BeFlexible demonstration presented at IRCO

BeFlexible presents its innovative demonstration to E.DSO members

During the Innovation and Research Committee (IRCO) meeting which is hosted by E.DSO and took place in June 2025, José Villar from INESC TEC presented the latest advancement in the BeFlexible demonstration focusing on the engagement of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in flexibility markets. The presentation, titled ‘Planning and Operation of a REC with RECreation’ highlighted the project’s innovative approach to integrating local flexibility into energy systems through digital tools and community-based models.

RECreation key takeaways

The RECreation platform, developed by INESC TEC, is a central component of the BeFlexible demonstration based in Madrid, Spain. This demonstration has created a virtual community built on real-world data and focuses on enabling the participation of RECs in local flexibility markets by leveraging the flexibility of a mix of cross-sectoral assets. Specifically, the functions of RECreation are the following:

  • Configuration and management of REC structures and data
  • Real-time computation of energy transactions and financial compensations, and montly computation of the billing guide
  • Support data exchange between the RECreation and the DSOs
  • Supports the participation in local flexibility markets
  • Monitoring of key performance indicators such as energy cost savings, local energy usage, and CO₂ emissions reductions

In addition, RECreation operates together with the Grid and Data Business Network (GDBN) developed in the context of BeFlexible. This digital platfom supports the main activities of the flexibility value chain, and provides, among other, an interoperable gateway for aggregators to connect to different local flexibility market platforms.

José Villar delivered an elaborate presentation of the technical aspects regarding the operation the RECreation platform and its integration with the GDBN, and how both platforms contribute to leveraging the flexibility potential of RECs. He concluded his presentation by acknowledging that, as the BeFlexible demonstration should confirm, RECs can play a relevant role in the energy transition by facilitating the integration of local renewable generation, reducing energy costs for community members and encouraging active energy-efficient behaviours amongst others. Nevertheless, they do not constitute a one-size-fits-all solution, and their success still depends on overcoming existing administrative and regulatory barriers.

Towards a more flexible, efficient and participatory energy system

BeFlexible’s contribution to the IRCO meeting offered a comprehensive elaboration of a digital innovation which can contribute significantly to unlocking the flexibility potential of RECs which is deemed essential as we move forward to a more flexible, efficient and participatory energy system.

During the Innovation and Research Committee (IRCO) meeting which is hosted by E.DSO and took place in June 2025, José Villar from INESC TEC presented the latest advancement in the BeFlexible demonstration focusing on the engagement of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in flexibility markets. The presentation, titled ‘Planning and Operation of a REC with RECreation’ highlighted the project’s innovative approach to integrating local flexibility into energy systems through digital tools and community-based models.

RECreation key takeaways

The RECreation platform, developed by INESC TEC, is a central component of the BeFlexible demonstration based in Madrid, Spain. This demonstration has created a virtual community built on real-world data and focuses on enabling the participation of RECs in local flexibility markets by leveraging the flexibility of a mix of cross-sectoral assets. Specifically, the functions of RECreation are the following:

  • Configuration and management of REC structures and data
  • Real-time computation of energy transactions and financial compensations, and montly computation of the billing guide
  • Support data exchange between the RECreation and the DSOs
  • Supports the participation in local flexibility markets
  • Monitoring of key performance indicators such as energy cost savings, local energy usage, and CO₂ emissions reductions

In addition, RECreation operates together with the Grid and Data Business Network (GDBN) developed in the context of BeFlexible. This digital platfom supports the main activities of the flexibility value chain, and provides, among other, an interoperable gateway for aggregators to connect to different local flexibility market platforms.

José Villar delivered an elaborate presentation of the technical aspects regarding the operation the RECreation platform and its integration with the GDBN, and how both platforms contribute to leveraging the flexibility potential of RECs. He concluded his presentation by acknowledging that, as the BeFlexible demonstration should confirm, RECs can play a relevant role in the energy transition by facilitating the integration of local renewable generation, reducing energy costs for community members and encouraging active energy-efficient behaviours amongst others. Nevertheless, they do not constitute a one-size-fits-all solution, and their success still depends on overcoming existing administrative and regulatory barriers.

Towards a more flexible, efficient and participatory energy system

BeFlexible’s contribution to the IRCO meeting offered a comprehensive elaboration of a digital innovation which can contribute significantly to unlocking the flexibility potential of RECs which is deemed essential as we move forward to a more flexible, efficient and participatory energy system.

The RECreation platform: a smarter way to share energy locally

On June 18th, 2025, the BeFlexible project took center stage on the ISGAN Virtual Learning Platform, presenting a live webinar focused on one of the project’s flagship innovations: the RECreation platform.

Led by José Villar from INESC TEC (Portugal), the session explored how this advanced digital solution empowers Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and boosts collective self-consumption flexibility at the local level.

RECreation is not just another energy management tool. It is a strategic enabler designed to unlock the potential of community-based energy sharing, reduce dependence on centralized grids, and ensure that even small consumers and prosumers can participate in flexibility markets. The session provided a hands-on look at how the platform integrates with local energy systems and supports the goals of the BeFlexible project: achieving a more resilient, democratic, and interoperable energy system across Europe.

Yo can watch the full webinar here:

 

RECreation: bridging community energy and flexibility markets

Initially developed under the Portuguese national project DigitalCER, RECreation has evolved significantly within BeFlexible. The platform now supports advanced energy services, integrates with the Green Digital Backbone Network (GDBN), and is available on the SAP Store ecosystem, highlighting its commercial viability and digital maturity.

At the heart of the platform is a simple but powerful idea: enabling collective self-consumption flexibility by making energy sharing transparent, traceable, and fair. During the webinar, participants explored how the platform allows communities to define custom allocation coefficients, manage internal energy flows, and access external market opportunities without requiring technical expertise.

This capacity to seamlessly engage with both Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and local market frameworks makes RECreation a critical tool for turning citizen-led energy initiatives into active nodes in Europe’s flexible energy future.

Tools for prosumers: transparent sharing and grid integration

RECreation equips prosumers and small consumers with the tools they need to move from passive users to active energy market participants. Some of its most impactful features include:

  • Dynamic allocation of shared energy using configurable rules tailored to each community.
  • Full transparency in transactions, with tracking mechanisms for both energy flows and settlements.
  • Compatibility with DSOs, ensuring grid stability and supporting distribution-level coordination.
  • Support for local pricing models and flexibility trading, enabling communities to respond to grid needs and receive compensation accordingly.

These features directly contribute to the project’s broader mission of creating a resilient and flexible energy system—one where even the smallest actor has a voice.

Collective self-consumption flexibility at the heart of energy democracy

The RECreation platform exemplifies the BeFlexible commitment to energy democracy. By embedding mechanisms for community control, fair energy sharing, and market participation, it allows RECs to contribute to local grid stability while maximizing the use of renewable generation.

This is not just about technology—it’s about social innovation. Flexibility is no longer reserved for large-scale industrial players. Platforms like RECreation ensure that citizens and communities can actively shape the energy system, respond to market signals, and benefit from their own energy production.

In a context of increasing decentralization, such tools are essential for integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind while maintaining grid reliability and affordability.

“Collective self-consumption flexibility is not a niche—it’s a necessary component of a distributed, digital, and democratic energy future”

Platform demonstration: from theory to action

A highlight of the webinar was the live demo of the RECreation platform, where participants witnessed its intuitive design and practical applications. From dashboards displaying real-time energy flows to modules that facilitate flexibility trading and user governance, the session demonstrated that the platform is both technically robust and user-friendly.

Participants left with a clear understanding of how RECreation supports both internal energy optimization and external market engagement, paving the way for real-world deployment in the eleven BeFlexible pilots currently being conducted across France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden.

What does this mean for Europe’s energy transition?

As Europe intensifies efforts to meet its Green Deal objectives and decarbonization targets, the role of platforms like RECreation will become increasingly critical. Collective self-consumption flexibility is not a niche—it’s a necessary component of a distributed, digital, and democratic energy future.

BeFlexible is proud to support this transformation by demonstrating and scaling such tools across real-life use cases. By doing so, the project contributes not only to technological innovation but also to policy development, market evolution, and community empowerment.