Grid congestion hinders sustainability and economic growth. For many companies and institutions, waiting for grid reinforcement is not an option: queues are long and lead times are increasing. SMEs, in particular, are directly hampered by this during electrification, expansion, and sustainability efforts.

The core challenge: doing more with the same grid capacity, without major, complex, or lengthy adjustments.

The solution

Within the OPZuid Energy Link project, the project partners are developing and demonstrating a plug-and-play hardware-software module that enables non-residential buildings to control their (HVAC) energy systems smartly and flexibly.

Energy Link combines:

• individual control (per building) to reduce peaks and operate installations more efficiently;
• collective control via an overarching software layer, allowing multiple buildings to coordinate their energy usage within a Decentralised Energy Hub.

The Approach

The project focuses on further development, demonstration, and validation in 10 non-residential buildings (approximately 500–5,000 m² gross floor area; including offices, schools, and production halls).

Technical Core:

• Predictive Control Model (MPC) for predictive control of HVAC;
• Application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINN) for reliable building models as the basis for MPC;
• Use of historical and real-time building data, combined with usage patterns and weather influences, among other factors, to apply concrete setpoints and control signals directly to installations.

Targeted KPIs (project ambition):

• unlocking 40% flexibility in energy consumption via MPC/AI and data;
• 20% more efficient use of HVAC systems through intelligent control.

Important design choice: the solution is aimed at direct applicability in existing buildings, with limited organisational complexity to enable control across buildings.

Expected impact

Energy Link makes it possible to:

• reduce and prevent consumption peaks;
• make better use of existing grid capacity;
• lower congestion impact without primarily relying on additional battery deployment or major renovations; and
• accelerate scaling up to a large group of non-residential buildings.

Financing

Energy Link is made possible in part by OPZuid (ERDF) and is co-financed by the European Union.

Consortium

Energy Link is implemented by:

• Integer Technologies B.V. (lead partner; market party for Energy Link, MPC/PINN expertise)
• TU/e (models and control algorithms)
• CSB Installatietechniek (implementation and scaling up)
• Consultancy firm DWA (area-based energy strategies and legal frameworks)
• Avans University of Applied Sciences (techno-economic and legal analyses, including via student projects)
• Association BIVAK Onderwijs (translation of results into training programs for installers/service technicians)

With support from BOM, Vattenfall, Alliander, and The Future B.V., among others, for knowledge sharing, market connection, and scaling direction.

Role of The Future

The Future has contributed to enabling scaling up towards practical application and connecting partners and the market, with a focus on:

• positioning the project in the context of grid congestion and the utility market;
• stakeholder and market connection (from pilots to application); and
• support in project communication and consortium dynamics where necessary.