On 10–11 September, The U2Demo consortium gathered in Bratislava for its second General Assembly, marking a major milestone in the project’s mission to strengthen Europe’s energy communities. After establishing the foundation in its first phase, the project is now moving from harmonization to integration—transforming research into practical tools for energy sharing and peer-to-peer trading across Europe.
Hosted by the Institute of Energy Policy and Development (IEPD), the meeting brought together partners from across Europe to share progress, align priorities, and map out the next phase of collaborative work.
Turning Research into Impact: The Knowledge Base for Energy Sharing
Over the past year, U2Demo has built the theoretical backbone for community-driven energy transition.
Partners have:
- Mapped European and national regulations to identify how legal frameworks enable or restrict energy sharing.
- Researched consumer motivations—exploring how trust, fairness, and energy poverty reduction influence participation in energy communities.
- Assessed open-source digital tools, creating a catalogue of platforms that support peer-to-peer energy tradingand renewable energy management.
With these studies finalized, U2Demo now has the knowledge base needed to design a user-friendly energy community platform that addresses both technical and social realities across Europe.
U2Demo Energy Community Pilots: Innovation Across Europe
The heart of the Bratislava General Assembly was a series of workshops dedicated to U2Demo’s four pilot communities, each exploring a unique model for local energy sharing.
- Belgium: Focused on sharing rooftop solar in social housing fairly among residents and using gamification to boost citizen engagement.
- Italy: A rural cooperative testing how households can schedule batteries, heat pumps, and EVs to optimize local solar use.
- Netherlands: A coastal community facing grid constraints, preparing to join flexibility markets for balance and reliability.
- Portugal: A residential neighborhood integrating batteries and peer-to-peer trading within a regulatory sandbox.
These exchanges ensured that U2Demo’s technical development remains grounded in real-world energy challenges, making the platform adaptable to diverse community contexts across Europe.
Case Study: The Bratislava-Petržalka Energy Community
A highlight of the Assembly was a field visit to the newly established Energy Community in Bratislava-Petržalka, organized by IEPD.
This pioneering initiative—led by the local municipality with support from the Slovak Energy Communities Cluster (KEKS)—is one of Slovakia’s first operational municipal energy communities. With over 400 kWp of solar capacity installed across public and residential buildings, the Petržalka EC is demonstrating how local generation can be shared to power public services.
The Petržalka EC includes:
- 11 PV systems (10 kWp each) on schools and kindergartens
- 2 large-scale systems (90 kWp each) for the swimming pool and sports hall
- 2 PV systems (60 kWp each) serving municipal facilities
- 1 PV-equipped apartment building with EV and e-bike charging
- 1 PV system on Černyševského Street supporting communal energy and heating
By connecting public buildings—schools, sports centers, and administrative offices—into a shared network, the Petržalka EC exemplifies local self-sufficiency and cooperation. Future plans include adding battery storage, extending solar to libraries and cultural centers, and integrating mobility infrastructure. This project stands as a model for municipalities across Europe aiming to empower citizens and build resilient energy systems.
Next Steps: From Integration to Demonstration
The Bratislava General Assembly concluded with a shared vision: U2Demo is ready to move from research to real-world implementation.
The next phase will focus on:
- Developing algorithms and user applications for energy communities
- Integrating social and technical findings into a tested digital platform
- Supporting municipalities and citizens in energy-sharing initiatives
As one participant summarized:
“We now have the building blocks. The next step is to bring them together into a platform that works for communities in practice.”
The next General Assembly the focus will turn to implementation and demonstration. By combining rigorous research with on-the-ground testing, U2Demo is paving the way for scalable, citizen-driven energy communities across Europe.
✨ Special thanks to the Institute of Energy Policy and Development (IEPD) for hosting the General Assembly and for facilitating the inspiring visit to the Petržalka Energy Community.
Comments are closed.