On 10 September 2026, the event “Smart Grids in Practice: Experiences from Slovenian Pilot Projects” took place at Elektro Ljubljana in Ljubljana, marking the final event of the Slovenian pilot site activities for the STREAM and OPENTUNITY projects.
The event brought together representatives of Slovenian distribution system operators, ELES, the Energy Agency, Borzen, research institutions and industry to share experiences, results and lessons learned from the pilot activities. The programme focused on practical solutions for the development of smarter and more flexible electricity networks, with discussions covering flexibility, network planning, data exchange and e-mobility.
The Slovenian STREAM pilot focused in particular on the use of flexibility in distribution networks. Experiences from the industrial zone in Ajdovščina showed how flexibility can help reduce or postpone network reinforcements and provided insights into when such solutions can be economically viable. The pilot also highlighted the practical challenges of identifying and activating flexibility, including limited access to data and the importance of cooperation between network operators and energy users.
Two roundtables brought the broader perspectives of the Slovenian energy sector into the discussion. The first focused on network congestion, flexibility and the readiness of distribution networks for increasing electrification, with representatives of Elektro Ljubljana, Elektro Primorska, Elektro Gorenjska and ELES discussing when flexibility can complement traditional grid reinforcement. The second focused on e-mobility and its impact on the electricity system, exploring the challenges of growing EV charging demand as well as the potential of smart and bidirectional charging (V2G) to provide flexibility to the grid.
The discussions highlighted a common conclusion: flexibility can complement network development by reducing or postponing some investments, but it cannot replace the need for grid reinforcement. Clear regulatory frameworks, reliable data and cooperation between different stakeholders will be essential for the wider uptake of flexibility solutions.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the Slovenian pilots, share their key findings and discuss how the results of STREAM and OPENTUNITY can support the continued transition towards smarter, more flexible distribution grids.
The event was organised by Elektro Ljubljana and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana.