation: BRIDGE Projects, Activities and Outcomes” the ETIIP SNET and BRIDGE organised, saw the participation of all Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects. The panel has been divided into two separate breakout sessions moderated respectively by the coordinator Maria Laura Trifiletti and the communication manager, Edoardo Genova. The topics of the two breakouts were:
- Flexibility and retail market options for DSO - Replicable solutions for a cross-sector compliant energy ecosystem;
- Consumer engagement and demand response (including interoperable smart homes and grids) and decarbonising systems in energy and geographical Islands.
In each of them, panellists took part in an interactive discussion along the driving questions, which was later followed by a Q&A session.
Enlit Europe and the EU Project Zone
For the sixth year in a row, the ETIP SNET and BRIDGE will take part in Enlit Europe, the “constantly growing, inclusive, end-to-end forum that addresses every aspect of the energy agenda”, which this year will take place in Paris from 28 to 30 November.
As for the previous editions, both initiatives are actively contributing to the organisation of the EU Project Zone, the area dedicated to European-funded projects committed to accelerating the energy transition.
Consult the brochure describing the packages for the live event and digital ways of dissemination through the EU Project Zone.
For the new Bridge project, acknowledging the initial lack of results but the willingness to attend and present the projects’ objectives, please inform the BRIDGE Secretariat if you would be interested in attending and based on the number of projects, we will check with Enlit organisers what would be the best set up to give your project the proper visibility. Different options are also available to those projects that would like to organise an open workshop or hold a final event as a side event of Enlit Europe. Please inform us about any of the above, providing details about the planned date, number of expected attendees and required AV and Catering. Based on that, Clarion Events will put together a tailor-made package.
To express your interest in attending and for any issues related to payment and logistics, please contact Linda Görtler-Weiss Linda.Goertler-Weiss@clarionevents.com from Clarion Events, the organisers of Enlit Europe.