REEFLEX, an innovative platform to optimize consumption and stabilize the grid
The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The rise of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, along with distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs), has created new opportunities for consumers to actively participate in the energy market. However, managing the variability of these resources and unlocking their full potential requires innovative solutions that ensure flexibility, efficiency, and affordability.
This is where REEFLEX comes in. Running from January 2023 to December 2026, this EU-funded project, with a budget of nearly €10 million, is designed to revolutionise demand-side flexibility markets. Led by the CIRCE Foundation in Spain, and involving key partners like CERTH (Greece), TEMSA (Turkey), and Holbæk Municipality (Denmark), REEFLEX aims to create interoperable solutions that maximise the potential of distributed energy resources (DER).
Empowering consumers and enabling flexibility
At its core, REEFLEX empowers households, businesses, and industrial facilities to participate in demand-side flexibility (DSF) markets. By doing so, consumers can reduce energy bills, contribute to grid stability, and support renewable energy integration. The project achieves this through a central interoperability platform, which acts as a marketplace for energy flexibility, connecting stakeholders like consumers, aggregators, and grid operators. Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledger technologies (DLT), the platform ensures transparent, secure, and efficient energy transactions.
A key innovation is Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM), which provides detailed insights into energy consumption without individual monitoring devices. This allows consumers to optimise energy use, reduce waste, and unlock new revenue streams by participating in flexibility markets.
Innovations driving the project
REEFLEX goes beyond platform development, creating a comprehensive technological ecosystem. It repurposes EV batteries into modular energy storage systems to store surplus renewable energy and enhance grid stability. Advanced flexibility calculation tools assess potential, aggregate resources, and streamline market participation. AI-driven market models optimize energy transactions, maximizing both economic and environmental benefits.
Testing solutions across Europe
REEFLEX is being tested in four key demonstrators in Spain, Greece, Switzerland, and Bulgaria, with replication planned in Turkey, Denmark, and Portugal. In Spain, the focus is on Zaragoza, where smart appliances, V2G chargers, and battery storage systems are being integrated. In Greece, the Thessaloniki demonstrator involves 50 residential buildings and a commercial facility, leveraging NILM technology for energy insights. In Switzerland, the project collaborates with Azienda Elettrica di Massagno (AEM) to enhance congestion management. In Bulgaria, data centers are exploring demand-response programs to optimise energy use and reduce carbon footprints.
Scaling solutions for a sustainable future
REEFLEX’s emphasis on replicability ensures its solutions can be adapted across Europe. In Turkey, TEMSA is optimising energy use in its facilities, while in Denmark, municipal EV fleets and solar-powered public buildings are being tested. In Portugal, innovative assets like heat pumps and PV systems are being deployed in residential and commercial settings.
REEFLEX is more than a research project—it’s a roadmap to a sustainable, flexible, and inclusive energy future. By empowering consumers, reducing market barriers, and fostering cross-sector collaboration, REEFLEX is setting a new standard for energy management in the 21st century.
