The LEONARDO project is dedicated to unlocking the untapped potential of industrial sectors as key contributors to EU energy flexibility. 

By aggregating industrial Demand-Side Flexibility (iDSF) through advanced Energy Management Systems (EMSs) and creating a centralized Industrial Flexibility Knowledge Hub (IFKH), LEONARDO enables industries to actively participate in the energy transition while enhancing grid stability and reducing peak loads.

LEONARDO's core concept is to optimize collaborative industrial demand flexibility by aggregating diverse EMSs within clusters of industries in close physical proximity. The project addresses interoperability challenges, enhances EMS functionalities, and evaluates the value of industrial flexibility solutions in real-life pilot environments. The IFKH acts as a one-stop shop for information and resources, including the FlexifyMyIndustry-Assistant, an industry-first tool that allows companies to assess their flexibility potential and validate access to various flexibility markets through standardized metrics.

Industrial demand-side flexibility represents a largely untapped resource in the EU. Through strategic deployment of iDSF, the industrial sector could reduce peak loads by 4.7%–7.1%, contributing to grid stability and the EU Green Deal objectives. Current progress is limited due to economic, regulatory, technological, organizational, behavioural, informational, and competence-related barriers—precisely the challenges LEONARDO aims to overcome.

The LEONARDO project, funded under the LIFE Programme, will implement and test its solutions across three pilot sites: Italy, Austria, and Bulgaria/Greece. Each pilot will serve as a living laboratory for EMS aggregation, iDSF functionalities, and industrial flexibility assessment tools.

The role of FBK

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK)  is the leader of the Storo pilot site (Italy), and leads the coordination of LEONARDO, managing project activities and developing the monitoring system to evaluate the impact of the project on pilot sites and industrial flexibility.

The Consortium

LEONARDO is implemented by a multidisciplinary consortium of 11 partners:

Research centers and academic partners:

·       Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Project Coordinator, Italy)[PC1] 

·       Fundacion CARTIF (Spain)

·       Panepistimio Patron EL (Greece)

Industrial and technology partners:

·        Europäisches Zentrum für Erneuerbare Energie Güssing GmbH (Austria)

·        Centre for New Energy Technologies SA (Portugal)

·        Consorzio Elettrico di Storo, Società Cooperativa (Italy)[PC2] 

·   RINA Consulting SPA (Italy)

·   Ellinika Petrelaia Monoprosopi Anonymi Etaireia Diylisi Efodiasmou Kai Poliseon Petrelaioeidon Kai Petrochimikon (Greece)

·   Stomana Industry SA (Bulgaria)

·   EVON GmbH (Austria)

·   SINLOC-Sistema Iniziative Locali SPA (Italy)

Project website: coming soon

Social media: LinkedIn | YouTube

Press release: https://magazine.fbk.eu/en/news/eu-project-leonardo-supports-the-clean-energy-transition-of-european-businesses/ 

More information:

Project Acronym | LIFE24-CET-LEONARDO

Project Name       | Flexibility services provision enabled from aggregated industrial prosumers

Funding programme  | LIFE Programme                                                              

Call | LIFE-2024-CET                                                              

Topic | LIFE-2024-CET-BUSINESS                                         

Type of action | LIFE-PJG                                                                    

Service | CINEA/D/01                                                                  

Project Coordinator | Fondazione Bruno Kessler                  

Starting date | 1 September 2025                                                            

Duration | 36 months                                                                   

Project ID | 101215528