European energy data space on its way

The energy and other sectorial common data spaces are to start being deployed over the next two years as part of the Digital Europe work programme for 2023-2024.

The work programme, adopted by the European Commission, is worth €909.5 million ($991 million) for the 2023-2024 period and covers the deployment of projects that use digital technologies such as data, AI, cloud and advanced digital skills.

The common data spaces are based on secure and energy-efficient federated cloud-to-edge infrastructure accessible to businesses and the public sector across the EU. The energy data space is one of ten common data spaces that are planned in the period.

Specifically, the energy data space is intended to meet the needs for “increased availability and cross-sector sharing of data, in a customer-centric, secure and trustworthy manner” to support achieving of the EU’s energy sector goals, i.e. increasing the use of renewable energy sources, decreasing the net energy imports and improving energy efficiency, as well as enabling a vibrant market of energy services and new business models.

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With the data spaces for cultural heritage and tourism prioritised for a 2023 call for funding, the energy and other data spaces are set for the third call of the programme, which will take place in Q2 of 2024.

The project(s) selected for the energy data space – in Q4 2024 – will put in place commercial service through the deployment of use cases and corresponding data sets in at least half of the member states.

“This action will contribute to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by maximising the utilisation of renewable energy, minimising the use of fossil fuel electricity generation capacities, electrification of sectors traditionally relying on fossil fuels, improving energy efficiency and local generation and use of renewable energy.,” states the work programme.

Other data spaces forthcoming in the work programme third call are the Green Deal, skills, language, manufacturing, agriculture, public administration and health.

Alongside the Digital Europe work programme, the EC also adopted a cybersecurity work programme for 2023-2024 with a budget of €375 million, which includes inter alia the setting up of national security operations centres.