Bridge General Assembly 2025

BRIDGE General Assembly 2025: pioneering the future of smart grids and energy storage

BeFlexible at the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025: advancing citizen engagement and energy regulation

On March 25-26, 2025, the BeFlexible project actively participated in the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 in Brussels, a flagship event bringing together EU-funded projects that are shaping the future of smart grids, energy storage, and digitalisation. This annual gathering is a crucial platform for sharing knowledge, discussing policy updates, and fostering collaboration among projects that are at the forefront of the energy transition.

The two-day event, hosted at the Square Brussels Meeting Centre, featured keynotes, policy updates, and working group discussions on critical topics for the energy transition. For BeFlexible, two sessions stood out prominently:

  • The Consumer & Citizen Engagement Working Group, chaired by Michael Brenner-Fließer.
  • The Regulation Working Group, which examined the policy and market conditions needed to accelerate flexibility solutions.

Engaging citizens: a key to the energy transition

Involving end-users in the energy transition is one of the biggest challenges for flexibility solutions. As Michael Brenner-Fließer, Chair of the Consumer & Citizen Engagement Working Group, stated during the session:

“To ensure a fair and effective energy transition, we must move beyond simple awareness-raising. We need tools, incentives, and regulatory frameworks that empower consumers to take an active role.”

The discussions in this working group revolved around several key points:

  • Simplifying Access to Demand-Side Flexibility Programs: One of the primary challenges identified was the complexity of current demand-side flexibility programs. Participants discussed ways to make these programs more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that consumers can easily participate and benefit from them.
  • The Role of Digital Platforms and Real-Time Data: Digital platforms and real-time data are crucial in helping consumers make informed energy choices. The group explored how these technologies can be leveraged to provide consumers with the information they need to manage their energy use effectively.
  • Harmonised Approach Across EU Member States: To avoid a fragmented regulatory landscape, there is a need for a harmonised approach across EU member states. This would ensure that consumers across Europe have a consistent experience and that best practices can be shared and implemented more effectively.

BeFlexible shared its vision on how digitalisation and market-based incentives can make consumer participation easier and more rewarding. The project highlighted the importance of creating a seamless user experience and providing clear benefits to consumers who engage in flexibility programs.

Regulatory challenges and opportunities

As flexibility solutions become more sophisticated, regulatory frameworks need to keep pace. The Regulation Working Group of the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 tackled key issues such as:

  • Evolving Market Design: The group discussed how market design must evolve to accommodate decentralised energy resources. This includes creating mechanisms that allow for the integration of small-scale renewable energy sources and storage solutions into the grid.
  • Clearer Incentives for Flexibility Service Providers: There is a need for clearer incentives for flexibility service providers. The group explored various models for incentivising these providers, ensuring that they are adequately rewarded for their contributions to grid stability and efficiency.
  • Alignment with EU Energy Objectives: Ensuring that national regulations align with EU energy objectives is crucial. The group discussed ways to harmonise regulations across member states, making it easier for flexibility solutions to be implemented on a broader scale.

Karsten Krause, Head of Sector at DG ENER, EU Commission, highlighted the progress of the BRIDGE initiative, stating:

“The achievements of BRIDGE demonstrate the power of collaboration in the energy sector. We are witnessing major advances in digitalisation and market design, but there is still work to be done to remove regulatory barriers.”

These reflections reinforce the importance of projects like BeFlexible, which aim to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world implementation. By addressing regulatory challenges and creating a supportive environment for flexibility solutions, these projects are paving the way for a more resilient and adaptable energy system.

What’s next?

The discussions at BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 confirmed that flexibility is a crucial enabler of Europe’s clean energy transition. At BeFlexible, we are committed to integrating these insights into our ongoing work and collaborating with stakeholders to drive change.

With strengthened networks, a clearer regulatory outlook, and fresh perspectives on citizen engagement, we are excited to bring flexibility solutions closer to real-world adoption. Our next steps will involve:

  • Implementing Key Takeaways: We will incorporate the insights gained from the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 into our project activities. This includes refining our approaches to consumer engagement and working closely with regulatory bodies to advocate for supportive policies.
  • Strengthening Collaborations: Building on the connections made during the event, we will continue to collaborate with other projects and stakeholders. These partnerships are essential for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices.
  • Advancing Digitalisation: We will focus on advancing digitalisation within our project, leveraging the latest technologies to enhance consumer participation and improve the efficiency of flexibility solutions.

Stay tuned as we continue working towards a more adaptable, consumer-driven, and resilient energy system!

BeFlexible at the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025: advancing citizen engagement and energy regulation

On March 25-26, 2025, the BeFlexible project actively participated in the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 in Brussels, a flagship event bringing together EU-funded projects that are shaping the future of smart grids, energy storage, and digitalisation. This annual gathering is a crucial platform for sharing knowledge, discussing policy updates, and fostering collaboration among projects that are at the forefront of the energy transition.

The two-day event, hosted at the Square Brussels Meeting Centre, featured keynotes, policy updates, and working group discussions on critical topics for the energy transition. For BeFlexible, two sessions stood out prominently:

  • The Consumer & Citizen Engagement Working Group, chaired by Michael Brenner-Fließer.
  • The Regulation Working Group, which examined the policy and market conditions needed to accelerate flexibility solutions.

Engaging citizens: a key to the energy transition

Involving end-users in the energy transition is one of the biggest challenges for flexibility solutions. As Michael Brenner-Fließer, Chair of the Consumer & Citizen Engagement Working Group, stated during the session:

“To ensure a fair and effective energy transition, we must move beyond simple awareness-raising. We need tools, incentives, and regulatory frameworks that empower consumers to take an active role.”

The discussions in this working group revolved around several key points:

  • Simplifying Access to Demand-Side Flexibility Programs: One of the primary challenges identified was the complexity of current demand-side flexibility programs. Participants discussed ways to make these programs more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that consumers can easily participate and benefit from them.
  • The Role of Digital Platforms and Real-Time Data: Digital platforms and real-time data are crucial in helping consumers make informed energy choices. The group explored how these technologies can be leveraged to provide consumers with the information they need to manage their energy use effectively.
  • Harmonised Approach Across EU Member States: To avoid a fragmented regulatory landscape, there is a need for a harmonised approach across EU member states. This would ensure that consumers across Europe have a consistent experience and that best practices can be shared and implemented more effectively.

BeFlexible shared its vision on how digitalisation and market-based incentives can make consumer participation easier and more rewarding. The project highlighted the importance of creating a seamless user experience and providing clear benefits to consumers who engage in flexibility programs.

Regulatory challenges and opportunities

As flexibility solutions become more sophisticated, regulatory frameworks need to keep pace. The Regulation Working Group of the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 tackled key issues such as:

  • Evolving Market Design: The group discussed how market design must evolve to accommodate decentralised energy resources. This includes creating mechanisms that allow for the integration of small-scale renewable energy sources and storage solutions into the grid.
  • Clearer Incentives for Flexibility Service Providers: There is a need for clearer incentives for flexibility service providers. The group explored various models for incentivising these providers, ensuring that they are adequately rewarded for their contributions to grid stability and efficiency.
  • Alignment with EU Energy Objectives: Ensuring that national regulations align with EU energy objectives is crucial. The group discussed ways to harmonise regulations across member states, making it easier for flexibility solutions to be implemented on a broader scale.

Karsten Krause, Head of Sector at DG ENER, EU Commission, highlighted the progress of the BRIDGE initiative, stating:

“The achievements of BRIDGE demonstrate the power of collaboration in the energy sector. We are witnessing major advances in digitalisation and market design, but there is still work to be done to remove regulatory barriers.”

These reflections reinforce the importance of projects like BeFlexible, which aim to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world implementation. By addressing regulatory challenges and creating a supportive environment for flexibility solutions, these projects are paving the way for a more resilient and adaptable energy system.

What’s next?

The discussions at BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 confirmed that flexibility is a crucial enabler of Europe’s clean energy transition. At BeFlexible, we are committed to integrating these insights into our ongoing work and collaborating with stakeholders to drive change.

With strengthened networks, a clearer regulatory outlook, and fresh perspectives on citizen engagement, we are excited to bring flexibility solutions closer to real-world adoption. Our next steps will involve:

  • Implementing Key Takeaways: We will incorporate the insights gained from the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025 into our project activities. This includes refining our approaches to consumer engagement and working closely with regulatory bodies to advocate for supportive policies.
  • Strengthening Collaborations: Building on the connections made during the event, we will continue to collaborate with other projects and stakeholders. These partnerships are essential for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices.
  • Advancing Digitalisation: We will focus on advancing digitalisation within our project, leveraging the latest technologies to enhance consumer participation and improve the efficiency of flexibility solutions.

Stay tuned as we continue working towards a more adaptable, consumer-driven, and resilient energy system!

Seville Workshop - BEFLEXIBLE

A smarter energy future: BeFlexible workshop showcases key advances in grid flexibility

The workshop brought together experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of flexible energy management in networks and future steps, from the analysis of the regulatory framework to showcasing progress in the BeFlexible’s demos from Spain, Italy, and France.

 

On March 25-26, the Island of Cartuja in Seville (Spain) became a key hub for around 40 professionals, industry leaders, and companies in the Spanish energy sector. This event provided a platform to present the latest technologies and innovations developed within the framework of the BeFlexible project.

Organised by e-distribución, Endesa’s grid subsidiary, the two-day event included technical visits to some of the most innovative buildings on Isla de la Cartuja. Highlights featured the Marie-Curie Tech Incubator, with insights from Eva Martín (PCT Cartuja) and Juan Manuel Rosauro (Endesa), as well as a presentation by Aníbal Ollero from AICIA – Andalusian Association for Research and Industrial Cooperation. The Andalusian Energy Agency, represented by José Manuel Torres, and CATEPS (University of Seville), led by Carlos León de Mora, also shared their energy management practices in these buildings.

The second day took place at the iconic “Torre Sevilla”, where a dedicated workshop highlighted advancements in several flexibility project demonstrators, as well as key discussions on platform integration, regulatory aspects, and market flexibility solutions.

Key takeaways from the workshop

The workshop took place at a crucial moment for BeFlexible, marking two and a half years since the project’s inception. As BeFlexible enters a critical phase of expanding and finalizing demonstration activities, this period is essential for implementation, impact assessment, and results analysis. The event provided a stage to present progress in pilot projects across Seville, Bilbao, Benidorm, and Madrid (Spain), Rome and Cuneo (Italy), and France. Various project partners discussed key developments during the journey.

The session at “Torre Sevilla” began with a warm welcome by Jacob Rodríguez (e-distribución), who introduced the agenda for the workshop. Afterward, Ana Báscones from Zabala Innovation took the floor to outline the project’s scope, objectives, and key technical advancements including: a comprehensive regulatory framework analysis to identify challenges and propose measures for effective flexibility deployment, the development of 13 Business Use Cases (BUCs) being applied to pilot projects, a tailored strategy based on Actor-Network Theory (ANT), the creation of a value proposition tool to support demonstrations, a regulatory framework ensuring compliance and ethical integrity and the design of the GDBN (Grid and Data Business Network) and the definition of its services.

BeFlexible Seville Workshop

Jacob Rodríguez welcomed the participants to the workshop at “Torre Sevilla”.

Following this, Jacob Rodríguez presented technical insights on the pilot project implemented at the “Teatro Central” in Isla de la Cartuja (Sevilla). In collaboration with ThermoVault and the Andalusian Government, e-distribución has deployed 17 smart metering devices in electric water heaters at the “Teatro Central” in Seville. These devices optimize energy consumption using an AI model that adjusts usage based on actual needs. Recently, the project expanded to residential areas in Seville, where 17 additional electric water heaters have been installed across various neighbourhoods in the same city.

Moving forward, Carolina Manaresi (ENEL) introduced Pilots 1.1 (Rome) and 1.2 (Cuneo), both in Italy, which focus on network congestion management. She also presented insights from the Italian demonstrator regarding the coordination of flexibility services provided by distributed resources in both global and local markets. The session featured case studies on utilizing water distribution networks to provide flexibility services, addressing grid challenges while highlighting their key strengths and limitations

Afterward, Beatriz Alonso and David Martín Utrilla and (i-DE) discussed Iberdrola’s demonstrators, analysing the short- and long-term needs of distribution system operators. Their presentation focused on both short- and long-term strategies for network reinforcement and flexibility, incorporating a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate their effectiveness. Additionally, they covered pilot projects in Bilbao (focused on public buildings and battery storage), Madrid, and Benidorm (both targeting residential customers)

Continuing with the technical presentations, José Villar (INESC TEC) delved into integration platforms, specifically discussing the GDBN (Grid and Data Business Network)—a digital platform designed to support key stages of the energy and multi-sectoral value chain centred on flexibility (FCVC). Its main objective is to optimize processes and contractual agreements, enhancing participation and unlocking access to flexibility markets.

Subsequently, Pau Lloret (ThermoVault) addressed the growing concern over energy efficiency and the rising costs of balancing energy demand. He presented ThermoVault’s innovative solution: using aggregated water heaters as storage assets to provide flexibility services. Pau detailed ThermoVault’s involvement in pilot projects in Seville (Spain) and France. Miguel Ángel Ruiz (Pontifical University of Comillas) then provided an in-depth analysis of regulatory aspects in the energy sector, focusing on remuneration models and European policies. BeFlexible continues to explore regulatory frameworks to enable flexibility, as a flexible grid is understood to be much more efficient.

To conclude the workshop, Daniel Davi (e-distribución) presented the European Map of Flexibility, emphasizing key highlights and investment needs in electricity grids within the Action Plan for Affordable Energy. Daniel concluded by stating that European projects like BeFlexible serve as excellent testing grounds for the efficient implementation of flexibility in the European power system.

Insights from expert voices and the path forward for BeFlexible

The workshop also welcomed guest experts. Carlos León de Mora (University of Seville) introduced advancements from 35 research and development projects conducted over the past five years in collaboration with industry partners. These projects cover photovoltaic and wind energy generation, as well as battery storage solutions. Participants visited these installations, where León provided first-hand insights into their operation and impact. Additionally, Daniel Morales (Ingelectus) provided a detailed explanation of flexibility in distribution networks, emphasizing the role of digital twins in achieving full network observability. The closing of the event featured Rafael Sánchez Durán, General Director of Andalucía and Extremadura, who addressed the major challenge of making flexibility economically attractive.

The workshop created a platform for knowledge sharing, thanks to the support of e-distribución’s Institutional Relations team in Andalucía. It provided valuable insights into ongoing demonstrators, best practices from other initiatives such as the eCitySevilla project, demonstrating that there are technologies available to make electrical grids more flexible, and opportunities for knowledge sharing. This space for sharing insights has been made possible thanks to the support of the Institutional Relations team from Andalucía at e-distribución.

As BeFlexible moves toward its conclusion in August 2026, BeFlexible remains committed to placing consumers at the heart of flexibility solutions. Reflecting on the future, project coordinator David Martín emphasized:

“BeFlexible is about the flexibility that consumers bring to the system. The project’s legacy will be to engage customers and aggregators, as they will provide liquidity to the market—making it crucial to put them at the core of the project”.