The European Commission has taken another important step towards accelerating Europe’s clean energy transition with the publication of the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Energy Sector. Released as part of the European Technological Sovereignty Package, the roadmap sets out a comprehensive vision for deploying digital technologies and AI across the European energy system to improve competitiveness, resilience, sustainability and technological leadership.
The publication reflects a growing recognition that achieving Europe’s climate and energy ambitions is no longer only about deploying renewable energy. As the share of distributed energy resources, energy communities, electric vehicles, batteries and heat pumps continues to increase, Europe’s electricity system is becoming significantly more complex. Managing this transformation requires intelligent digital solutions capable of coordinating millions of connected devices, optimising electricity flows and enabling greater participation of consumers in energy markets.
According to the European Commission, digitalisation has the potential to generate substantial benefits for both citizens and industry. Digital tools can help consumers shift electricity consumption to periods with lower prices, reducing energy bills while supporting grid stability. For businesses, digital technologies can improve operational efficiency, optimise production processes and facilitate participation in flexibility markets. At the same time, AI-driven solutions can support grid operators by improving forecasting, congestion management and the operation of increasingly decentralised electricity networks. Together, these capabilities contribute to a more competitive, resilient and affordable European energy system.
At the heart of the Strategic Roadmap are three complementary pillars designed to accelerate Europe’s digital energy transition.
The first pillar, Energy for AI, focuses on ensuring the sustainable integration of data centres into the European energy system. As computing capacity and AI applications continue to expand rapidly, electricity demand from data centres is expected to increase significantly. The Commission therefore proposes measures to improve energy efficiency, facilitate clean energy integration, enhance flexibility and ensure better coordination between electricity networks, public authorities and data centre operators.
The second pillar, Digitalisation and AI for the Energy System, promotes the wider deployment of artificial intelligence and digital technologies throughout the energy sector. The objective is to enable smarter electricity networks, improve forecasting and optimisation, strengthen flexibility services and support more efficient operation of renewable energy resources. AI is increasingly viewed as an essential tool for improving the performance of energy markets while maintaining system reliability and affordability.
The third pillar, Data for AI and the Energy System, recognises that digital transformation depends on secure, interoperable and trustworthy data sharing. The roadmap therefore places strong emphasis on common data governance frameworks, interoperability, secure data exchange and high-quality datasets that will enable innovative digital energy services while respecting European values and data protection principles.
These priorities closely resonate with the objectives of the INTELLIGENT project.
Funded under Horizon Europe, INTELLIGENT is developing an interoperable digital infrastructure that enables secure peer-to-peer energy trading, flexibility management and greater participation of citizens and energy communities in local electricity markets. The project combines interoperable digital platforms, secure data exchange, AI-supported optimisation mechanisms and flexibility services to support both consumers and distribution system operators in managing increasingly decentralised energy systems.
One of the central messages of the Commission’s roadmap is that Europe’s future energy system must become digital by design. Digital technologies should no longer be considered optional add-ons but rather fundamental infrastructure that enables renewable integration, consumer empowerment and efficient electricity system operation. This vision aligns closely with INTELLIGENT‘s mission to demonstrate how advanced digital tools can facilitate local energy sharing while supporting grid stability and market participation.
Another important aspect highlighted by the roadmap is the need for interoperability. As more digital platforms, market actors and energy assets become connected, seamless data exchange between different systems will become increasingly important. Open, interoperable solutions are expected to accelerate innovation while avoiding fragmented digital ecosystems. This principle is also reflected in INTELLIGENT, where interoperability between peer-to-peer trading platforms, grid operators and energy management services forms a core element of the project’s technological approach.
The roadmap also places citizens at the centre of Europe’s digital energy transition. By providing consumers with better access to energy data and intelligent digital services, households and energy communities can become active participants in electricity markets rather than passive consumers. This consumer-centric perspective is equally embedded within INTELLIGENT, where innovative market mechanisms are designed to enable greater engagement of citizens while creating value for both local communities and electricity networks.
Beyond introducing new technologies, the Strategic Roadmap sends a broader policy message: Europe’s clean energy transition will increasingly depend on trusted digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and effective collaboration between policymakers, researchers, industry and citizens. Horizon Europe projects therefore play a crucial role in transforming these policy ambitions into practical, scalable solutions that can be deployed across Member States.
The publication of the Strategic Roadmap provides an important policy framework for future research and innovation activities in the energy sector. By advancing secure digitalisation, interoperable energy services, AI-enabled optimisation and consumer-centred market participation, projects such as INTELLIGENT contribute directly to the vision of a smarter, more resilient and more sustainable European energy system outlined by the European Commission.
