Advancing Smart Grid Standardisation: Privanova’s Results at the GLocalFlex Plenary in Finland

Driving Interoperability in Horizon Europe

In the transition towards a decentralised, renewable-based energy system, cross-sector flexibility and interoperability are no longer optional—they are foundational. Ensuring that emerging technologies can seamlessly communicate and operate across smart grids, distributed energy resources (DERs), and smart buildings requires a proactive approach to standardisation.

Within the GLocalFlex project, Privanova leads the charge in this critical area, bridging the gap between technological innovation and established standardisation frameworks. Recently, our team presented the latest results of these standardisation activities at the project’s in-person consortium plenary meeting.

GLocalFlex Plenary in Finland: Key Standardisation Milestones

Held in Finland between 30 September and 1 October 2026, the GLocalFlex consortium meeting brought together partners to assess progress, align on technical integrations, and chart the course for upcoming project phases. Dr Attila Wootsch represented Privanova at the event, sharing vital updates on Work Package 7 (Exploitation, Dissemination, and Promotion), specifically detailing our collaboration with Standardisation Bodies (SDOs).

Standardisation in Horizon Europe projects ensures that cutting-edge research translates into market-ready, future-proof solutions. During the meeting, Privanova showcased the completion of several core objectives designed to align GLocalFlex outputs with broader European and global standards.

Bridging the Gap: Privanova’s Standardisation Strategy

Our role in GLocalFlex goes beyond simply monitoring compliance; we actively drive a two-way interaction between the consortium and standardisation bodies. Over the past six months, Privanova has successfully delivered on several critical milestones:

• Comprehensive Landscape Review: We completed an extensive review of the current and emerging smart grid standardization landscape. This covered flexibility markets, DERs, smart buildings, semantic interoperability, and data exchange protocols.
• Gap Identification and Mapping: By mapping key GLocalFlex technical components against this landscape, we identified potential standardisation gaps and interoperability challenges that must be addressed for successful cross-sector integration.
• Standardisation Landscape Briefing: We developed a targeted briefing document outlining relevant standards and anticipated project contributions, designed specifically for sharing with SDO contacts and wider public dissemination.
• Input to Standardisation Priorities: Privanova defined priority areas for direct consortium contributions, focusing heavily on interoperability architecture, flexibility service models, and marketplace data interfaces.

Next Steps: Mapping Matrices and SDO Engagement

Looking ahead, the strategy shifts from landscape mapping to targeted external engagement. Privanova’s action plan for the next six months focuses on delivering tangible assets to SDOs.

We are developing a comprehensive standards mapping matrix that explicitly links GLocalFlex use cases and minimum interoperability requirements to specific standardisation routes. To facilitate this, we are preparing short issue/gap cards and packaged consultation documents.

A major upcoming milestone is the SDO Feedback Workshop, scheduled for late 2026. This workshop will allow us to capture direct feedback from standards representatives, document agreed follow-up actions, and ensure our Horizon Europe standards contributions are highly relevant to industry needs.

Leveraging Synergies: The Energy Nexus Cluster

Effective standardisation cannot happen in a silo. During the Finland plenary, Privanova also reported on the continued expansion of the Energy Nexus Cluster—a collaborative network now comprising 16 active Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects.

By pooling resources and knowledge across projects like TIPS4PED and GLocalFlex, the cluster amplifies its voice. A joint standards workshop involving multiple cluster projects and SDO representatives is being prepared, demonstrating how collaborative governance can accelerate the adoption of unified smart grid standards across Europe.

Elevate Your Proposal with Strategic Standardisation

Integrating a robust standardisation strategy is increasingly critical for securing and successfully delivering Horizon Europe funding. Demonstrating a clear pathway to market through standardisation not only improves proposal evaluation scores but ensures long-term project impact.

Whether you need to map complex regulatory landscapes, establish an Ethics Advisory Board, or facilitate active SDO engagement, Privanova brings proven expertise to the table. If you are building a consortium, contact us to integrate strategic standardisation activities into your proposal and ensure your innovation sets the standard.