Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2026-05-13

Description

Description (EN):

ChallengeClean, flexible, decentralised, and digital energy systems are central to meeting the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 (European Green Deal, EC, 2019). Renewables deployment is rapidly progressing, to meet rising electricity demand of 6,800 TWh by 2050 (Fit for 55, EC, 2021). However, poor management of this intermittent energy already leads to costly grid congestion, particularly in NSR countries where renewable generation is world leading. If no action is taken, €565bn will be required for grid reinforcement by 2030 (Bloomberg, 2022). Local authorities (LAs) will gradually take over from Distribution System Operators (DSOs) as lead coordinators of the future energy system, unlocking the necessary green investments locally e.g. full-electric neighbourhoods in the Netherlands cannot connect to the grid. LAs will lead the delivery of this flexible and net zero energy grid of the future, supported by DSOs (REPowerEU Plan, EC, 2022). ObjectiveCOPPER supports NSR LAs to fulfil their emerging role as local energy grid coordinators (Ofgem, 2022). It positions NSR as a pioneer in future local energy system management, benefitting all energy stakeholders through flexible and clean energy grids. It builds local capacity by delivering a joint digital toolbox guiding NSR cities in local energy planning, market facilitation, and infrastructure delivery. PilotsDSOs support COPPER cities to deliver smart grid pilots across 6 unique NSR policy contexts (generation, mobility, storage, monitoring) to increase local renewables uptake, improve grid flexibility, and reduce costs for developers and communities. Pilot outputs will help to build LAs capacity to coordinate and deliver long-term local focussed energy strategy. Novel Transnational ApproachEach territory’s energy policy and market generate unique technology and commercial solutions. COPPER brings these together for cities’ collaborative learning to inform the local energy plans’ (LEPs) and replication beyond.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During this period, the COPPER partnership has successfully advanced its pilots, worked on promoting the value of LEAPs (through white papers, workshops and events) and got the final go-ahead to organise the European Conference on City Energy 03.26 in Ghent. LEAPs are receiving further political buy-in and are generating great interest from all stakeholders, due to its potential to streamline city-DSO collaboration for strategic, long-term planning of the local energy system. WP1: To foster synergies, ANT and GENT have formally teamed up with 10 Belgian cities to share experiences and learnings. Digitalisation is not only taking place in the energy system, but in the way the system is managed. Thus, partners have progressed the digital toolkit, which will be one of the key topics of the 4th partner meeting in FRE. WP2: The city-partners have progressed their pilots, by furthering their planning, implementation, or by re-adapting their pilots to a feasible outcome. Lastly, to broaden the impact of the COPPER project, an application to have Trondheim become part of the consortium was submitted. WP3: City-partners are getting clearer insight into public and private energy grid investments, which informs energy planning strategies. Cities and DSOs are strengthening their relationships by regularly meeting and exchanging information, a condition for successful LEAPs. E.DSO is finalising a study on said collaboration, a key document to onboard further stakeholders onto the concept of LEAPs. COMS: CA released a white paper Leading the Charge with examples from 12 European cities (incl. the COPPER pilots) of innovative planning strategies in collaboration with DSOs. 3 editions of the Now/New/Next info sheet series were released: on City Energy Planning, City Energy Bill, and VPPs. A panel on LEAPs was hosted at the EUSEW25. Next steps are organising the conference and the partner meeting in Ghent 03.26, publishing the EDSO paper and finishing the digital toolkit.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/copper

Thematic information

Traditional energy Clustering and economic cooperation

Type of intervention: 053 Smart Energy Systems (including smart grids and ICT systems) and related storage

Partners (19)

Lead Partner: Stad Gent

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207 541 227

Address: Botermarkt 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.stad.gent

Total budget: EUR 1 130 650.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 678 390.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 452 260.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Universiteit Gent

Name: Universiteit Gent

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0248.015.142

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.ugent.be

Total budget: EUR 229 674.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 137 804.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 91 870.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

StadtAuto Bremen CarSharing GmbH - cambio Bremen

Name: StadtAuto Bremen CarSharing GmbH - cambio Bremen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE151247842

Address: Humboldtstraße 131-137, 28203 Bremen, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: http://www.cambio-CarSharing.de/bremen

Total budget: EUR 121 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 72 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 400.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

cambio Mobilitätsservice GmbH & Co KG

Name: cambio Mobilitätsservice GmbH & Co KG

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE209663894

Address: Humboldtstraße 131-137, 28203 Bremen, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: http://www.cambio-carsharing.de

Total budget: EUR 208 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 125 100.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 83 400.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Varberg Energi AB

Name: Varberg Energi AB

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE556013145901

Address: Västkustvägen 50, 43242 Varbgerg, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.varbergenergi.se/

Total budget: EUR 360 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 216 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 144 000.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Trondheim Kommune

Name: Trondheim Kommune

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 942110464

Address: Munkegata 1, 7013 Trondheim, Norway

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.trondheim.kommune.no/

Total budget: EUR 224 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 112 350.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 112 350.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stad Antwerpen

Name: Stad Antwerpen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207500123

Address: Grote Markt 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.antwerpen.be

Total budget: EUR 582 023.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 349 214.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 232 809.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Klima-Bündnis der europäischen Städte mit indigenen Völkern der Regenwälder e.V.

Name: Klima-Bündnis der europäischen Städte mit indigenen Völkern der Regenwälder e.V.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE244331692

Address: Galvanistraße 28, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.climatealliance.org

Total budget: EUR 197 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 118 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 79 000.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Gemeente Dordrecht

Name: Gemeente Dordrecht

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001915794B01

Address: Spuiboulevard 300, 3311GR Dordrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.dordrecht.nl

Total budget: EUR 653 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 391 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 261 200.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Freie Hansestadt Bremen

Name: Freie Hansestadt Bremen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE811418337

Address: Contrescarpe 72, 28195 Bremen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.bau.bremen.de

Total budget: EUR 389 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 233 850.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 155 900.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Fredericia Kommune

Name: Fredericia Kommune

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE 69116418

Address: Gothersgade 20, 7000 Fredericia, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.fredericia.dk

Total budget: EUR 156 318.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 93 791.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 62 527.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

European Distribution Systems Operators for Smart Grids AISBL

Name: European Distribution Systems Operators for Smart Grids AISBL

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 825054581

Address: Rue de la Loi 82, 1200 Brussels, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: http://www.edsoforsmartgrids.eu

Total budget: EUR 249 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 149 820.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 99 880.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Center Danmark Drift ApS

Name: Center Danmark Drift ApS

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 40868399

Address: Vendersgade 74, 7000 Fredericia, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.centerdenmark.com

Total budget: EUR 123 725.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 74 235.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 490.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Cambridge Cleantech International

Name: Cambridge Cleantech International

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 81830947

Address: Hofplein 20, 3032AC Rotterdam, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.cambridgecleantechinternational.com

Total budget: EUR 495 965.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 297 579.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 198 386.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Aalborg Universitet

Name: Aalborg Universitet

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29102384

Address: Pontoppidanstraede 111, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.energy.aau.dk

Total budget: EUR 201 335.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 120 801.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 80 534.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Johanneberg Science Park

Name: Johanneberg Science Park

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE556790310801

Address: Sven Hultins Gata 2, 41258 Gothenburg, Sweden

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.johannebergsciencepark.com

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Port of Esbjerg

Name: Port of Esbjerg

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 27054692

Address: Hulvejen 1, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.portesbjerg.dk/en

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Esbjerg Kommune

Name: Esbjerg Kommune

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29189803

Address: Torvegade 74, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website (not verified): http://www.esbjerg.dk

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Akademiska Hus

Name: Akademiska Hus

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE5564599156

Address: Sven Hultins Plats 5, 40127 Gothenburg, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: http://www.akademiskahus.se

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Universiteit Gent

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

cambio Bremen

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

cambio Mobilitätsservice

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Varberg Energi

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Trondheim Municipality

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Stad Antwerpen

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples (registered association)

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

City of Dordrecht

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Fredericia Municipality

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Center Denmark

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Cambridge Cleantech International

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Aalborg University

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

City of Ghent

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Johanneberg Science Park

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Port of Esbjerg

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Esbjerg Municipality

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Akademiska Hus

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Project acronym: COPPER

Project ID: KxY2loNyN

Project start date: 2023-10-01

Project end date: 2027-09-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 323 840.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 059 484.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 059 484.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Cities and DSOs initiate project collaboration. / COPPER cities and their DSOs align future sustainability and energy challenges with reference to the project’s digital toolkit, pilot ambitions (WP2), and long-term energy plans (WP3). This takes place through a 1-day event comprising presentations and roundtable discussions. E.DSO and CA will facilitate this, focussing on a productive exchange of best practices of local smart grid innovation across NSR transnationally to improve collaborations.
Development of pilot implementation plans. / COPPER cities, DSOs, and smart energy solution providers collaboratively plan smart grid pilot tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and KPIs. Input sought from transnational knowledge partners and local energy community representatives.
Map future public and private investments. / COPPER cities will engage with local building developers and businesses to identify planned city-wide investments offering new challenges and opportunities for the electricity grid (e.g., RE, EV charging, the development of new buildings and industries).
Gather local energy system information at pilot sites. / COPPER cities and DSOs will together compile local energy system information at pilot sites, with technical support from AAU and C-DK. This data may include an energy grid map with long-term scenarios, joint investment programmes, relevant stakeholders, and grid flexibility challenges and opportunities for novel market solutions. The information will be used by local authorities and DSOs for local grid balancing challenges and commercial opportunities from flexibility solutions.
Implementation of virtual and/or physical pilots. / COPPER cities will implement their smart grid demonstration site in partnership with DSOs and the private sector. FRE will implement a full virtual pilot case based on real local measurements at its industrial site; GENT, DOR, ANT, BREM, VE and TRD will host pilots with both virtual and physical elements, covering household, residential, education, commercial, and municipal scales and user types, through integrated and flexible generation, heating, storage, control, and EV mobility solutions.
Assess the impact of investments on the local energy grid. / Partners will jointly assess the impacts of investments on cities’ local power grid capacity. They will use WP2 pilot outputs to develop smart grid solutions, each producing a strategy report to guide the development of local energy plans (LEPs).
Develop a joint digital energy toolkit for the upload and dissemination of pilot data. / C-DK together with CCI develop a joint transnational digital platform, built to support grid planning, local energy market facilitation, project coordination, and local smart grid delivery. Intended use of the toolkit is for local grid planning leadership by local authorities, in partnership with DSOs and local technical solutions providers to support WP3 outputs and beyond.
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of pilots. / Pilot trial progress will be monitored by C-DK and CCI as technical leaders, with additional information supplied by COPPER cities and their DSO partners. The pilots’ successes, challenges, and learning points will be evaluated collectively by the consortium during regular management meetings and bi-annual general assemblies, presented through a joint report.
City workshops to align local city stakeholders on LEP ambitions. / COPPER cities (DOR, GENT, ANT, FRE, BREM, VE, TRD) will each host a co-creation workshop with local energy actors and investors to align ambitions around local energy planning and to promote a collaborative grid management approach leading to future stable energy grid (e.g. by 2040). These events will share the digital toolkit from WP1, and the results of the pilots in WP2 with all stakeholders as inspiration for the sorts of data, resources, and integrated technical commercial solutions that will be required.
Internal assessment of digital toolkit for local authorities. / COPPER cities assess the digital toolkit for supporting their future organisational capacity building and energy system delivery, with additional input from knowledge partners (e.g. AAU, UG, and CM/CB). Cities then give feedback to C-DK for a final round of technical toolkit development to contain necessary data, resources, and tools to lead future energy system coordination strategy and tasks.
Matchmaking and dissemination workshops. / Pilot smart grid solutions for local authority energy plans are shared with >15 other NSR cities and throughout the networks of E.DSO (DSOs), CA (Cities), and CCI’s (private sector solution providers), and with the support of Stad Gent, through a series of online webinars and in-person events and workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing and solution replication. Content created for the event will be repurposed into PDFs hosted on the COPPER website for future dissemination.
DSO discussions to prepare grid planning. / Discussions among E.DSO, CCI, and CA’s European industry and policy clusters for DSOs and local authorities will broadcast insights gathered through COPPER on opportunities and challenges for collaborative electricity grid planning approaches between cities and DSOs at regional/transnational level.
Improve COPPER cities’ organisational readiness for net zero local energy planning. / Based on pre-pilot site analysis, and as part of smart grid pilot preparation, COPPER cities will conduct an assessment of the internal resources required to deliver the future local smart grid solutions at city scale, contributing to their wider net zero targets. Capacity building could include dedicated teams, digital tools, databases, and private sector partnerships to support local authority energy system leadership.
Private sector seminars to explore technology solutions and opportunities. / CA, E.DSO, and CCI will prepare and facilitate >5 industry seminars to showcase pilot technology (WP2) and commercial outputs that will support local energy planning. These events will be attended by COPPER cities and private sector solutions providers.
Market validation by the COPPER steering board. / The steering board will be formed from among CA, E.DSO, and CCI board members, energy clusters, and network. It will meet on an annual basis - every second partner meeting - to review project progress and provide feedback. Specifically, it will evaluate both the digital toolkit (1.3 & 1.4) and COPPER cities’ internal capacity processes for their readiness for effective future energy system management (1.5). It will also provide links to other European cities (out of CA network) and private sector actors (CCI) for future support.
Collaborative investment action plans agreed. / COPPER cities meet with DSOs, investors, and planners to integrate and scale best practices from pilot trials within long-term energy planning strategies and investment plans, as “front-runner” reports.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

The EU Green Deal aims for a carbon-neutral continent by 2050, enabled by a clean, diversified, and cost-effective energy supply. COPPER will contribute to this goal by supporting energy grid digitalisation, decentralisation, and renewable energy generation in Europe. The Deal also focuses on energy inclusivity, which COPPER supports by enabling local authorities to take a district-level lead on clean energy system management.
COPPER supports clean energy development within the industrial sector through WP2 pilot trials (ESB and DOR), it connects industry with technical solutions through WP3 commercial matchmaking events, and it helps create industrial market demand through the project’s final LEPs and city strategies. These support the EU’s Industrial Strategy which aims for the transition to a green, digital, and dynamic economy with a focus on SMEs as innovation leaders.
COPPERs outputs are intertwined with digital innovation. The digital platform in WP1 will be delivered by C-DK who manage Europe’s leading energy data management platform built primarily for use by governments to accelerate the green transition. Such digital technologies are a central pillar of Europe’s green transition.
COPPER trials smart mobility and sustainable transport solutions within pilot trials in BREM and GENT, the results of which will inform scaled programs in NSR partner countries in Europe more broadly. COPPER pilots will support Europe’s transition to more sustainable mobility, which is currently restricted by a lack of dispatchable grid capacity to support on-demand vehicle charging and rising electricity demand.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 4
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 7

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-05

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

832 / 832 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience [FA]

Description

Thematic information

Partners (19)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer