At the CINEA SmartGrids PCI Summit in Budapest in September, prof. Andrej Gubina from UL, shared valuable experiences from the HE STREAM and H2020 COMPILE projects. His presentation focused on flexibility provision and innovative business models that have emerged from these initiatives. Gubina also drew insights from the BRIDGE Business Models Working Group, igniting a dynamic discussion among the panel.
Moderated by Dr. Eduardo Vega-Fanjul from CINEA, the panel featured leading experts, including Prof. Antonello Monti from RWTH Aachen, Flore Patrat-Delon from E.On and DSO Europe, and Layla Sawyer from CurrENT. Together, they explored innovative solutions shaping the future of Europe’s electricity grid.
The panel highlighted the significance of Smart Electricity Grid Projects of Common Interest (SG PCIs) in driving the integration of renewable energy, advancing storage solutions like home and community batteries, and enhancing cross-border collaboration between Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs).

A major theme of the discussion was scaling and replicating technologies across borders to build a more resilient grid. Panelists addressed key challenges such as regulatory constraints, financial hurdles, and the need for widespread adoption of technologies developed under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in optimizing grid operations also took center stage. By utilizing AI for system control and market modeling, grid operators can significantly enhance efficiency and asset management. Coupled with advanced monitoring technologies and real-time data sharing, these innovations have the potential to greatly improve the grid’s flexibility and support the integration of decentralized renewable energy sources.
The insights and discussions from this summit are expected to shape ongoing and future projects, guiding stakeholders as they work towards the EU’s 2030 climate and energy goals, and the long-term vision of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.