Advanced TSO control rooms to enhance grid observability, stability and resilience

The Horizon Europe call for proposals, specifically HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25, seeks to advance the design and functionality of electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) control rooms, focusing on enhancing grid observability, stability, and resilience. The project aims to leverage digital solutions such as digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced analytics to modernize grid management in light of increasing renewable energy integration and the decentralized nature of power generation.

Eligible applicants include electricity TSOs, universities, research organizations, technology suppliers, and distribution system operators (DSOs). Each consortium must have at least two TSOs and two universities/research organizations, along with collaborations encouraged with technology suppliers and at least two DSOs. The geographic eligibility encompasses EU Member States and Associated Countries, with provisions for non-EU entities under specific conditions.

The funding type is grant-based, part of the HORIZON Innovation Actions framework, with a total budget of €28.5 million allocated for three expected grants of €9.5 million each. The application process is a single-stage, with submission set to open on August 4, 2027, and a deadline of December 1, 2027. Proposals must include practical demonstration and validation activities in at least two different EU Member States.

The expected outcomes focus on improving the operational capabilities of TSOs, enabling better grid congestion management, and facilitating faster response times through automation, thus enhancing overall grid reliability and efficiency. Projects are expected to produce vendor-agnostic solutions and tools, best practices, and operational manuals for further adoption by other TSOs.

The opportunity is highly competitive, with success rates estimated between 10-20%, and allows for 100% co-funding of eligible costs, though voluntary co-financing from participants is encouraged. Support resources, such as guidance from National Contact Points and technical assistance, will be available throughout the project lifecycle. This initiative is seen as a strategic investment to drive Europe's green and digital transitions in the energy sector.

This is a description of the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-07) for Advanced TSO control rooms to enhance grid observability, stability and resilience, specifically topic HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25. It is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 04 August 2027, and the deadline is 01 December 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

 The expected outcomes of the projects are: Enhanced reliability, resilience, and efficiency of electricity transmission grids with efficient grid congestion management; Enhanced observability of grids and improved forecasting of supply, demand, grid capacity availability, and flexibility; Transmission system operators (TSO) leveraging modern digital solutions and employing improved systems to effectively manage their grids and improve interoperability with other TSOs; Development of vendor-agnostic reference architectures, solutions, and tools to help advance TSO control room design and operation.

 The scope of the projects includes: Designing and testing innovative solutions, technologies, and processes for advancing TSO control rooms, increasing observability, enhancing operator support, providing more automation, faster response times, and reduced error potential. These solutions should incorporate both hardware and software aspects. Analyzing and including solutions for Wide Area Monitoring Systems (WAMS) to extend real-time monitoring and control capabilities over large areas, while addressing the decentralization and increased complexity of the system. Developing novel solutions to help operators better manage grid congestion and incorporate more renewables while reducing curtailment, facilitating data-driven grid operations using real-time analytics and data from smart assets. These solutions may include preparation, recovery, and/or restoration from incidents, including extreme weather events. Assisting grid operators in updating their operational tools in light of the deep transformation of grids, particularly the distributed nature of generation, potentially including the option to decentralize control for increased resilience in decision-making. Advancing forecasting solutions for energy supply, demand, and flexibility made available to the system operator, including the need for ancillary services and grid hosting capacity, providing advanced analytics and visualizations. Developing interoperability between the control rooms of different TSOs (and using different vendor solutions) to secure seamless data exchanges and coordination, as well as between TSO control rooms and other entities connected to the transmission grids, including adjacent DSOs. Leveraging modern solutions, such as digital twins and artificial intelligence, using security-by-design and advanced protection mechanisms against cyber threats, and using and/or developing open-source software solutions and/or software modules to the greatest extent possible. Developing a manual and proposing best practices for other TSOs (including operation instructions) and identifying remaining gaps and further needs for research and development.

 The demonstration, testing, and validation of activities should occur in at least two pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Projects are expected to include at least two electricity Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and at least two universities and/or research organizations. Collaboration is encouraged with at least one supplier of technology and solutions for TSO control rooms; at least two distribution system operators (DSOs) managing grids connected to the TSOs' grids; and at least one project funded under the call for ‘Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADSM) for more efficient and flexible distribution grids’ to strengthen TSO-DSO coordination and support interoperable solutions. Project proposals are expected to describe a credible mechanism for this collaboration. Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative and actively participate in its activities.

 General conditions include: Admissibility Conditions regarding proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System. Eligible Countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other Eligible Conditions, such as the use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS for projects using satellite-based data and services, and restrictions on entities controlled by China as delineated in General Annex B of the General Annexes, along with restrictions for the protection of European communication networks as described in Annex B. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. Legal and financial set-up of the grants as described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

 Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information includes: Application form templates available in the Submission System (Standard application form HE RIA, IA). Evaluation form templates to be used with necessary adaptations (Standard evaluation form HE RIA, IA). Guidance from the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) using HE MGA. Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

 The budget overview lists several HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and one Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with their respective budgets, stages, opening dates, deadlines, contributions, and indicative number of grants.

 Partner search announcements are available for collaboration on this topic, and LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

 Support resources include: Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk, The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment, and Partner Search.

 In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on advancing TSO control rooms through innovative solutions and technologies to enhance grid reliability, resilience, and efficiency. It encourages collaboration between TSOs, universities, research organizations, technology suppliers, and DSOs, leveraging modern solutions like digital twins and AI, and promoting interoperability and data-driven grid operations. The call aims to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative and actively involve selected projects in its activities, with a planned opening date in August 2027 and a deadline in December 2027. The call provides funding for both Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions, with specific budget allocations and expected outcomes for each.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include electricity Transmission System Operators (TSOs), universities, and research organizations. Collaboration is encouraged with suppliers of technology and solutions for TSO control rooms and distribution system operators (DSOs).

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe program. The type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. Projects are expected to include at least two electricity Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and at least two universities and/or research organisations. Collaboration is also encouraged with technology suppliers and distribution system operators.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding participation in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector is energy, specifically focusing on enhancing the reliability, resilience, and efficiency of electricity transmission grids through advanced TSO control rooms. This includes grid management, forecasting, interoperability, and the use of digital solutions like digital twins and artificial intelligence.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as locations for pilot projects. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific funding provisions. China is mentioned as a country where entities controlled by it are not eligible to participate in the action, subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.

Project Stage: The project stage is demonstration, test, and validation, requiring at least two pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. This suggests projects should be at the validation and demonstration stage.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from EUR 6,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to EUR 30,000,000 for Innovation Actions. Specific indicative contributions for each topic are:
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-11: EUR 17,000,000 (around EUR 8,500,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-16: EUR 28,500,000 (around EUR 9,500,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-17: EUR 18,000,000 (around EUR 6,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25: EUR 28,500,000 (around EUR 9,500,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-26: EUR 28,500,000 (around EUR 9,500,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-27: EUR 22,500,000 (around EUR 7,500,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28: EUR 6,000,000 (around EUR 6,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-32: EUR 30,000,000 (around EUR 10,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates can be inferred from the indicative number of grants and the total budget allocated to each topic, but the exact success rate is not explicitly stated.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call focuses on "Advanced TSO control rooms to enhance grid observability, stability, and resilience." It seeks to fund projects that design, test, and validate innovative solutions for Transmission System Operator (TSO) control rooms, aiming to improve grid management, forecasting, and interoperability. The call encourages collaboration between TSOs, universities, research organizations, technology suppliers, and distribution system operators (DSOs). Projects should demonstrate their activities in at least two pilots across different EU Member States or Associated Countries. The call provides grants ranging from EUR 6 million to EUR 30 million depending on the specific action type (Coordination and Support Actions or Innovation Actions). The application process is a single-stage submission, with the submission system planned to open on August 4, 2027, and a deadline of December 1, 2027. The overall goal is to enhance the reliability, resilience, and efficiency of electricity transmission grids by leveraging modern digital solutions and promoting vendor-agnostic reference architectures.