Novel inverter technologies and flexibility in PV systems (EUPI-PV Partnership)

This opportunity aims to support the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources, such as photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage, into electric distribution systems. The focus is on developing advanced smart inverter technologies, robust control algorithms, and standards to enhance smart inverter functionalities. Key goals include improving PV energy yield through digital solutions, optimizing energy use and efficiency, and boosting system flexibility and cybersecurity. Additional areas of interest are increasing inverter power density and reliability, ensuring electromagnetic compatibility, and enabling predictive monitoring with digital twins. The opportunity is open to eligible countries as outlined in the Horizon Europe framework.

• Develop novel inverter technologies that enhance the flexibility and performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems.

• Demonstrate the integration of these technologies in real-world PV systems to validate their effectiveness and reliability.

• Address challenges related to the variability of renewable energy sources, aiming to improve grid stability and energy storage solutions.

• Collaborate with industry partners to ensure the practical applicability and scalability of the developed technologies.

• Contribute to the overall goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the European energy mix.

Examples:

• A project developing a new control algorithm to improve PV system efficiency.
• An initiative creating digital twin models for predictive maintenance of energy storage devices.
• A collaboration designing standards for interoperability between smart inverters and grid management systems.

• Personnel costs directly related to project activities
• Costs for equipment and materials essential for research and development
• Subcontracting for specialized tasks or services
• Travel and subsistence costs for project meetings or fieldwork
• Costs for testing, validation, and demonstration of new technologies
• Expenses for software development and digital tools
• Costs for dissemination, communication, and stakeholder engagement
• Expenses for data management and cybersecurity measures
• Indirect costs covered by the lump sum

Restrictions: All expenses must be included within the lump sum and justified as necessary for achieving project objectives.

• Budget for this Call: 18.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Budget per project: 6.000.000€

• Must be a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries (EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries), with at least one partner from an EU Member State.
• All participants must be established in eligible countries and demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity as required by Annex B and C of the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement.
• Project must focus on developing and demonstrating novel inverter technologies that enhance the flexibility of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
• This includes integrating inverters with other components such as batteries, PV modules, and the grid to enable automatic data gathering (e.g., serial numbers, geolocation) and support the creation of digital twins and PV data models for predictive monitoring of electricity production.
• Proposals should also evaluate system integration and cybersecurity aspects, providing guidance for future developments in both hardware and software.
• Standard Horizon Europe rules on ethics, integrity, exclusion, and compliance apply as per General Annex B–C.