Project Information
FLEXI
Human-centered AI and digital twin powered energy system integration for flexibility markets.
FLEXI is an interdisciplinary project towards the clean energy transition (CET), aiming to:
1) Involve citizens in the CET through modern generative AI.
2) Build a federated digital twin (FDT) at the demand side to integrate various energy resources and technologies, including user interaction profiles and energy usage patterns.
3) Establish a novel Flexibility-as-a-Service business model that enables resource owners to gain incentives by depositing their energy flexibility in a new market entity – flexibility bank.
Develop advanced, AI-driven solutions for energy management
by improving demand forecasting and supporting resource owners through an Large Language Model (LLM) based energy assistant. Citizens are empowered to make informed choices and actively participate in energy management.
Enable integrated and efficient energy systems and markets
by building FDTs and introducing a Flexibility-as-a-Service business model to boost flexibility markets and revenues. FDTs estimate the overall flexibility potential to provide energy flexibility services to resource owners.
Validate, demonstrate, and amplify project impact
by integrating the Flexibility-as-a-Service business model in living labs (FENR, SIE) and through real-world testing on their premises to achieve TRL4 by project end. Strong engagement with the CET Partnership to enhance visibility and uptake.
FLEXI
Key Exploitable Results (KERs)
LLM-driven Energy Assistant for resource owners
KER1 delivers an LLM-driven Energy Assistant enabling LLM-mediated interaction, context-aware inputs, and improved small-scale demand forecasting through AI-powered user interaction.
Core development and implementation by UBI and UIBK
- Design and develop the LLM-driven Energy Assistant (architecture, interaction flows, model integration).
- Implement context-aware inputs and interaction logic needed for energy flexibility decision support.
- Lead user interaction design, including usability and human-centred workflows for “resource owners”.
- Run stakeholder-facing validation activities to support SRL progression (workshops, feedback loops, acceptance testing).
Federated Digital Twins for energy system integration
KER2 delivers a FDTs that integrates PV systems, batteries, EVs, HVAC, as well as user interaction profiles and energy usage patterns, to enable energy system integration and sector coupling.
Federation, interoperability, and engineering lead by MDU
- Lead the FDT federation and interoperability design and implementation (interfaces, data exchange, orchestration).
- Drive model-based engineering of the FDT framework and support runtime validation activities to ensure stable federation behaviour.
- Coordinate the technical integration roadmap with KER1 (Energy Assistant) and KER3 (Flexibility Bank) requirements.
Flexibility-as-a-Service business model
KER3 delivers a Flexibility-as-a-Service business model, implemented via a “flexibility bank” that enables depositing flexibility, supported by predictive analytics, smart contracts, and dynamic compensation mechanisms. The result provides a structured way to operationalise and monetise flexibility from distributed resources while supporting scalable market participation.
Business model design, market logic, and implementation lead by CW
- Lead the design and implementation of the Flexibility Bank concept, including mechanisms for depositing flexibility, value allocation, and settlement logic.
- Develop the Flexibility-as-a-Service value proposition and define target customer segments (e.g., aggregators, flexibility providers, energy service actors).
- Conduct business model validation activities to refine feasibility and adoption conditions.
Four validated FLEXI use cases across different energy contexts
KER4 delivers four validated use cases (uUBI, uSIE, uCW, uFENR) that validate KER1 – KER3 in controlled laboratory conditions across multiple EU and international energy markets. The use cases provide structured evidence on technical performance, usability, system integration, and market relevance, and act as the main vehicle for demonstrating replicability and readiness advancement of the FLEXI framework.
Use case owners (UBI, SIE, CW, FENR): Execution lead per use case
- Define the use-case scope, boundary conditions, and operational scenarios (assets, user groups, market context).
- Provide use-case specific data, assumptions, and validation requirements.
- Run the validation activities in controlled lab conditions and document outcomes, lessons learned, and barriers/enablers for uptake.
- Coordinate stakeholder involvement relevant to each use case (resource owners, aggregators, system actors, policy/regulatory observers where relevant).
FLEXI framework tests and KPI report
KER5 delivers the FLEXI framework tests and KPI report, providing system-level validation evidence, demonstrating TRL 4 achievement, and supporting replicability across energy markets. The result consolidates testing outcomes across the FLEXI technical stack and use cases, translating them into a coherent KPI-based assessment that supports exploitation decisions, follow-up validation, and stakeholder confidence in scalability.
KPI framework, testing coordination and reporting lead by UU
- Define and maintain the KPI framework for system-level evaluation (technical performance, interoperability, usability-related metrics where applicable, and replicability indicators).
- Coordinate FLEXI framework tests across use cases to ensure consistent test procedures, comparable results, and traceability of evidence.
- Consolidate results into the KPI report, documenting test setups, assumptions, performance outcomes, and limitations.
- Translate findings into exploitation-relevant insights (readiness evidence, replication conditions, barriers/enablers for uptake).
Impact Assessment and Maximisation Framework for FLEXI Results
KER6 delivers impact assessment and maximisation of FLEXI project results, consolidating the project’s approach to dissemination, exploitation and communication, supported by techno-economic analyses, and engagement with the CETP Knowledge Community. It provides the cross-cutting evidence and strategic packaging needed to translate FLEXI’s technical and use-case results into credible impact narratives, uptake pathways, and follow-up opportunities beyond the project duration.
Impact Maximisation lead by FENR
- Lead the impact assessment and maximisation workflow across the project, ensuring results are consistently translated into exploitation-relevant outputs.
- Consolidate and maintain the Exploitation Plan content (KER portfolio, stakeholder mapping, pathways to uptake) and align it with dissemination and communication activities.
- Coordinate contributions to the CETP Knowledge Community, including cross-project exchange and co-creation activities.
FLEXI
Work Packages
FLEXI’s 36-month work plan is structured into 5 inter-dependent WPs to systematically address its objectives. The work plan is designed to achieve TRL4 validation within a controlled lab environment, ensuring that the AI-powered digital energy assistant (KER1), FDTs (KER2), and Flexibility-as-a-Service business model (KER3) are technically validated while setting the foundation for future market scalability and societal adoption.
Project Management
Ensures effective coordination, risk management, and quality assurance across all project activities, enabling timely delivery of outputs and strategic alignment with CETP objectives.
Requirements and Roadmap
Defines the requirements, scenarios, and architecture of FLEXI’s framework, setting up the interdisciplinary context for technology development in WP3 and WP4.
Services for Flexibility Markets
Conducts interdisciplinary research to develop the three FLEXI services (KER1-KER3), ensuring TRL4 validation and alignment with market requirements and societal needs.
Framework Integration and Evaluation
Develops and validates Flexibility-as-a-Service concepts and business models, including flexibility valuation, aggregation, and market integration, supporting new incentives for flexibility providers.
Reporting and Knowledge Community
Ensures knowledge transfer, stakeholder engagement, and impact maximisation, including contributions to the CETP Knowledge Community.