Large-Scale piloting of next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system (IA) - Apply AI

Type of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) Consortium: standard Horizon Europe rule for this type of action, at least three independent legal entities from three different member or associated states, unless the call document says otherwise. Expected Outcome: Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: Strengthened Europe’s technological leadership and sovereignty in the energy sector. Market-ready AI-driven digital platforms and solutions with quantifiable minimal environmental impact, that enhance grid operation, renewable energy integration and utilisation rates, energy storage integration, grid integration of data centres and other energy intensive critical infrastructures, non-fossil, balancing solutions, electrification and energy efficiency, derived from existing and ongoing AI and IoT research. Successfully integrate applied research results in real-world pilot programmes involving energy operators, technology providers, public authorities, and end users. Secure, interoperable, and cross-border data exchange mechanisms and digital services reducing fragmentation. Accelerated scaling of digital solutions leveraging European data spaces, AI factories[1], digital twins, and cloud-to-edge infrastructures. Credible pathway from innovation to large-scale piloting, ensuring long-term sustainability and scale up. Quantifiable improvements in terms of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings, electricity cost reduction and grid flexibility. Scope: This topic will support one large-scale cross-border pilot project demonstrating the operational use of next-generation AI-driven Digital Platforms (DPs) for the European energy system, to optimize electricity system operation and flexibility management cross multiple European energy systems. This pilot forms a core implementation layer of the AI-enabled digital backbone flagship identified in the Apply AI Strategy and contributes to the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. The project should implement and validate these capabilities through operational pilots in at least six Member States or Associated Countries (ensuring geographic variability and coverage), involving real infrastructure, energy operators and users. The pilot should run for a sufficient duration to demonstrate operational performance under real system conditions (e.g. seasonal variability, renewable generation variability and EV charging patterns). The objective of the pilot is to demonstrate that AI-enabled digital platforms can enable real-time coordination of distributed energy resources and cross-border flexibility services improving grid utilisation, increasing renewable energy integration and reducing system costs and emissions. Proposals should: Develop and pilot at scale next-generation AI-driven digital platforms, critical digital infrastructures to support seamless data exchange across the European energy system, while considering the cross-sector dimension where relevant (e.g. the mobility sector, buildings, etc.). Execute pilot activities in at least 6 member states or associated countries, involving at least 6 energy actors (TSOs, DSOs, retailers, aggregators), at least 8 digital technology providers from AI, cloud, edge, IoT, at least 4 mobility actors (from EV manufacturers, EV fleet operators and charging operators), at least 20 energy communities, as well as research organisations, and public authorities. Build up on previous and ongoing related projects and initiatives such as the MetaOS for the edge and the swarm project clusters, the Edge-IoT large scale pilots in energy, the Operational Digital Platforms in CEF and the AI-powered digital spine of the EU energy system. Leverage advanced AI approaches and architectures where relevant, including generative, agentic, and embedded, AI to deliver secure and resilient cross-border flexibility, smart-charging, smart grid services and other emerging digital services. Implement a transversal approach involving integration of energy systems, AI, digital infrastructures, and user uptake. Combine existing solutions from Horizon Europe clusters 4 and 5 and connect technological development with market adoption. Ensure the use of open APIs, open interoperability standards and open-source-based components to foster technological sovereignty and avoid vendor lock-in. Actively participate in the work of the BRIDGE[2] collaborative initiative. Include preparatory and structuring activities to prepare large-scale deployments. It is expected that one project will be funded and that it will take approximately 36 months to complete. Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. [1] [2] About this site | Bridge ">General conditions 1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. 3. Other Eligibility Conditions In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, it is important to avoid a situation of technological dependency on a non-EU source, in a global context that requires the EU to take action to build on its strengths, and to carefully assess and address any strategic weaknesses, vulnerabilities and high-risk dependencies which put at risk the attainment of its ambitions. For this reason, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and associated countries. For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed in the paragraph above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or a non-eligible country entity, shall not participate in the action. Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA Call-specific instructions Ownership Control Declaration Annex Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment Guidance on participation in EU calls with ownership and control restrictions EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement