On 21–22 May 2025, the EERA Joint Programme on Smart Grids held a two-day in-person meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, hosted by the University of Nicosia. The event brought together leading researchers, project partners, and institutional representatives to discuss the evolving role of smart grids in Europe’s clean energy transition.

Day 1: Joint Workshop with EUREC

The first day featured a joint workshop co-organised with EUREC – The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres, focused on the importance of system flexibility and smart grids in achieving the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets. Special attention was given to the unique challenges and opportunities for island energy systems, such as those in Cyprus.

Key contributions from JP Smart Grids members included:

• Luciano Martini (RSE, JP Coordinator): Strategic perspectives on EU energy and grid development

• Irina Oleinikova (NTNU): Operational and market integration challenges

• Graeme Burt (University of Strathclyde): System adaptation for high-RES (Renewable Energy Sources) scenarios

• Mattia Cabiati (RSE), Venizelos Efthymiou (University of Nicosia), and Kari Mäki (VTT): Presentation of the JP’s latest white paper, "The Crucial Role of Smart Grids for the Success of the Clean Energy Transition"

Download the white paper here

The day concluded with a dynamic panel discussion on flexibility and security of supply, moderated by Henrik Bindner (DTU), sparking engaging exchanges among participants from across Europe.

Day 2: Steering Committee Meeting

The second day was dedicated to the JP Steering Committee Meeting, focused on aligning ongoing activities and developing new collaborative opportunities within the EERA framework.

Presentations covered a range of current and emerging projects, including:

• RISEnergy – presented by Venizelos Efthymiou (University of Nicosia)

• SolarHub – supporting cross-border solar energy collaboration, presented by Evangelos RiKos (CRES)

• InterSCADA – a project addressing SCADA interoperability, presented by Michal Kosmecki (IEN)

• EV charging patterns and future system impacts – shared by Henrik Bindner (DTU)

Acknowledgements

EERA JP Smart Grids extends its sincere thanks to Venizelos Efthymiou and the University of Nicosia team for their exceptional organisation and warm hospitality, and to EUREC for co-leading a fruitful and timely workshop.

We look forward to continued collaboration and progress toward smarter, more flexible, and more resilient energy systems across Europe.