Energy
Europe’s energy system is changing rapidly. As renewable energy grows, so does the need for flexibility to keep the grid stable and secure. LEONARDO project helps unlock one of the most powerful yet underused resources for flexibility: industry.
Funded by the LIFE Programme and coordinated by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), LEONARDO enables industrial actors to actively participate in energy flexibility markets through aggregated Energy Management Systems (EMSs), innovative tools, and real-life pilot validation across Europe.
LEONARDO’s mission is to empower the industrial sector to become an active player in Europe’s energy transition. By unlocking industrial demand-side flexibility, the project supports a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy system aligned with EU climate and energy goals.
LEONARDO responds to Europe’s rapidly increasing need for energy flexibility by fostering collaboration among industrial actors and enabling them to actively contribute to grid stability. The project focuses on aggregating Energy Management Systems (EMSs) within clusters of geographically close industries, enhancing interoperability and expanding EMS functionalities so that diverse industrial systems can work together seamlessly. These solutions are demonstrated and validated in three real-life pilot sites, ensuring technical feasibility and practical relevance.
At the same time, LEONARDO develops the Industrial Flexibility Knowledge Hub (IFKH) and supports industries in accessing flexibility and energy markets, ultimately contributing to peak load reduction and a more resilient electricity system.
These innovations make industrial flexibility more accessible, scalable, and market-ready.
LEONARDO plays a significant role in supporting Europe’s energy transition by unlocking the flexibility potential of the industrial sector. Its solutions help reduce peak electricity demand while strengthening grid stability and security of supply. By enabling large-scale industrial participation in flexibility markets, the project contributes to a more dynamic and responsive energy system. In parallel, LEONARDO provides knowledge, tools, and best practices that can be replicated across Europe. By the end of the project, the demonstrated real-life value of aggregated industrial EMSs will pave the way for long-term adoption and broader integration of industrial flexibility in the EU energy landscape.
These pilot sites test technological solutions, market integration, and operational models, providing concrete evidence of the feasibility and benefits of industrial flexibility.