COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector
Date: 2026-06-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: EU energy policy, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, competitiveness, cyber resilience, data governance, digital transformation, energy grid, energy transition, smart technology

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 3.6.2026  COM(2026) 501 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector  
 
 
1.  Introduction 

Digitalisation  is  reshaping  our  lives,  and  the  energy  sector  is  no  exception.  Mario  Draghi’s 
report on the future of European Competitiveness1 underlined the fact that the European Union 
must harness the ‘digital revolution’ and invest decisively in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 
data infrastructure to safeguard its competitiveness and lead the clean energy transition. 

High energy prices in the EU, exacerbated by the escalating fossil fuel crisis, and the pressure 
they place on both industrial competitiveness and households, make the digital transformation 
of  the  energy  system  more  urgent  than  ever.  The  conflict  in  the  Middle  East  has  triggered 
volatile price spikes, exposing the fragility of the EU’s dependence on global imports.  

True technology sovereignty lies in a digitalised, interconnected energy system that increases 
electrification  and  clean  energy  integration.  Digital  solutions  can  give  consumers  greater 
control over when they use electricity, allowing them to shift consumption to cheaper hours 
and lower their bills. For industry, digitalisation can reduce energy costs, improve efficiency, 
optimise production processes, and make it easier to respond to price signals and participate in 
flexibility markets. When flexibility from many devices, buildings and industrial processes is 
aggregated, it can reduce peak demand, limit the need for expensive fossil-fired generation, 
and lower costs across the whole system. At the same time, digital tools and AI can help grid 
operators,  power  plants,  storage  facilities  and  industrial  sites  run  more  efficiently  and 
predictively. The result is a more competitive industry, lower bills for households, and a more 
resilient and affordable energy system overall.2  

The need for an increase in computing capacities will lead to a consequent increase in energy 
needs for digitalisation, and in particular AI and data centres are driving up energy demand,3 
with potential consequences for decarbonisation, prices and access to grids for all consumers. 
This goes along with an increasing pressure on water resources as recognised in the EU Water 
Resilience  Strategy.4  Some  Member  States  and  third  countries  are  already  facing  these 
challenges.  If  not  tackled  at  EU  level  now,  these  challenges  could  grow  considerably  and 
become harder to solve in the coming years, as the energy consumption of the sector is expected 
to  increase  further.  It  is  therefore  essential  to  ensure  that  digitalisation  does  not  negatively 
impact other consumers and the Commission's electrification agenda but rather is managed in 
a way to enable system integration and limit the impact on the energy system.   

A sustainable digitalised EU energy system leveraging the potential of digital technologies is 
therefore no longer optional, but essential. Yet it will not emerge on its own: it requires smart 
grids,  smart  meters,  and  seamless  data  exchange  across  the  energy  system.  Nor  will 
digitalisation  automatically  strengthen  Europe.  To  reinforce  the  EU’s  competitiveness  and 
strategic autonomy, the EU must retain sovereign control over the digital solutions, AI models 
and algorithms on which its energy system increasingly depends. Global players are already 

1 The future of European competitiveness: A Competitiveness Strategy for Europe , M. Draghi, 2024 
2 Digitalisation could deliver over EUR 71 billion in direct annual consumer savings and more than EUR 300 billion in wider 
system benefits (2030 Demand-side flexibility  - Quantification of benefits in the EU, a study, carried out by smartEn and 
DNV). ACER reports that Swedish households using electric heating can save up to 40% through demand-side flexibility, 
while the IEA estimates that existing AI applications in power plant operations and maintenance could generate EUR 95 billion 
in global annual savings by 2035 (IEA - Energy and AI, World Energy Outlook Special Report, 2025). 
3  The IEA estimates that, in advanced economies, data centres will drive more than 20% of electricity demand growth between 
now and 2030 IEA - Energy and AI, World Energy Outlook Special Report, 2025 
4 Water resilience strategy 

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taking  decisive  steps  in  this  direction.5  If  the  EU  wants  to  lead  the  global  clean  energy 
transition, it has to develop an ambitious roadmap in this area. 

This Strategic Roadmap sets out measures for a digitalised EU energy system in which AI will 
support the delivery of secure, clean and competitive energy for all consumers. It builds on the 
policy priorities of the AI Continent Action Plan,6 the Apply AI Strategy,7 the work of the AI 
Office,  and  the  2022  Digitalisation  of  Energy  Action  Plan  to  reap  the  benefits  of  digital 
solutions  for  Europe’s  energy  sector.  It  complements  the  Cloud  and  AI  Development  Act 
(CADA) which will create the right conditions for the EU to incentivise large investments in 
cloud and edge capacity. 

By  2030,  the  measures  set  out  in  this  Strategic  Roadmap  will  help  support  the  sustainable 
growth of the digital sector in the EU, with positive impacts for all energy consumers. Cross-
border exchange and pooling of energy data will also help place the EU on the international AI 
map, by enabling AI foundation models that respect the EU’s data rules and values. 

This  Strategic Roadmap  is  structured around three pillars:  Pillar  I addresses the sustainable 
integration of data centres into the energy system; Pillar II sets out measures to deploy digital 
and  AI  solutions  across  the  energy  system;  and  Pillar  III  addresses  the  data  governance 
framework needed to enable smart energy services and AI at scale. These are complemented 
by  a  cross-cutting  section  on  trust,  cybersecurity  and  countering  hybrid  threats,  skills  and 
international  cooperation,  and  a  concluding  section  setting  out  how  implementation  will  be 
monitored and reviewed. 

2.  Pillar I – Energy for AI 

Pillar I identifies specific actions ensuring that the sustainable integration of data centres into 
the energy system supports security of supply, competitiveness, and clean energy objectives. 

Data centres are critical to the EU's competitiveness and digital sovereignty, providing the 
computing capacity that underpins most digital services. They can also boost local economies 
and strengthen integrated digital value chains across the EU. The EU aims to triple its data 
centre capacity within 5-7 years, ensuring that it matches its needs.  

These opportunities come with challenges. Data centres currently account for around 2.5% of 
EU electricity consumption, and their demand is expected to raise substantially because their 
installed capacity is expected to grow from approximately 12 GW in 2025 to around 28 GW 
by 2030.8 The current demand is geographically concentrated in a limited number of hotspots.9 
However, connection requests are increasing sharply, with individual sites requiring capacities 
like those of major industrial sites. This additional demand will compound the broader increase 
driven  by  the  electrification  of  the  economy.  These  developments  could,  if  not  proactively 
managed,  undermine  the  security  and  sustainability  of  the  energy  supply,  exacerbate  grid 
congestion  and  drive-up  electricity  prices,  especially  considering  data  centres’  capacity  to 
compete with other energy consumers for access to energy. In certain regions, the scale and 
pace  of  projected  demand  growth  may  also  require  complementary  approaches  to  energy 
supply and system integration, alongside timely grid reinforcement, such as on-site, co-located 

5 In the U.S., the AI Strategy (U.S. Department of Energy, Artificial Intelligence Strategy, October 2025)  and the Genesis 
Mission (The White House: Launching the Genesis mission) position AI as a strategic asset for the energy sector. China’s 
National  Plan  for  AI-Energy  Integration(The  State  Council:  Plan  on  AI-energy  integration  and  Forbes:  China’s  new  AI 
Strategy explained) sets out a coordinated strategy to embed AI across the energy system. 
6 AI Continent Action Plan (COM(2025)165) 
7 Apply AI Strategy (COM(2025) 723 final) 
8 Study: “Cloud and AI”: Technopolis, Wavestone, Timelex, STL Partners, OpenForum Europe, KAPA Research (2025) 
9 Notably around Dublin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris, but also in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Poland and the Nordic regions. 

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or “behind-the-meter” generation, which is increasingly deployed for large-scale data centre 
campuses in other regions globally. 

Integrating data centres into the energy system requires the efficient management of grid 
connections,  coordinated  grids  planning  and  operation,  demand  side  flexibility  and  a 
sustainable supply of energy, for example, through clean co-located generation in proximity to 
data centres contributing to system integration and security of supply. Network operators need 
timely  information  on  data  centre  developments  to  plan  grid  investments  and  manage 
connections  efficiently.  The  digital  sector  has  a  responsibility  to  ensure  its  sustainable 
integration in the energy system. Additionally, water-related challenges must be addressed to 
fully account for the implications of the water–energy nexus. The upcoming digital action plan 
for the water sector is  expected to  support  and complement the development of sustainable 
integration of data centres. 

Data centres transform electricity into intelligence for the benefit of the whole economy and 
society, and they have the potential to experience unprecedented growth in the coming years.  
In this respect, while energy demand of data centres is unprecedented, challenges related to 
timely grid access and flexibility are shared with other grid users. For the EU to fully benefit 
from the potential of cloud and AI, data centres require timely electricity supply and grid 
access.  Recent  Commission  initiatives10  provide  a  toolbox  for  Member  States,  regulatory 
authorities  and  system  operators  to  address  the  most  pressing  needs  related  to  grid  access, 
network development and efficient use of grids, building on the existing legal framework.11 

Delays in network development are seen as a main reason behind connection queues for big 
network  users  like  data  centres.  The  Commission  put  forward  provisions  for  accelerating 
permit-granting  procedures  under  the  European  Grids  package  and  invites  regulatory 
authorities and system operators to engage stakeholders in their network planning exercises 
early to facilitate anticipatory investment. 

To address the barrier of inefficient use of grids, regulatory authorities should ensure that the 
right incentives are in place for system operators and system users, that network charges are 
designed efficiently and deliver flexibility, reflecting the costs of respective user groups. The 
upcoming legal proposal to future-proof electricity bills in the EU will clarify these principles 
before the summer. 

Furthermore,  regulatory  authorities  should  create  a  framework  for  flexible  connection 
agreements. Where flexible connection agreements are necessary or beneficial for the energy 
system, data centres can be good candidates. They can also participate in market mechanisms 
remunerating  flexibility,  like  balancing  or  ancillary  services  and  congestion  management 
markets when they meet the technical conditions. 

Lastly, grid connection procedures can be more efficient by moving away from first-come 
first-served  principle  towards  greater  consideration  of  maturity  and  progress  in  project 
development to ensure speculative projects do not block grid access. Union-wide grid hosting 
capacity portal Capacitypedia12 should help data centres to place their connection request in 
areas  with  sufficient  or  planned  development  of  grids.  The  Commission  is  committed  to 

10 Commission Notice – Guidance on efficient and timely grid connections (C/2025/8473), Commission Notice on Guidelines 
on  future  proof  network  charges  for  reduced  energy  system  costs  (C/2025/8574),  Commission  Notice  on  a  guidance  on 
anticipatory investments for developing forward-looking electricity networks (C/2025/3291) 
11 Notably provisions of the Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the 
internal market for electricity and of the Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 
2019 on common rules for the internal market for electricity 
12 Capacitypedia: Pan-EU Overview on Grid Hosting Capacity Information 

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continue facilitating implementation of the relevant Guidance to ensure timely grid access to 
all users. 

EU-wide coordination is needed to speed up the sustainable integration of data centres in the 
energy system. A Commission-led initiative will develop a replicable model for agreements 
between public authorities, data centre operators and energy actors to support grid integration, 
clean  energy supply,  flexibility  and  improved energy performance  and safeguard water and 
environmental resources. The model will also facilitate the implementation of the horizontal 
measures on sustainable grid access mentioned above, fully factoring in the specificities of data 
centres. To guide action, the Commission will also improve the evidence base on data centre 
energy use through a long-term EU assessment and monitoring tool, building on the Energy 
Efficiency  Directive  reporting,  EU  statistics13  and  cooperation  with  the  IEA.  This  will 
complement  and  facilitate  the  implementation  of  the  regulatory  framework,  including  the 
European Grids Package.  

Flagship action 1: A model tripartite agreement for the sustainable integration of data 
centres into the energy system, to roll out local agreements between data centre operators, 
energy-related parties and public authorities. The model could lay down actions on: improved 
provision of information for better grid planning, better informing the decision-making for 
optimal data centre project sitting, increasing the transparency of grid connection requests 
(including the use-it-or-lose-it principle to avoid speculative queue reservation), improved 
use of PPAs14 and delivering additional generation of clean energy,  delivering solutions for 
data  centre  flexibility  (through  market-based  instruments  and  capitalising  on  the  legal 
framework in force), supporting the recovery and use of waste heat and improving energy 
performance, leveraging flexible connection agreements as a means to access the grids where 
needed. The model can be subsequently adapted and piloted in Member States and regions. 
Water-related issues will be addressed in line with the development of the EU rating scheme 
for data centres. 
Timing:  A  declaration  of  intent  stating  the  willingness  of  the  industry  stakeholders  to 
cooperate  in  the  framework  of  a  tripartite  agreement,  and  identifying  key  areas  for  their 
action, will be adopted along this Strategic Roadmap; the model tripartite agreement will be 
published  and  promoted  in  the  second  half  of  2026.  In  addition,  and  if  necessary,  the 
Commission  will  consider putting  forward a legislative proposal  to  ensure  the sustainable 
integration of data centres into the EU energy system. 
Expected impacts: improved coordination between public authorities, data centre operators, 
electricity system operators and other relevant stakeholders; faster and more sustainable grid 
integration of data centres; greater uptake of clean energy sourcing and flexibility solutions; 
better  energy  performance;  lower  energy  prices;  and  a  more  consistent  but  adaptable 
framework across Member States. Maximised synergies with district heating. 

To align the growth of digital infrastructure with environmental, climate and energy goals, data 
centres  must  lead  on  energy  efficiency,  resource  efficiency  and  flexibility.  In  response,  the 
Commission  will  adopt  a  Data  Centre  Energy  Efficiency  Package,  including  a  report  on 
improving energy efficiency of data centres, a Delegated Act establishing an EU rating scheme 
for  the  sustainability  of  data  centres,  and  the  launch  of  a  public  consultation  for  minimum 
performance  standards  for  new  and  existing  data  centres  in  the  EU.  The  Cloud  and  AI 

13  European  statistics,  including  data  on  energy  consumption  in  data  centres  are  collected  according  to  the  provisions  of 
Regulation (EC) 1099/2008.  
14 In line with the Commission Recommendation on removing barriers to the development of power purchase agreements and 
other energy purchase agreements (Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/917). 

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Leadership Initiative under the Cloud and AI Development Act will support and incentivise 
the deployment of best-in-class data centres across the Union.  

Flagship action 2: An EU rating scheme for data centres covering energy efficiency, water 
efficiency, clean energy use, waste heat reuse and flexibility15 and launch the process for 
minimum EU energy performance standards.  
Timing:  rating  scheme  adopted  in  2026;  first  labels  in  2027;  minimum  EU  energy 
performance standards needs assessment by 2027. 
Expected impacts: increased transparency and promotion of the sustainable development of 
data centres; optimised projected energy and water consumption. 

3.  Pillar II – Digitalisation and AI for the energy system 

Pillar II identifies specific actions to make the energy system smarter and more data-driven by 
deploying digital and AI solutions.  

As the energy sector advances towards electrification and decarbonisation, electricity grids are 
becoming  the  backbone  of  an  integrated  and  resilient  energy  system.  As  highlighted  in  the 
European Grids Package, grids must become smarter and stronger, but also more resilient 
to climate and extreme events, leveraging geospatial data and AI to mitigate natural disaster 
risks.  Smart  grids  provide  the  real-time  visibility,  interoperability  and  control  needed  to 
increase the uptake of renewables and optimise energy system operation, benefiting from AI. 
Smart metering systems are a key enabler of demand response and dynamic electricity price 
contracts,  which  can  contribute  to  improving  the  utilisation  of  existing  electricity  network 
infrastructure,  including  by  reducing  the  curtailment  of  renewable  energy  and  facilitating 
electrification.  

Smart grids can cut costs by making better use of existing assets and renewable energy. 
They improve affordability and resilience through better grid management and support system 
integration by unlocking flexibility across demand, generation, storage, heating and mobility. 
For example, Utrecht’s vehicle-to-grid car-sharing network shows how electric vehicles can 
store surplus solar power and feed it back to the grid at peak times, supporting grid stability 
and  reducing  curtailment.16  Smart  and  bidirectional  charging  can  also  generate  significant 
savings  for  consumers  (between  EUR  450  and  EUR  2,900  per  year).17  Another  example  is 
ports, where smart grids  can help  manage the high  electricity demand for shore-side power 
supply to vessels, and may enable additional flexibility services.18 

Investment in stronger and smarter European grids is essential.19 However, progress is still 
hindered by regulatory and planning practices that favour traditional grid expansion over smart 
solutions,  fragmented  approaches  to  digitalisation  across  the  EU,  and  uncertainty  about  the 
performance of new technologies.  

The EU framework already addressed several of these barriers, supporting greater investment 
in smart grids through electricity market design,20 the European Grids Package and EU research 
funding. In particular, the European Grids Package21 put forward proposals to promote non-

15 Articles 12 and 33 of Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791, building on the existing reporting scheme for data centres 
introduced in 2024 by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 
16 Utrecht becomes Europe’s first city with a V2G electric car‑sharing service 
17 Plugging into potential: unleashing the untapped flexibility of EVs, Eurelectric, 2025 
18 Port electricity commercial model (project pilot) - Publications Office of the EU 
19 More than EUR 1.2 trillion should be invested over the period 2024-2040, out of those, EUR 730 bn are envisaged for 
distribution grids and EUR 430 bn for transmission grids. 
20 Directive (EU) 2024/1711 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1747. 
21 More specifically, in the Proposal to revise the TEN-E Regulation 

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wire  and  digital  solutions  in  network  planning,  while  Horizon  Europe  is  supporting 
innovation in energy systems, grids and storage.22  

To further support the deployment of smarter grids, the Commission will propose legislation 
to future-proof EU electricity bills including provisions to enable a more efficient use of current 
grid assets by employing smart and digital solutions. The proposal mandates the Agency for 
the  Cooperation  of  Energy  Regulators  (ACER)  to  provide  a  recommendation  to  regulatory 
authorities  on  the  use  of  smart  grid  indicators  to  measure  the  uptake  and  performance  of 
innovative technologies and digital solutions in transmission and  distribution networks. The 
recommendation will build on the ongoing work in this area. Regulatory authorities will then 
set performance indicators for efficient grid operation and development. ACER will monitor 
progress,  identify  best  practices  and  propose  further  measures  as  needed.  These  indicators 
should also support the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies, which can expand network 
capacity by up to 40% and reduce conventional grid expansion costs by as much as 35%.23 

To  accelerate  deployment,  the  Commission  will  continue  supporting  transmission  and 
distribution system operators in developing and rolling out digital twin solutions,24 including 
through a dedicated toolbox to improve interoperability, scale and practical uptake. In parallel, 
the  EU  will  continue  to  back  innovation  in  smart  energy  systems  through  Horizon  Europe, 
including funding for advanced electricity grid solutions.25 

The efficient use of the electricity network relies on the availability of accurate and granular 
consumption data and on the ability of final customers to access and act upon such data. Smart 
metering systems are a key enabler of demand response and dynamic electricity price contracts, 
which can contribute to improving the utilisation of existing electricity network infrastructure, 
including  by  reducing  the  curtailment  of  renewable  energy  and  facilitating  electrification. 
Considering the imperative need for all Member States to contribute to the smartening of the 
electricity  system,  the  Commission  will  present  a  legislative  proposal  to  accelerate  the 
rollout of smart meters in the EU, thereby strengthening consumer participation, enabling 
demand-side flexibility and supporting a more efficient use of the electricity system. 

Flagship action 3: Development of EU key performance indicators for smart grids and 
acceleration of smart meters rollout 
Timing: EU catalogue of indicators to be finalised by mid-2026. Legislative proposal in 2026 
to accelerate the rollout of smart meters in the EU, aiming for minimum coverage in each 
Member States, and task ACER to provide recommendation on smart grid indicators in 2028 
with regular monitoring of progress afterwards. 
Expected  impacts:  improved  investment  decisions  in  smart  and  digitalised  grids,  more 
efficient  use  of  existing  grids,  strengthened  regulatory  oversight  by  National  Regulatory 
Authorities, more cost-efficient deployment of smart and digital solutions, and accelerated 
integration of renewables, electrification, resilience and energy efficiency across Europe.  

AI is spreading rapidly across the energy system as assets, processes and markets become more 
digital.  However,  digitalising  individual  actors  is  not  sufficient:  the  full  potential  of  an  AI-
powered energy system will only be achieved by the deployment of AI solutions across the 

22 In 2021–2027, around EUR 1 billion has been earmarked for energy systems, grids and storage.  
23 CurrENT study: Prospects for innovative power grid technologies, 2024. 
24 ENTSO-E and EU DSO Entity identified challenges, opportunities and common use cases for digital twin solutions in EU 
grids, which call for a strategic collaborative approach to implementation. 
25 The 2026-2027 work programme allocates around EUR 90 million to advanced solutions for electricity grids. 

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entire energy value chain, from supply and renewable generation to industry, buildings and 
mobility. 

As a global AI race is underway,26 the EU must leverage its strength in industrial automation27 
to build sovereign, secure AI models for the energy sector, trained on European data and 
developed by EU firms, and lead the next wave of digital energy technologies. In a sector of 
such strategic importance as energy, it is a matter of the EU’s technological sovereignty that 
new AI models are developed and managed in the EU. Building on the Apply AI Strategy, and 
the AI in Science Strategy, the Commission will support the development of AI foundation 
models for grid management and planning as a digital backbone for the energy system.  

When trained on large diverse datasets, including earth observation data (for instance, from 
Copernicus Energy Hub), and fine-tuned for specific use cases, AI models could significantly 
improve  grid  functions28  such  as  forecasting,  congestion  management,  fault  detection  and 
investment planning strengthening the competitiveness of the sector.  

Beyond  grids,  AI  can  improve  renewable  plant  control  and  reduce  curtailment,  strengthen 
nuclear safety and efficiency,29 and support renovation planning for buildings and energy-poor 
households.30 In line with the Grids Package, the Commission will support the development of 
open-source  AI  tools  to  facilitate  the  setup  of  single  digital  portals  at  national  level  that 
accelerate permit-granting procedures. 
For 2026–2027, Horizon Europe will provide around EUR 75 million for AI technologies 
in energy, notably for grids, self-consumption, energy sharing and grid-scale storage, plus a 
further EUR 190 million for broader digital solutions in renewables, building renovation and 
energy efficiency. In line with the strategy for EU Open Digital Ecosystems, the Commission 
will  support  open-source  approaches  in  EU  research  and  innovation  calls.  In  parallel,  EU 
innovators, startups, scaleups and researchers can draw on complementary instruments across 
the innovation chain, including AI Factories, European Experience Centres for AI and RAISE31 
for  access  to  computing,  data,  networks  and  funding  to  advance  AI-driven  scientific 
breakthroughs,  as  well  as  the  Scaleup  Europe  Fund32  to  boost  investments  in  strategic 
technologies’ scaleups and close the gap with global leaders. 

Flagship action 4: Development of AI models across the energy value chain 

Timing: 

•  A project agreement launching a Community of Practice for developing AI models for 
grid  management  and  planning  is  signed  alongside  this  Strategic  Roadmap;  dedicated 
Horizon Europe calls will open in 2026 (EUR 30 million) and 2027 (EUR 20 million); 
proof-of-concept AI models will be developed and tested in Q1 2027; first operational 
models by end of 2027. 

26 Professor Draghi highlights that in 2024 the U.S. produced forty notable AI models, China fifteen, and the EU just three. 
27 IEA - Energy and AI, World Energy Outlook Special Report, 2025 
28 AI-based operations & maintenance optimization could save up to $110 billion annually by 2035 in fuel and O&M costs 
according to the Widespread AI adoption scenario of the IEA (2025), Energy and AI, IEA, Paris 
29 AI can enhance safety and efficiency through predictive maintenance, anomaly detection and advanced modelling. 
30 AI can be trained on data from the European Building Stock Observatory or relevant Copernicus Earth Observation data to 
support renovation planning notably for energy-poor households. The IEA estimates that by 2035, the use of AI in building 
energy management systems (BEMS) could save approximately 300 TWh per year globally. 
31 RAISE: Resource for AI Science in Europe, a virtual research institute for EU research on and with AI 
32 Scaleup Europe Fund, a multi-billion late-stage, growth fund, aiming to invest in the most promising European companies 

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•  Develop digital portals for Member States, using generative AI technologies to streamline 
permit review for renewable energy, storage and grid projects; design in 2027; roll-out in 
2028 for public authorities to use. 

Expected impacts: improved grid observability, forecasting, congestion management and 
flexibility integration; easier access to digital tools that help households control 
consumption, and more inclusive participation in self-consumption and energy-sharing 
schemes, improved evidence-base for public action through better building-stock and 
performance data; accelerated renewable, storage and grid deployment through faster and 
more transparent permitting. 

4.  Pillar III – Data for AI and the energy system 

Effective  energy  data  exchange  and  interoperability  are  critical  to  enable  smart  energy 
services  and  the  development  of  robust  AI  models.  Pillar  III  identifies  concrete  actions  to 
establish  a  comprehensive  framework  for  data  exchange  and  interoperability,  ensuring  a 
seamless digital energy ecosystem. 

The existing legal framework33 provides important building blocks for energy data exchange 
but remains fragmented.34 The EU legal framework already covers the primary use of energy 
data, meaning the operational data exchanges between identified actors for services such as 
metering,  billing,  supplier  switching,  demand  response  and  grid  operation.  However, 
implementation  varies  significantly  across  Member  States,  creating  complexity,  legal 
uncertainty  and  barriers  to  cross-border  smart  energy  services.  Furthermore,  horizontal 
legislation like the Data Act, while it provides principles for access to data from connected 
products, does not fully address the specificities of regulated energy data and regulated entities. 
As a result, providers of demand-response or smart electric-vehicle charging services, often 
redesign software interfaces and renegotiate data-access procedures for each national market 
hindering the cross-border growth of smart energy services. 

At the same time, the framework for the secondary use of energy data, meaning the pooling 
and reuse of energy data beyond its  original operational purpose, for example, for research, 
analytics or AI model development, is less developed. Public datasets remain fragmented or 
limited  for  advanced  analytics.  While  horizontal  legislation  provides  safeguards  on  data 
protection and cybersecurity, there is no clear sector-specific framework for structured energy 
data pooling or for the use of AI models. As a result, energy companies or grid operators often 
hesitate to share detailed data for research purposes or to train AI models. This results in slower 
AI development due to limited or synthetic datasets. 

The core challenge is the absence of a coherent EU approach for trusted, cross-border energy 
data exchange. To address these gaps, support cross-border smart energy services and foster 
sovereign AI, the Commission will coordinate actions to streamline and simplify energy-
specific data exchange for both primary and secondary use of energy data in line with the 

33  Such  as  the  Data  Act  Regulation  (EU)  2023/2854;  Electricity  Directive  (EU)  2019/944;  Electricity  Regulation  (EU) 
2019/943;  Energy  Performance  of  Buildings  Directive  (EU)  2024/1275;  Renewable  Energy  Directive  (EU)  2018/2001; 
Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 and related implementing acts 
34 ‘Limited access to high-quality data’, ‘Lack of data interoperability’, ‘Cybersecurity and where applicable privacy’ were 
identified during the open public consultation for the strategic roadmap as the main barriers to deploy smart and AI solutions 
in energy; Operational Conclusions and Key Takeaways, Third joint meeting of D4E, STF and CoW, Berlin, 4-5 Nov 2025 

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Digital Omnibus, the Data Act, the European Business Wallets, the EU Digital Identity Wallets, 
and the wider EU horizontal data framework.35  

The objective is to make cross-border energy data exchange simpler, more efficient and 
predictable by providing common interfaces, harmonising rules and trust services at EU 
level.  

Regarding the primary use of energy data, the key priority will be to enhance cross-border 
data interoperability, thereby supporting smart energy services such as demand-side flexibility 
and  bidirectional  EV  charging,  while  coordinating  Member  States  in  the  development  of 
interoperable national data hubs. Better exchange of energy data can help activate flexibility 
from  electric  vehicles,  heat  pumps,  batteries  and  controllable  demand,  with  digital-enabled 
solutions  potentially  unlocking  around  230  GW  of  flexibility  by  2030  and  reducing  system 
costs for consumers. The work will build on the important EU-wide energy and e-mobility 
stakeholder-wide  agreed  set  of  recommendations  on  data  exchange  for  smart  energy 
services that was published on 20 May,36 as well as on key pilot projects.37 

Regarding the secondary use of energy data, the focus will be on facilitating the pooling of 
energy data for training AI models and for public-interest and research purposes, establishing 
trust frameworks for AI in energy and developing regulatory sandboxes building upon results 
of ongoing projects38 and the Community of practice for developing AI foundation models for 
power grids. Furthermore, the upcoming legal proposal to future-proof electricity bills in the 
EU will provide a regulatory incentive for grid operators to cooperate for that purpose and a 
framework for sector-specific secondary use of energy data. 

Flagship action 5: Establish an EU framework for simplified cross-border energy data 
exchange for smart energy services and AI model training 
Timing: assessment in 2026; development as of 2027. 
Expected  impacts:  reduced  fragmentation  in  energy  data  exchange;  enabled  cross-border 
smart  energy  services  at  scale;  improved  grid  flexibility  and  renewable  integration; 
innovation and new business models; a more efficient, integrated and competitive EU energy 
system; and a single market of smart energy services scalable across the EU. 

5.  Securing the energy-AI nexus: trust, talent and global cooperation  

Integrating  digital  technologies  and  AI  into  critical  energy  infrastructure  can  improve 
performance, but it also increases safety, as well as hybrid and cybersecurity risks. In line 
with the EU Preparedness Union Strategy and building on the expertise of the automative and 
aviation sector, a European AI energy safety transformation group will focus on transparency, 
explainability, and human oversight by: 

-  advancing AI energy safety as a system-level discipline and help ensure that AI does 
not create systemic risks for critical energy infrastructure, and counter hybrid threats; 
supporting exchanges on incidents, lessons learned, best practices, and risk mitigation 
based on the AI Act; 

- 

35  For  example,  it  will  leverage  the  secure  identification,  authentication,  and  data  exchange  capabilities  provided  by  the 
European Business Wallets and the EU Digital Identity Wallets, ensuring that citizens can securely and efficiently access and 
manage their energy-related data, while maintaining control over their personal and sensitive information. 
36 Data exchange for demand-side flexibility and smart and bi-directional charging prepared jointly by three groups of experts, 
namely the Data 4 Energy sub-group of the Smart Energy Expert Group, the Sustainable Transport Forum and the Coalition 
of the Willing on Bi-directional Charging 
37  Five  Horizon  Europe  projects  (EDDIE,  Enershare,  Data  Cellar,  Synergies,  and  Omega-X)  have  advanced  data  space 
technologies, which are currently being deployed in 16 MSs through INSIEME, a Digital Europe funded deployment project  
38 Three Horizon Europe projects (EnerTEF, AI-Effect, and EnergyGuard) are piloting Testing and Experimentation Facilities 

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-  monitoring high-risk AI use cases in critical energy infrastructures. 

The  Commission  will  work  with  Member  States  to  establish  AI  regulatory  sandboxes  for 
testing and validation of energy AI applications to foster innovation and contribute to evidence-
based  regulatory  learning  on  high-risk  AI  systems  and  will  issue  guidance  on  high-risk  AI 
systems  in  line  with  the  AI  Act.  Furthermore,  the  Commission  will  promote  sovereign  AI-
enabled  tools  for  vulnerability  detection,  continuous  monitoring,  anomaly  detection  and 
automated incident response, in line with the wider EU cybersecurity framework. 

At the same time, the energy sector’s growing electrification, digitalisation and connectivity 
exposes it to cybersecurity threats.39 The Joint Communication on strengthening EU economic 
security40 identifies six high-risk areas for immediate action. Several of the identified priority 
actions are directly linked with the energy sector and include risks stemming from strategic 
dependencies,  unauthorised  access  to  sensitive  information  or  disruptions  to  strategic 
infrastructure.  Solar  and  wind  power  generation  infrastructures  have  emerged  as  a  priority 
cybersecurity concern within these categories, with high risks that include the manipulation or 
prevention of electricity production, unauthorized access to operational data, the infiltration of 
key supply chain actors and the possibility to trigger remote blackouts. 

To respond to these risks, the Commission is undertaking a systemic assessment of risks in 
these priority areas, which also include solar and wind installations in the EU, and has most 
recently restricted the use of EU funds for projects involving inverters from high-risk suppliers. 
The new proposal for a Cybersecurity Act provides the framework to ban the use of inverters 
from high-risk suppliers in the EU, if necessary. Finally, the EU will review the energy security 
of  supply  framework,  possibly  including  new  measures  for  better  identification  and 
management of cybersecurity risks in critical energy devices. 

Since energy security increasingly hinges on resilient supply chains and the cybersecurity of 
individual components, the Commission’s proposed revision of the Cybersecurity Act includes 
ICT  supply  chain  requirements  to  further  strengthen  the  EU's  cybersecurity  resilience  and 
capabilities. Finally, the Commission will request the Commission’s European Group on 
Ethics  in  Science  and  New  Technologies41  to  provide  an  opinion  on  the  trustworthy  and 
responsible  governance  of  AI  in  the  EU  energy  system  and  how  to  safeguard  public  trust, 
transparency and fairness.  

Flagship action 6: Strengthen safety of AI and the cybersecurity of critical devices 
Timing: risk assessment of solar installations in the EU in 2026; review the energy security 
of supply framework in 2026. 
Expected  impacts:  ensure  transparency,  explainability,  and  human  oversight  of  AI 
technologies  embedded  in  critical  energy  infrastructures;  increase  cybersecurity  and 
resilience of electricity grids with high-risk devices such as solar inverters; ensure alignment 
with civil protection and emergency response protocols. 

Digitalising energy requires a workforce that combines energy expertise with digital and AI 
skills. Traditional specialisation alone is no longer sufficient: the sector needs hybrid, adaptable 
and diverse talent capable of bridging these fields, with strong attention to gender balance. 

To address the growing need for energy, digital and AI skills, the 2026 call for proposals of the 
LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme includes a EUR 10 million action on smart 

39 According to the IEA, an energy utility experienced more than 1 500 attacks weekly in 2024, three times more than in 2020. 
40 Joint Communication on strengthening EU economic security (JOIN(2025) 977 final) 
41 European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) 

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grids to strengthen in-house digital and AI skills of distribution system operators. In view 
of a possible Net Zero Academy  on smart grids, the proposals should take into account the 
review of academies announced in the “Union of Skills” communication. The Commission will 
also invest in skills and capabilities through several other channels: an expanded Pact for Skills 
partnership on the digitalisation of the energy system, with targets to be adopted in 2026 and 
reviewed  in  2029;  and  continued  support  through  Erasmus+  and  the  EIT/KICs  for  projects 
developing digital and AI skills in study fields and programmes in the energy sector from 2026 
onwards, while promoting diverse and gender-balanced talent pipelines. 

Coordinated EU action is essential to shape global energy and digital governance in a way that 
benefits both the EU and its partners. In line with the EU International Digital Strategy,42 the 
Commission will promote international cooperation on the energy-AI nexus and work with 
like-minded partners and international organisations43 to advance the G7 Energy and AI Work 
Plan  from  2026  onwards.  The  Commission  will  launch  with  cities  and  financial  partners  a 
global initiative on digital and AI tools for urban energy transition and energy poverty by 2028, 
and support knowledge transfer of AI-for-energy solutions to partner countries under the AI 
for Public Good initiative, with first demonstrations planned for 2027. 

6.  Implementation of the Strategic Roadmap 

Geographical  differences  in  AI  readiness  could  lead  to  uneven  progress  across  the  EU,  so 
targeted action is needed to ensure balanced development and stronger local digital capabilities.  
To support delivery of the Roadmap by 2030, the Commission will convene an annual Energy 
Digitalisation Forum from 2026 to review progress, identify barriers, share good practices 
and address emerging developments that may require further action. The Commission will also 
examine  how  to  better  integrate  digitalisation  and  AI  into  the  Energy  Union  governance 
framework44  and  will  develop  in  addition  concrete  objectives  and  indicative  targets  with 
Member States and stakeholders to monitor the progress of digitalisation and AI adoption in 
the  energy  system  over  the  coming  decade.  These  objectives  should  be  based  on  existing 
monitoring  frameworks,  and  smart  grid  indicators,  such  as  grid  observability  and  the 
integration of flexible resources and will rely on available data sources.  

The recent energy crisis has highlighted the importance of high-quality energy data to inform 
policymaking and accelerate the energy transition. As underscored in the Draghi report, there 
is significant scope to improve the quality, interoperability, and timely availability of energy 
data  and  statistics  in  the  EU.  As  an  initial  response,  the  Commission  announced  a  Fuel 
Observatory45  to  track  the  supply  and  stock  availability  of  relevant  transport  fuels. 
Furthermore, in line with the Data Act, the Commission will launch a Better Energy Data 
initiative, with a view to mapping and addressing gaps in energy data availability, focusing on 
obtaining more comprehensive, detailed, interoperable, and timely data while ensuring that it 
is easily accessible. This initiative will inform further steps to streamline and facilitate public 
and open energy data, including data from public authorities, system operators, and ACER,46 
and to  improve energy statistics.47 This  will strengthen the monitoring of EU energy policy 

42 EU International Digital Strategy 
43 Such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Organisation 
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 
44 Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action Regulation (EU) 2018/1999  
45 A Fuel Observatory was announced in the AccelerateEU Communication (COM(2026) 370 final) 
46 Under REMIT, ACER monitors energy markets by collecting and analysing transaction data to detect market manipulation. 
47 By revising Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 to improve monitoring of EU policy targets. Furthermore, the Commission is also 
exploring producing statistics from innovative and privately held data, pursuing Regulation 223/2009 on official statistics. 

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targets, enhance transparency in  energy markets,  and support a more effective clean energy 
transition. 

Flagship  action  7:  Track  digitalisation  progress  in  the  EU  and  improve  energy  data 
availability 
Timing: convene an annual Energy Digitalisation Forum starting in 2026; define metrics to 
monitor the progress of digitalisation and AI adoption in 2027; create a Fuel Observatory in 
2026; launch a Better Energy Data initiative in Q4 2026. 
Expected impacts: ensure balanced digitalisation across Member States, improve energy data 
availability to monitor EU energy policy targets and support decision making. 

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