RFAs: AI-Driven Forecasting for Grid Optimization and Consumer Energy Sharing

The focus areas of this opportunity include developing and testing AI-driven forecasting algorithms that use machine learning to optimize the value of collective self-consumption through energy sharing for communities and citizens, upscaling AI tools and models for grid balancing and forecasting to ensure consumer participation in a distributed energy system, analyzing social interactions with advanced methods such as game-theoretic models to highlight the role of active consumers and communities, deepening understanding of the needs and concerns of diverse social groups to increase beneficial societal uptake and build trust, and improving operation and maintenance of the grid and distributed assets.

The call supports innovations in machine learning forecasting that optimize bidirectional energy transfers and flexibility services, enabling energy communities and jointly acting customers to become active participants in the energy system. Projects are expected to reduce burdens on distribution system operators and residual suppliers while promoting a decentralized, resilient, and digitalized European energy landscape. AI-driven solutions are intended to optimize self-consumption and reduce energy costs for consumers, ensuring technological advancement aligns with societal needs. The total Horizon Europe budget for this topic is EUR 12,000,000, with individual project contributions around EUR 6,000,000.

As a Societal-Readiness pilot, proposals must adopt an interdisciplinary approach and integrate social sciences and humanities expertise to meaningfully address societal concerns. SSH experts are expected to support the socio-technological interface, facilitating the design of project objectives that enhance societal readiness and ensure active consideration of social impacts alongside technological development.

Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, is eligible to participate, including legal entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, such as international European research organisations, whether or not they are eligible for funding, provided that the conditions set out in the Horizon Europe Regulation and any additional requirements specified in the relevant call or topic are met, and for the purposes of participation, a legal entity is defined as any natural or legal person recognised under national law, European Union law, or international law, possessing legal personality and the capacity to exercise rights and be subject to obligations in its own name, as well as entities that do not have legal personality.

For more information, visit European Commission.