Europe is undergoing a major energy transition aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, and improving energy security. These ambitions are strongly supported through the European Green Deal, the EU’s long-term strategy for achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as well as the REPowerEU Plan, introduced to accelerate clean energy deployment and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. In parallel, the EU has introduced new legislation that gives citizens and local communities a more active role in the energy system. Among the most important are Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on renewable energy (RED II), Directive (EU) 2019/944 on the internal electricity market, and the recently updated Directive (EU) 2024/1711, which further strengthens citizens’ rights to share and trade renewable electricity within energy communities.
The INTELLIGENT project directly supports these EU policy objectives by developing digital tools that enable local energy sharing and peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. In practice, this means that households, businesses, and communities producing renewable energy — for example through solar panels — can exchange electricity locally in a secure and transparent way. The project combines advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and interoperable data exchange systems to make local energy markets easier to operate and more accessible to citizens. By doing so, INTELLIGENT helps translate EU legislation into practical solutions that communities can actually use in everyday life.
INTELLIGENT also contributes to one of the EU’s biggest energy challenges: maintaining grid stability while integrating increasing amounts of renewable energy. As more solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and heat pumps become connected to the grid, electricity networks become more complex to manage. Through AI-based forecasting, flexibility optimisation, and grid-aware trading mechanisms, the project helps Distribution System Operators (DSOs) better balance local electricity flows and reduce congestion risks. This aligns closely with EU priorities related to smart grids, energy system digitalisation, and consumer empowerment outlined within the European Green Deal and the EU electricity market reform.
To demonstrate these solutions in real-world conditions, INTELLIGENT is implementing pilot activities in Switzerland, Portugal, and Ireland. These pilots represent different regulatory frameworks, technical conditions, and community models, ranging from urban self-consumption communities to remote island energy systems. The project therefore provides practical evidence of how EU energy policies can be implemented locally through innovative digital solutions and citizen participation. By combining technology development, community engagement, and real-life demonstrations, INTELLIGENT contributes to building a cleaner, more resilient, and more citizen-centred European energy system.
