Press release -

Volue Named Key Innovator by European Commission

Volue becomes key innovator in the EU’s €80 billion program for developing a cost-efficient trading platform for energy-positive cities.

“Our project will help achieve European clean energy transition goals by creating energy solutions for smart cities. We start demonstrating our trade platform for local energy markets already this fall, says Chief Strategist of Volue,” Klaus Livik. 

Developing climate-friendly and sustainable urban areas
+CityxChange is part of “Horizon 2020,” an €80 billion program initiated by the European Commission (EC) funding research for “Smart cities and communities.” Volue has been recognised as a key innovator by EC’s Innovation Radar with a “business ready” solution. ABB and IOTA were also named key innovators for their innovations.

The project will create marketplaces for trading local renewable and flexible energy within cities and prepare for a Europe-wide deployment by 2050. The stated EU goal is to establish energy-positive cities, starting with energy-positive blocks (a group of at least three connected neighboring buildings).

Realising a renewable energy future
The first step for Volue is to explore how different local energy assets can operate as a local market together with the Norwegian power producer Trønder Energy. Batteries, heat pumps, solar energy, consumer flexibility, and electric vehicles can together create energy neutral urban areas – while at the same time ensuring the security of supply and quality in terms of a stable local grid.

“The project scope for the involved cities is to become energy positive and support technology and market designs that are scalable and replicable. Our motivation is to decrease consumption, optimise the energy flow and strengthen incentives for local investments in renewable assets,” says Livik.

Strong corporate players from across Europe
Electricity supply is one crucial part of the project. Others are energy-efficient buildings, transport solutions, and urban environments in general. Trondheim municipality is leading the Smart City project, alongside the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and strong corporate players from across Europe. The participating cities are Trondheim (Norway), Limerick (Ireland), Alba Iulia (Romania), Pisek (The Czech Republic), Võru (Estonia), Smolyan (Bulgaria), and Sestao (Spain).


Facts about the innovation project:

  • Volue is demonstrating the marketplace for trading renewable energy this fall.
  • The European Commission has selected Volue as a key innovator.
  • The aim is to create a marketplace for trading renewable energy within a city – including local grid calculations and analytics. 
  • The scope is an expected Europe-wide introduction of energy-positive cities by 2050.

Topics

  • Data, Telecom, IT

Categories

  • volue as

Volue is an international technology company owned by the Norwegian industrial investment company Arendals Fossekompani (OSE: AFK). Established in 2020, the group is built on decades of history and strong market positions held by the companies Powel, Wattsight, Markedskraft, and Scanmatic. Volue offers unique end-to-end solutions and technology for the energy sector and within digital water, infrastructure construction, defense, transport, maritime, and offshore. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the group's companies have offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and Turkey. Among its international customers are eight of the ten largest European utilities including EnBW, Enel, E.ON, Fortum, Innogy, RWE, Uniper, and Vattenfall.

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