Advancing AI Integration in the European Energy Sector

As the digital age transforms the energy landscape, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and critical energy infrastructure could boost efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. To drive this innovation, Dublin-based EPRI Europe is launching AI-EFFECT, aimed at accelerating the development, testing, and validation of AI applications in the energy sector.

AI-EFFECT brings together 19 leading European organisations spanning research institutions, energy operators, and academia: EPRI Europe, Maynooth University and IKIM (Ireland); INESC TEC, WATT-IS and CEVE (Portugal); DTU, Bornholms Energi & Forsyning and CDK (Denmark); Fraunhofer FIT, RWTH Aachen University and Hertie School (Germany); TUDelft and Tennet (Netherlands); IRTSX (France); DNV (Norway); EnliteAI (Austria); ENEL (Itay); and EDRD (Spain).

The three-year project will develop four demonstrations across Europe—Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany—each addressing a distinct use case, including multi-energy systems, congestion management, energy efficiency, and DER (Distributed Energy Resources) integration. The aim of the project is to establish a European AI Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for the energy sector, enabling development, testing, and validation at various stages. It will virtually connect existing European computer and lab facilities through a digital platform.

“This project will create a unique digital platform that helps both the AI industry and energy utilities in Europe to work together to develop and use AI in the energy industry. By making energy systems smarter, more efficient, and more reliable, we’re directly supporting decarbonisation efforts and advancing EPRI Europe’s mission of driving innovation to ensure a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” said Eamonn Lannoye, EPRI Europe managing director.

AI-EFFECT’s innovative digital platform will drive European collaboration by enabling secure data sharing, AI model development, testing and validation, and seamless integration with the EU data spaces framework. AI has broad energy applications including forecasting energy demand, network anomaly detection, simulation, and reporting automation. The AI-EFFECT platform will help ensure that these AI tools are tested securely before deployment on real-world systems, following European data-sharing rules.

“As a global leader in the energy sector, we are extremely pleased to be part of the AI-EFFECT project, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to facilitate the energy transition. We expect that this initiative will drive innovation and significantly enhance the efficiency and the intrinsic security of energy systems across Europe. Enel is actively sharing its global expertise and real-life scenarios, aiming to improve the quality of life through increasingly innovative and responsible energy solutions,” said Gianni Vittorio Armani, head of Enel grids and Innovability.

AI-EFFECT aims to position Europe at the forefront of AI integration in the energy sector, offering a robust, secure, and scalable platform to foster innovation through research, demonstration, and collaboration. The project will also address key regulatory challenges, including compliance with the EU AI Act, ensuring AI systems for energy are transparent, secure, reliable, and interpretable.

AI-EFFECT will run until September 2027 and is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, under agreement no. 101172952.