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News 27 January 2021

EERAdata sets the path towards the digitalization of the energy sector

Supported by the leading-edge expertise of researchers involved in the EERAdata project, EERA has launched a new transversal Joint Programme (tJP) Digitalisation for Energy (DfE), recognizing the critical role played by information technologies and digitalization in supporting the transition towards climate-neutrality.  

On December 15th, 2020, the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) has officially launched a new Joint Programme dedicated to information technologies and digitalization of energy. Differently from other JPs, the structure of this new Joint Programme has been designed as a cross-cutting entity aiming at leveraging pre-existing expertise and complementing it with high-level scientific knowledge on the latest digital concepts and technologies.  

The new transversal Joint Programme (tJP) Digitalisation for Energy (DfE) recognizes the revolutionary role digitalization plays in supporting the transition towards climate-neutrality and aims at defining key priorities for this field, as well as to act as a contact point with major European initiatives addressing topics related to supercomputing, big data, artificial intelligence, and open science, among others.  

The idea behind the creation of a transversal joint research programme on digital topics stemmed from extensive consultations within the EERA community, within which EERAdata had a particularly prominent role. Indeed, Digitalisation for Energy has its roots in the expertise of some researchers involved in the EERAdata project dealing with topics closely related to information technologies and digital challenges in the clean energy field.  

Digitalisation in the energy sector and FAIR and Open data issues are closely interlinked.  For this reason, tJP Digitalisation for Energy has organized its work in two sub-programmes, one of which is entirely dedicated to data and artificial intelligence. Sub-programme II “Data Science & Artificial Intelligence”, coordinated by Valeria Jana Schwanitz, Professor at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and EERAdata Project Coordinator, will be focused on artificial intelligence and algorithms, as well as on standards for data storage, processing, quality, and integration of interdisciplinary and complex data in the energy sector.  

Digitalisation has an impact along the entire energy value chain, ranging from generation to transport, distribution, supply and consumption. Moreover, digitalisation has a key role to play in the path towards climate-neutrality, accelerating the uptake of digital technologies that will make energy systems more connected, efficient, reliable, and sustainable. “Through the work we do at EERAdata, we are proud to contribute to set the path towards the digitalization of the energy sector and we look forward to supporting the activities and work of the new EERA transversal Joint Programme Digitalisation for Energy" Schwanitz concluded.  

 Download tJP DfE Press Release

Through the work we do at EERAdata, we are proud to contribute to set the path towards the digitalization of the energy sector and we look forward to supporting the activities and work of the new EERA transversal Joint Programme Digitalisation for Energy.

Valeria Jana Schwanitz, EERAdata Project Coordinator