We, as European Commission’s in-house science service, support EU policy-making via independent research on more secure, smarter and interoperable electricity systems.
We are a multidisciplinary and multination team - based in Petten (NL), Ispra (IT) and Seville (ES) - informing EU policy initiatives for a twin green and digital transition. We scrutinise the layers (technical, economic and social) of electricity delivery and their interfaces. Our approach covers observation, simulation, testing and assessment activities and our portfolio includes the core activities as described below.

System Resilience and Security of Supply
How secure is secure enough? The power system's ability to continuously fulfil its function against adverse situations, has taken centre stage: electricity must be supplied whenever and wherever needed to avoid serious hazards to society. We support EU initiatives such as REPowerEU, the EU Green Deal and the twin green and digital transition by: studying electricity security, resilience and risk preparedness; developing complex socio-techno-economic models and analysing threats surfacing beyond the physical sphere.

Digital Energy Interoperability
Bits and electrons speaking the same language? Electricity systems increasingly embedding digital solutions (such as smart meters, artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technologies) open the door to unprecedented opportunities and challenges. We support initiatives such the EU's energy digitalisation action plan by assessing smart grid projects and technologies, energy smart appliances interoperability, smart metering infrastructure deployment, electric vehicle integration, transmission/distribution systems development and many other intelligent electricity system features.

Citizens’ Communities and Protection
(Smart energy) power to people? People are expected to be at the centre of the energy transition. Focus is moving from a component oriented to a transaction-interaction analysis of power system operations. Studying the social dimension triggering the energy system changes becomes increasingly important. In this context, we support EU initiatives for a just twinned green and digital transition by studying the acceptance, involvement and engagement dynamics at the interface between the social and the technical layers of the electricity system.

Market design and Sector Integration
Rewriting the rules of the (electricity) game? Markets are the instruments supporting power system transactions, operations and developments by distributing electricity-related costs and benefits among players. Rules of electricity markets need to be checked and updated to enable and accommodate technological innovation as well as new electricity delivery solutions. We inform the legislators and regulators' actions - aimed to steer the electricity sector transition to the citizens’ benefit - by studying solutions and evolutions of the market schemes, at both the retail and wholesale market level.
EIRIE research & innovation
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Laboratory
Learn what we do in the Smart Grid Laboratory
Maps & Tools
Learn and explore all the interactive maps & tools we develop