Increasing the part of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in modern power grids is of critical importance for the transformation of the global energy system. However, stability and participation to ancillary services issues related to RES limit their use. Indeed, the RES grid integration faces major limitations when high RE penetration is expected. A solution to overcome this is to increase the share of so-called dispatchable RES, i.e., the ones which have a natural storage capacity. The main objective in the POSYTYF project is to group several RES into a systemic object called Virtual Power Plant (VPP). VPP is a way to aggregate RES sources to form a portfolio of dispatchable/non-dispatchable RES able to optimally internally redispatch resources in case of meteorological and system variations in order to provide sufficient flexibility, reliable power output and grid services. The POSYTYF project will provide TSOs, DSOs and generators with knowledge, models and tools for synthesis of VPP controls both for local (production) and grid (ancillary services) objectives. New analysis (stability assessement) and control (centralized vs decentralized concepts) methods will be particularly proposed. Solutions will be immediately implementable in the actual grid and regulatory situation. Realistic (large-scale grids and concrete RES technologies) cases will be treated and full validations – both in simulation and hardware in the loop along with the codes for regulator’s implementation will be made available. Proposals for some main problems like stability will be formulated for next generation grids of massive RES penetration and low inertia systems. The interdisciplinary and ambitious POSYTYF project brings together 10 partners from 4 EU countries. They will bring the VPP technology from TRL 3-4 to TRL 4-5 by evaluating new stability issues, proposing new control algorithms.

STAR*track aims at expanding the Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC) network developed in the HE project NEBULA and strengthening and supporting B4PICs and their members to deliver sustainable and people-centric innovation and accelerate uptake by regional value and supply chains. This overarching objective will be achieved by: - Integrating new B4PICS: 6 new B4PICs will be set-up in regions so far not covered by the B4PIC network and receive direct support. Outreach activities to innovation clusters will be made in order to reach the B4P contractual target of 10-15 fully mature B4PICs by 2028. - Creating enabling conditions and providing tools and training for B4PICs and their members for increased development and market transfer of sustainable construction and renovation innovation. - Accelerating the demonstration of holistic and inclusive solutions with high market potential through tailored support mechanisms (incl. access to demo sites) - Facilitating access to funding for demonstration, scale-up and implementation of sustainable innovation by local/regional construction value chains - Paving the way for replication, wide-spread use of the supporting tools and services, and continuous expansion of the Built4People network based on a UE27 replication plan with a long-term vision and business model. In order to make B4PICs attractive for different target groups of the innovation value chain, concrete value propositions will be defined to highlight the impact of B4PIC with respect to improvement of innovation capacities and development of sustainable business opportunities. The impact of the B4PIC network and the B4PICs themselves will be measured to show their significance for the green, digital, and people-centric transition of the Built Environment sector, the up-skilling of innovation actors, and the acceleration of construction and renovation products and solutions towards climate neutrality, in line with the impacts laid out in the Work Programme.

Historic buildings represents a considerable share of the European building stock (around 25%). They contribute to the identity and uniqueness of many cities and will only survive if they are maintained as a living space. To preserve a living built heritage, it is necessary to find energy renovation approaches and solutions compatible with conservation rules. This means that the historical and aesthetic value of these properties must be preserved while increasing the comfort of these living spaces, and minimizing their energy consumption and their environmental impact. The project aims to establish new knowledge for the development of sustainable and efficient solutions for historic buildings in order to bring cultural heritage to life and make it open, accessible, inclusive, resilient and low-emission. It is part of the pursuit of various projects involving members of the CALECHE network concerning, for example, bio-sourced renovation or "custom" PV integration. The studied solutions will cover all stages of operation (prevention, monitoring, maintenance) and renovation (setting up the operation, design, works).

The SLEEPING BEAUTY project aims to rejuvenate neglected urban, peri-urban, and rural spaces across Europe through the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and the core values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). By addressing diverse climatic contexts, this initiative promotes sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. The project leverages NBS to enhance biodiversity, foster natural beauty, and provide multifunctional public spaces, aligning with NEB’s principles of sustainability, beauty, and inclusiveness. SLEEPING BEAUTY seeks to transform underutilized and overlooked spaces into vibrant, biodiverse areas that reconnect people with nature. This holistic, co-creative approach combines innovative design and artistic interventions, encouraging collaboration among citizens, experts, and local stakeholders. These efforts will help reshape public spaces, strengthen community ties, and foster a shared sense for caretaking of environment. By emphasizing the creative re-use and revitalization of spaces, the project will demonstrate how integrating NEB and NBS can lead to improved well-being, enhanced biodiversity, and more resilient and beautiful communities. The project’s six pilot sites will serve as showcases for replicating and scaling NBS-NEB solutions across Europe, contributing to a systemic shift in how we design, interact with, and maintain public spaces in close connection with nature and cultural heritage. The initiative promotes long-term societal transformation, focusing on strengthening human-nature relationships, cultural identity, and collective action to address pressing societal challenges like climate change. SLEEPING BEAUTY’s unique blend of artistic co-creation, sustainable spatial planning and innovation will push beyond traditional NBS approaches, setting a new gold standard for innovative, inclusive, and aesthetically compelling public spaces enabled by NEB-NBS and a new Natur-Baukultur.

The Smart4RES project aims to bring substantial performance improvements to the whole model and value chain in renewable energy (RES) forecasting, with particular emphasis placed on optimizing synergies with storage and to support power system operation and participation in electricity markets. For that, it concentrates on a number of disruptive proposals to support ambitious objectives for the future of renewable energy forecasting. This is thought of in a context with steady increase in the quantity of data being collected and computational capabilities. And, this comes in combination with recent advances in data science and approaches to meteorological forecasting. Smart4RES concentrates on novel developments towards very high-resolution and dedicated weather forecasting solutions. It makes optimal use of varied and distributed sources of data e.g. remote sensing (sky imagers, satellites, etc), power and meteorological measurements, as well as high-resolution weather forecasts, to yield high-quality and seamless approaches to renewable energy forecasting. The project accommodates the fact that all these sources of data are distributed geographically and in terms of ownership, with current restrictions preventing sharing. Novel alternative approaches are to be developed and evaluated to reach optimal forecast accuracy in that context, including distributed and privacy-preserving learning and forecasting methods, as well as the advent of platform-enabled data-markets, with associated pricing strategies. Smart4RES places a strong emphasis on maximizing the value from the use of forecasts in applications through advanced decision making and optimization approaches. This also goes through approaches to streamline the definition of new forecasting products balancing the complexity of forecast information and the need of forecast users. Focus is on developing models for applications involving storage, the provision of ancillary services, as well as market participation.