Advancing AI Integration in the European Energy Sector
As the digital age transforms the energy landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) offers more and more solutions for enhancing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. In collaboration with EPRI Europe, TU Delft is spearheading the AI-EFFECT project, which focuses on accelerating the development, testing, and validation of AI applications in the energy sector.
AI-EFFECT unites 19 leading European organisations, including prominent energy operators such as ENEL and TenneT, to create a robust framework for AI integration in energy systems. The project will develop four demonstrations across Europe—the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, and Germany—each addressing distinct use cases such as multi-energy systems, congestion management, energy efficiency, and the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER).
Jochen Cremer, Assistant Professor at EEMCS, TU Delft, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “What’s missing in the energy transition is an open platform – such as GitHub for open source software – for testing and experimentation, so we can develop our AI-based algorithms to the next level for energy systems. Building this platform is what AI-EFFECT is about.” TU Delft leads one of the infrastructure nodes in AI-EFFECT, combining the Delft AI Energy Lab and the Control Room of The Future Technology Center. The university is working closely with TenneT on validations using AI for congestion management, with contributions from researchers Simon Tindemans, Alex Stefanov, and Peter Palensky.
The AI-EFFECT project aims to establish a European AI Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for the energy sector, enabling development, testing, and validation at various stages. By virtually connecting existing European computer and lab facilities through a digital platform, the project will facilitate secure data sharing, AI model development, and seamless integration with the EU data spaces framework.
“This initiative will create a unique digital platform that fosters collaboration between the AI industry and energy utilities in Europe. By making energy systems smarter, more efficient, and more reliable, we’re directly supporting decarbonization efforts and advancing our mission to ensure a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” said Eamonn Lannoye, EPRI Europe Managing Director.
By the end of the project, Jochen Cremer hopes to establish a dedicated business use case workshop, inviting industry stakeholders to explore how the developed AI systems can enhance their operations. This workshop will provide a platform for businesses to engage with the innovative solutions emerging from AI-EFFECT and understand their practical applications in real-world scenarios.
AI-EFFECT will also address key regulatory challenges, including compliance with the EU AI Act, ensuring that AI systems for energy are transparent, secure, reliable, and interpretable. The project is set to run until September 2027 and is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.
Interested? You can join the project by applying for this postdoc position!