About SynGRID

SynGRID project aims to enhance institutional and regional innovation in Widening countries through the capitalisation of outcomes from completed Horizon 2020 and ongoing Horizon Europe projects. The combination of valorisation of research results with the focus on enhancing the management, observability and controllability of low-voltage grids considering the increased integration of Renewable Energy Sources, will be combined with the transparent sharing of the know-how to foster stronger collaborations between renowned research and innovation institutions and HE beneficiaries in Croatia, Greece and Slovenia.

The outcome of the international collaboration will be materialised in a joint ERDF, HE and LIFE project proposals that will aim to bridge the gap between European and regional funding mechanisms.

To unlock the full potential of R&I actors, the SynGRID project will employ a multi-faceted capacity-building strategy supported by a comprehensive analysis, encompassing a review of validated research outcomes from Horizon projects and an assessment of the current technology landscape in Croatia, Greece, and Slovenia to identify areas requiring intervention. SynGRID will engage key stakeholders including DSOs, regional authorities, SMEs in the energy sector, and research institutions. 

The backbone of knowledge sharing is structured around key projects like H2020 – COMPILE and X-FLEX, as well as HE – STREAM and OPENTUNITY, where partners served as coordinators or technical coordinators offering advanced insights into the topic of optimised grid reinforcement and advanced controllability to enable large share of RES in the existing, congested DSO grid together with algorithms for fair sharing of limited capacity.

Project Start
May 1st, 2024
Duration
36 Months
Project End
April 30th, 2027
Budget
€ 1. 170.375,00
Involved countries
Slovenia, Croatia, Greece
Call
HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-04

Contact

Institute for Innovation and Development of University of Ljubljana

Kongresni trg 12, 1000 Ljubljana

Scope & Overview

Grid challenges: Existing energy grids are struggling with the integration of RES and new technologies, traditionally requiring significant investments.

In the scope of this project, we will aim to actively engage with regulatory authorities to present state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, specifically those originating from successfully completed Horizon projects. Our focus will be on the valorisation of these results to highlight legislative gaps that currently hinder the implementation of advanced LV grid management tools and the DSO services that are related to it. These services coupled with smarter grid planning represent a critical component in accommodating the integration of a high number of RES and enable the business models for energy storage systems. The ultimate objective of these activities is to co-create legislation that is in sync with the latest market needs and technological advancements. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that policy frameworks are not only robust but also agile, capable of adapting to new innovations and market requirements.

Objectives

Valorisation of Results

Expand the scope and impact of proven research outcomes and methodologies from H2020 COMPILE, X-FLEX, and HE STREAM and OPENTUNITY projects.

Facilitate Market Uptake & Private Sector Engagement

Leverage existing solutions for introduction into new markets to address current challenges and lay the groundwork for subsequent project initiatives. To achieve this, the project will conduct workshops specifically designed for SMEs to enhance their participation in HE. Bilateral meetings will be organized to foster direct dialogue between research institutions and industry partners. 

Strengthen Research Capacity

Foster a sustainable research ecosystem through knowledge exchange initiatives (collaborative research efforts, and engagements with SMEs. Additionally, 3 summer schools for will be organised in each country with the focus on the future of power systems, providing students with an in-depth understanding of emerging technologies and addressing the younger generations.

Support Policy Development

 Act as a resource and guide for policymakers and regulators by providing informed insights for the creation and refinement of regulatory frameworks. The aim is to align regional policies and regulations to support the research activities and successful transfer of technologies.

Workflow / Methodology

SynGRID is structured as a 36-month project which will allow the successful implementation of its four core pillars: Regional Outcome Assessment and Methodology (WP2), Capacity Building and R&I Collaboration (WP3), Regional Innovation Capacity Building (WP4), and dissemination, including the showcase events for stakeholder engagement and networking (WP5).

  1. Regional Outcome Assessment and Methodology
  2. Capacity Building and R&I Collaboration
  3. Regional Innovation Capacity Building
  4. Dissemination, including the showcase events for stakeholder engagement and networking