Call Module 2026-08: Integrated regional energy systems

Regional energy systems will play a key role in accelerating Europe’s energy transition by enabling coordinated, decentralised and cross-sector solutions. Strengthening the integration of local assets, infrastructure and stakeholders is essential to improve system performance, flexibility and societal engagement.

This call module supports research and innovation on the development, demonstration and validation of integrated energy solutions at regional level. Projects should build on previous work or pilot activities and demonstrate solutions in real environments with clear potential for replication.

Proposals should address the following key challenges:

• Integration of decentralised and multi-vector energy systems: Coordinating local assets such as renewable generation, storage and flexible demand across electricity, heating and cooling, and mobility systems.
• Regional flexibility and network constraints: Adapting distribution networks to higher shares of renewables while addressing congestion and connection capacity limitations through local flexibility.
• Stakeholder coordination and participation: Coordinating diverse actors, including municipalities, industry, energy communities and system operators, and ensuring stakeholder acceptance and active involvement.
• Governance and market frameworks: Developing regulatory, market and organisational models that enable participation, non-discriminatory access and alignment with regional energy and climate plans.
• System-level integration and validation: Moving beyond isolated technological components towards integrated, validated system solutions embedded in regional transition processes.

Proposals may address integrated regional energy system solutions across the value chain. This includes multi-vector integration of infrastructure, optimisation of local generation, storage and demand, coordination of flexibility for congestion management, and development of governance and market models supporting scalable and replicable regional energy transitions.

Proposals should deliver validated, scalable system solutions for regional energy systems, with a clear pathway to replication in multiple regions. Projects should also demonstrate validated solutions in real regional environments, with clear replication potential beyond the demonstration region.

Projects are expected to:

• Project end at TRL 6 or higher

Contact point: TRI5@cetpartnership.eu

Attention: This is an introduction to the call module. Make sure to read the full call text, including scope, requirements and eligibility conditions, which will be published this summer.