U2Demo_D1.3_Open-source tools assessment

Task 1.3 conducted within Work Package 1 of the U2Demo project, aims to assess the mapping and interoperability of existing Open-Source Software (OSS) tools supporting active energy consumers. This work contributes directly to the project’s overarching objective of enabling scalable and replicable digital solutions across the EU energy communities’ ecosystem. The task combined several methodologies: a comprehensive literature review, pilot site interviews, input from stakeholders, methodological developments, and technical assessments. A thorough review of relevant tools and their specifications was conducted and classified by domain, category and application. Insights gathered from the pilot sites and their respective academic partners supported the creation of a harmonised overview of the OSS landscape relevant to energy communities and helped identifying specific solution development requirements in the digital infrastructures across the pilots. As a result, the task produced a detailed catalogue of 204 existing OSS tools, systematically classified into domains, categories, and applications, and characterized by 18 KPIs. This catalogue, including all results obtained from this Task 1.3, is available in the U2Demo Zenodo repository [1]. The mapping and assessments were conducted in three stages. First, the maturity and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of all the 204 identified tools were evaluated, focussing on the 30 tools with the highest TRL by prioritised application, as identified by the demonstration sites. Next, a functionality mapping was performed to analyse the tools’ capabilities across applications, their technical robustness, flexibility in terms of the range of offered functionalities, and to determine their readiness for deployment in demonstration environments. This was followed by an interoperability assessment, which examined the extent to which selected tools can integrate into the existing digital infrastructures of energy communities. Particular attention was given to each tool’s potential to operate as part of a larger, scalable and interoperable digital ecosystem. Additionally, a Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM), framework under the European Mandate M490 for Smart Grids, was developed for “Open Remote” [2], the only OSS tool that is already in use at the demonstration sites as per the date of this assessment. In the conclusion, recommendations regarding the most promising tools are provided for pilots according to their highly prioritised categories. For example, “OpenEMS” [3], in the Energy and Distribution Category, emerged as the best performing and interoperable tools of the present analysis. Tools classified within the category Energy Management and Monitoring Tools, identified as Priority 1 across all demonstration sites, achieved consistently high scores, such as “Volttron” [4] and “Open Remote” [2] for Community Energy Management Systems (CEMS) applications, both with excellent interoperability and functionality capabilities. Besides, “EVCC” [5] in Integration with EVs, achieved one of the best scores, assigned with the highest interoperability level among all analysed tools. Overall, it has been found that no single tool meets all the mapping and interoperability criteria within the U2Demo research objectives. This highlights the need of relying on a combination of tools based on their maturity, functionality and interoperability level.Finally, these findings provide a harmonised and strategic perspective on the landscape of OSS solutions applicable to energy communities. By identifying, classifying, and assessing these OSS tools, Task 1.3 lays the groundwork for informed decision-making in the upcoming phases of the U2Demo project, particularly regarding tool integration, and further development.