EU-funded projects involving the European Heat Pump Association have highlighted the role of digitisation, AI-driven optimisation and thermal energy storage in smart energy systems at the BRIDGE 2026 Assembly.
The event, organised by the European Commission, brings together smart energy system projects funded under the EU’s Horizon research and innovation funding programme. EHPA colleagues Sofia Silva, representing ECHO, and Beñat Uribesalgo, representing BEST-Storage, presented developments from projects focused on integrating thermal energy storage to enhance flexibility, efficiency and renewable energy use.
They were joined by Emilia Pisani from RISE, representing the Thumbs Up project, and David Verez from WATTEGA, representing the HYSTORE project. These projects are part of the Thermal Energy Storage Cluster, which collaborates on solutions that capture and store heat or cold for later use to help balance energy supply and demand.
Discussions at BRIDGE 2026 covered digitalisation, system integration, flexibility and risk management. Digitalisation was identified in the source as a key element of the energy transition, with data governance, cybersecurity and IT infrastructure among the topics discussed.
The event also included working group sessions on Consumer and Citizen Engagement, Business Models, Regulation and Data Management. Participants reviewed progress from the past year and discussed collaboration, methodologies and alignment with policy and market needs.
