Supporting digitalisation of Distribution System Operators for a smart energy transition (Smart Grid Academy)

About this call

Expected Impact:

Proposals should present the concrete results which will be delivered by the activities and demonstrate how these results will contribute to the topic-specific impacts. This demonstration should rely on a solid analysis of the current situation, realistic assumptions and baselines, and establish clear causality links between proposed activities, results and impacts.

In terms of qualitative impact, proposals under this topic should demonstrate how they will contribute to:

Enhanced operational efficiency, resilience and flexibility of distribution networks through accelerated and fit-for-purpose digitalisation of DSOs

Strengthened institutional and human capacity of DSOs, in particular small/local DSOs, to plan, implement and govern digital transformation in line with EU energy and digital policy frameworks

Improved integration of DERs and demand-side measures and participation of active consumers.

In terms of quantitative impact, proposals should quantify their results and impacts using the indicators provided for the topic, when they are relevant for the proposed activities. Proposals are not expected to address all the listed impacts and indicators. The results and impacts should be quantified for the end of the project and for 5 years after the end of the project. The quantitative indicators for this topic include:

Number of Digitalisation Roadmaps developed

Number of Digitalisation Roadmaps consequently embedded in the DNDPs [1]

Number of DSOs directly involved in trainings, workshops, etc.

Number of follower/associated DSOs indirectly involved in capacity building activities (e.g. through networking, pairing)

Number of trainings activities, and personnel involved in them

Investments in digitalisation triggered by the implementation of investment plans developed thanks to the project (cumulative, in million Euro).

Proposals should also provide indicators which are specific to their proposed activities.

Proposals should also quantify their impacts related to the following common indicators for the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme:

Primary energy savings triggered by the project in GWh/year

Final energy savings triggered by the project in GWh/year

Renewable energy generation triggered by the project (in GWh/year)

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (in tCO2-eq/year)

Investments in sustainable energy (energy efficiency and renewable energy) triggered by the project (cumulative, in million Euro).

Funding rate

Other Action Grants (OAGs) — 95%

Objective:

The clean energy transition requires a modernised, smart energy system that can manage decentralised and variable power sources, ensure grid stability and security of supply, and improve energy efficiency and overall system efficiency, including through digitalisation-enabled demand flexibility. The digitalisation of electricity Distribution System Operators (DSOs), within the framework of Electricity Market Design [2] and the Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan [3] , enables smarter operation of distribution networks, facilitates active consumer participation and flexibility markets, and supports the EU’s long-term objective of climate neutrality by 2050.

However, the transition towards digitalisation presents a multitude of challenges for DSOs, notably for small and medium-sized DSOs. As they modernise their networks and integrate new technologies, DSOs must address complex technical, operational, and organisational constraints. These challenges are driven by the accelerating energy transition, the rapid growth in the installation of renewable energy sources, rising electricity demand, distributed loads, and the need to balance innovation with system reliability and (cyber)security. At the same time, stakeholders notably market participants including energy communities, smart building owners, regulators, customers increasingly expect greater data availability, transparency, and performance.

This topic aims to support capacity building for the roll-out of digital technologies and processes in Distribution System Operators, covering data management systems, network observability, and the safe deployment and operation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Proposals should focus on available technologies and solutions; the development and demonstration of new technologies are not in the scope of the topic. The topic supports the implementation of key provisions of EU legislation in line with the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector [4] , the Directives on Renewable Energy [5] and Energy Efficiency [6] and the Union of Skills communication [7] .

The EU is facing important increases in energy prices, driven by market volatility and exacerbated by its dependence on imported fossil fuels. A key priority for the EU is to strengthen the resilience of its energy system vis-a-vis geopolitical crises impacting the global energy market. Therefore, applicants under this topic are invited, where possible, to develop and implement long-term structural sustainable and energy efficiency measures to enhance EU energy system resilience against future crises, in coherence with short-term energy relief measures needed to respond to the current shock on the global energy markets.

Scope:

Proposals are expected to support DSOs, in particular small/local DSOs, to build necessary in-house capacity, knowledge and skills to modernise and digitalise their activities, allowing them to play a key role in the clean energy transition. To do so, proposals should support DSOs in developing a Digitalisation Roadmap and support them in embedding this Roadmap, fully or partially, in the DSO’s Distribution Network Development Plan (DNDP) [8] .

The Digitalisation Roadmap should not be a standardised document, but tailor-made to the size, grid typology and digital readiness level of each DSO. The Digitalisation Roadmap should cover at least the following areas depending on the specificities of each DSO: