Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2026-01-12

Description

Description (EN):

CHALLENGE NWE is committed to a clean energy transition, but rapid renewable growth and electrification are straining grid capacity, leading to high costs due to congestion and curtailment. In 2023, re-dispatch measures in Germany alone cost € 3.2 billion, with 19 TWh curtailed. The challenge is no longer generating renewable energy (RE) but using it efficiently. The rise of Energy Management Systems (EMS) offer a smart grid solution that optimizes local electrification and renewables integration, something that business parks (BPs), which consume over 30% of energy in the region, have issues with. Specifically, the lack of organisational structure pose a risk to NWE's energy transition. OBJECTIVE GEMS aims to create EMS solutions in BPs, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) co-invest to enhance energy efficiency and RE consumption, reducing grid congestion. APPROACH GEMS targets NWE mid-sized BPs (1-20 MW), enabling the uptake of tested GEMS configurations. 4 knowledge partners (KPs) provide expertise in EMS integration, energy systems, storage, finance, and policy implications. A technical partner deploys digital twins (DTs), harnessing modelling power for solution design and prototyping and 5 regional business support organisations (BSOs) guide EMS demonstrations in NL, FR, IE, DE, BE and accelerate replication across NWE via their networks. Transnational cooperation will be weaved into every activity, ensuring crucial knowledge sharing and allowing each region to replicate the tested GEMS solutions. OUTPUTS Key outputs include: 1. An action plan for NWE BPs with DT-based configurations for GEMS implementation. 2. Six transnational pilot actions in BPs (NL, BE, IE, FR, DE), testing four transferable configurations. 3. A capacity-building training program to promote GEMS adoption across NWE BPs. INNOVATION GEMS combines regional expertise in energy systems and DT to create reliable, financially viable, and scalable EMS models that reduce grid congestion in BPs.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Provide BPs in NWE with principles for optimizing local energy efficiency & reducing GHG intensity. A jointly developed action plan (O1.1) guides BSOs and BPs by facilitating access to an actionable roadmap using DTs to detail value propositions of viable EMS configurations in 4 complementary settings (with vs without storage, locally vs externally generated RE), considering business, regulatory and organisational factors. Validate the energy/cost-effectiveness of modelled EMSs through 6 pilots testing 4 complementary settings within BPs. Key performance indicators are grid capacity usage and relief, surplus RE usage, contract, organisational & revenue modelling. Pilot learnings feed into the action plan O1.1 and help in developing the GEMS training & capacity building programme O3.1. Mainstream the deployment of local smart energy systems across BPs in NWE by co-developing the GEMS training & capacity building programme (O3.1). This programme build capacity at regional stakeholders and promotes EMS tool use and EMS supportive policy through clinics with local and national policy makers to advise them on how policy can increase the uptake of GEMS solutions and helps identify financing solutions for EMS deployment at BPs for further replication at 25 BPs in NWE.

Project outputs: Action plan for smart energy management systems within business parks(EN)
Joint development and implementation of the GEMS pilots(EN)
GEMS jointly developed solutions(EN)
GEMS capacity building – a training for GEMS solutions uptake in BPs across NWE(EN)
Website: http://gems.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

Education and training Renewable energy SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_2) Smart and just energy transition

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 044 Energy efficiency renovation or energy efficiency measures regarding public infrastructure, demonstration projects and supporting measures

Partners (14)

Lead Partner: ONTWIKKELINGSMAATSCHAPPIJ OOST NEDERLAND NV

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 993544035

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL813800973 B01

Department: Energy

Address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7333 NP Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Laan van Malkenschoten, 7333 NP Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://oostnl.nl/nl

Total budget: EUR 926 572.76

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 555 943.65

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 370 629.11

Contractors:

Name: Bax Innovation Consulting SL
VAT registration or tax identification number: 69878927

WFG Kassel (WFG)

Name: WFG Kassel (WFG)

Department: Projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 873324466

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 113090956

Address: Kurfürstenstraße, 34117 Kassel, Germany

Department address: Kurfürstenstraße , 34117 Kassel, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.wfg-kassel.de/

Total budget: EUR 296 378.88

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 177 827.32

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 118 551.56

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Contractors:

Name: Ludewig + Sozien GmbH & Co. KG
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE186471003

Stichting Bedrijvenpark Twentekanaal (DIT)

Name: Stichting Bedrijvenpark Twentekanaal (DIT)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 873071102

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL009890178B01

Address: Binnenhavenstraat, 7553GH Hengelo, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.twentekanaal.com

Total budget: EUR 322 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 193 350.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 128 900.00

GEBIEDSONDERNEMING LAARBERG B.V.

Name: GEBIEDSONDERNEMING LAARBERG B.V.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 873327376

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BTW 823110229B01

Address: Den Sliem, 7141 JE Groenlo, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.laarberg.nl/

Total budget: EUR 264 260.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 158 556.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 105 704.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Contractors:

Name: OBL Consult Joost Okkema
VAT registration or tax identification number: NL863588281B01

Europe Technologies CIAM

Name: Europe Technologies CIAM

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 952774450

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR07417784592 | SIREN n°: 417784592 (EN)

Address: Rue de la Fonderie, 44470 Carquefou, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: https://europetechnologies.com/

Total budget: EUR 572 597.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 343 558.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 229 039.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland Unlimited company

Name: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland Unlimited company

Department: Medtronic, Mervue

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950352554

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6541998G

Address: Michael Collins Road, H91 W9N4 Galway, Ireland

Department address: Michael Collins Road, H91 W9N4 Galway, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: https://www.medtronic.com/en-ie/our-company/medtronic-ireland.html

Total budget: EUR 300 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 180 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 120 000.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

University of Galway

Name: University of Galway

Department: J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999978045

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0022578J

Address: University Road, H91TK33 Galway, Ireland

Department address: University Road, H91TK33 Galway, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/

Total budget: EUR 427 381.47

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 256 428.88

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 170 952.59

Universiteit Gent

Name: Universiteit Gent

Department: Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999986096

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0248.015.142

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Department address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.UGent.be

Total budget: EUR 225 204.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 135 122.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 90 081.60

Technische Universität Darmstadt

Name: Technische Universität Darmstadt

Department: Institut for Mechatronic Systems

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999986581

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 111 608 628

Address: Otto-Berndt-Straße, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

Department address: Otto-Berndt-Straße, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.ims.tu-darmstadt.de

Total budget: EUR 392 611.77

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 235 567.06

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 157 044.71

Contractors:

Name: Forvis Mazars GmbH & Co. KG
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE136456066

Universiteit Twente

Name: Universiteit Twente

Department: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) Power Electronics and Electromagnetic Compatibility Group (PE)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999900833

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL002946725B01

Address: Drienerlolaan, 7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands

Department address: Drienerlolaan, 7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.utwente.nl/

Total budget: EUR 147 369.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 88 421.76

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 58 947.84

Bretagne Développement Innovation

Name: Bretagne Développement Innovation

Department: European affairs department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 963378490

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR70532239472

Address: Avenue de Belle Fontaine , 35510 CESSON-SEVIGNE, France

Department address: Avenue de Belle Fontaine, 35510 CESSON-SEVIGNE, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.bdi.fr

Total budget: EUR 287 935.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 761.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 115 174.00

Flux50

Name: Flux50

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 907386695

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0824.769.323

Address: Koningsstraat, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.flux50.com

Total budget: EUR 214 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 128 520.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 85 680.00

Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Vlaanderen

Name: Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Vlaanderen

Department: Projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 954413750

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0881.702.482

Address: Charles De Kerchovelaan, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Department address: Charles De Kerchovelaan, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.pomov.be

Total budget: EUR 412 958.71

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 247 775.22

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 165 183.49

Contractors:

Name: Think E BV
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE0835518408

House of Energy e.V.

Name: House of Energy e.V.

Department: Projects

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 880597623

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE313695097

Address: Universitätsplatz, 34127 Kassel, Germany

Department address: Universitätsplatz, 34127 Kassel, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.house-of-energy.org/Ueberuns

Total budget: EUR 341 477.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 204 886.32

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 136 590.88

Contractors:

Name: Prof.Dr.LudewigSozienGmbH&CoKG
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE186471003

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

WFG Kassel (WFG)

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

DIT Foundation Twentekanaal

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

AREA ENTERPRISE LAARBERG B.V.

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Europe Technologies CIAM

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland Unlimited company

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

University of Galway

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Universiteit Gent

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Technical University of Darmstadt

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

University of Twente

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Bretagne Development Innovation

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Flux50

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Vlaanderen

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

House of Energy

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Partners and Projects info

East Netherlands Development Agency

Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Project acronym: GEMS

Project ID: NWE0400625

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2027-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

STEPS (EN) | STEPS (Storage of Energy and Power Systems), a Interreg NWE project between 2020-2023, is a business support programme to connect SME energy storage solutions. STEPS addressed real life energy system challenges through a testbed of solutions such as battery storage, hydrogen technology and mobile storage, supported through a unique third-party financial support model which provided SMEs with vouchers to increase TRL of solutions and demonstrate solutions. In their Long term work package, Activity 1 consists of developing policy recommendations on national and regional levels. GEMS will use D1.1 and 1.2 and further build on their policy recommendations to alleviate policy obstacles for energy systems. Oost NL, HofE and POMOW were part of STEPS and will be the main transferers of necessary knowledge. (EN), ACCESS (EN) | ACCESS (Advancing Communities towards low-Carbon Energy Smart Systems) is a successfully completed Interreg NSR project between 2019 - 2023. ACCESS involved pilots in 4 cities - Amersfoort, Malmö, Mechelen, West Suffolk - which explored scaling decarbonised local energy systems through reducing operational time and costs. The link is Flux50/POMOV. In Activity 3.4 “Upscaling Framework implementation toolbox and validation”, a toolbox will be built to enable smart grid upscaling. In GEMS, similarily, an action plan is first created, then used during the pilots and ultimately adjusted and used for the replication of GEMS solutions. GEMS can use the action plan as a starting point and look at which tools, best practices and approaches they use that could benefit the uptake of GEMS as well.  (EN), CREATORS (EN) | The Horizon project CREATORS (2020-2024) focuses on developing smart energy systems for industrial zones, with pilots in Antwerp, north of France and the Netherlands. The project built modelling tools for energy systems (digital twins), business case templates, and validated those through pilots, now ready for use. Flux50 was part of the project and so will use this experience in GEMS to build the action plan. (EN), DUT PED (EN) | The European programme Driving Urban Transitions, pathway Positive Energy Districts is Europe’s largest innovation-to-pilot programme (TRL4-6) on energy system piloting, with €100m budget. UoG, UT, UGent, TUDa all participate in DUT projects. GEMS can retrieve practical tools and models, and can contribute to EU state of the art projects.  (EN), BRAVE (EN) | The Interreg NSR project BRAVE (2024-2027) enables local authorities and BSOs to foster commercially attractive environments which mobilise new investments into smart local energy systems. BRAVE aims to unlock new public-private financing through novel investment models demonstrated across 7 pilot sites (Aarhus, Amiens, Brabant, Flanders, Hamburg, Malmö, Rotterdam). Flux50 participates in BRAVE, and is a pilot lead in developing a business and investment case for their pilot location. The findings from their WP2 will be used in GEMS to build on available knowledge about viable business cases for the energy transition. (EN), COPPER (EN) | COPPER (Cities for Open and Participative Planning for Electricity grid Resilience) is an Interreg NSR project that runs from 2023-2026. Their goal is to support local authorities in their emerging role as local energy grid coordinators, positioning NSR as a pioneer in future local energy system management. In COPPER, UGent will model scenarios for the integration of technologies such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles, heat pumps, batteries, and demand-side management at the household or community level. These models will also be used in GEMS to simulate and optimize energy flows in BPs. (EN), BISEPS (EN) | BISEPS (Business clusters Integrated Sustainable Energy PackageS) is an Interreg 2Seas programme that boosts mid-scale sustainable energy tech adoption in business clusters, cut carbon emissions, and creates a greener 2Seas region by removing barriers and enhancing energetic synergies. UGent is involved in the BISEPS project, where they develop the BISEPS-tool and are the communication and dissemination manager of the project. The knowledge they gain as dissemination manager can be used for the GEMS A3.5, to ensure better dissemination of GEMS solutions across BPs in NWE. (EN), EIGEN (EN) | EIGEN is a Dutch funded (MOOI subsidy) project developing and validating a blueprint for the development of energy hubs for business parks. Thanks to these energy hubs, large-scale renewable energy generation is incorporated into the power grid, reducing pressure on the grid and balancing supply and demand for local energy. They are an important regional project informing important work which Oost NL will do in relation to developing the EMS tool. During project development meetings between GEMS and EIGEN have been conducted to share knowledge and expertise, and provide access to the publicly available knowledge hub of EIGEN which GEMS will expand upon. (EN), IB-Green (EN) | IB-Green focuses on industrial and business parks (IBPs) described as highly sealed and especially vulnerable to overheating. They take up a decisive part of the North-West Europe settlement area and play a crucial role in increasing urban heat islands.
IB-Green (Industrial and Business Parks – climate resilient & fit for future) aims to make IBPs more climate-resilient by developing blue-green infrastructure. This will reduce heat stress and improve air quality in urban areas, leading to healthier living and working conditions. The project targets public authorities to transform existing industrial and business parks, but also to encourage companies to implement adaptation measures.
GEMS will learn from IB-Green about the best practice stakeholder engagement methods for these specific sites. This will lead to better and more effective uptake of GEMS solutions. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 131 196.89

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 078 718.11

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

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 078 718.11. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

GEMS business model, regulatory analysis and organisational model reports
Technical state of the art report
GEMS project KPI report for monitoring and evaluation of project EMS solutions
D1.2.1 Meeting report documenting regional and transnational collaboration on EMS research
D1.2.2 State of the market report of regional EMS providers
GEMS value proposition report
Progress report on tool development
Online accessible EMS design tool
GEMS Communication Strategy
GEMS Audiovisual Package
Formation of advisory committee
EMS design concepts
Feasibility studies for the GEMS pilots
Validated EMS Designs
Implementation and commissioning report
Implementation and commissioning report
Implementation and commissioning report
Report on testing of digital twin technology at WFG Kassel pilot
Implementation and commissioning report
Implementation and commissioning report
Implementation and commissioning report
Report on testing of digital twin technology at the VLI park pilot
Case study reports for the GEMS pilots
Evaluations of regulatory/policy barriers to pilot delivery
Local Engagement Package
Documentation regional pilot knowledge sharing campaigns
GEMS training & capacity building programme
Report documenting training & capacity building programme
Training & capacity building programme survey
Assessment of the potential of GEMS solutions based on future energy policy
Individual meeting report for national policy dissemination
Policy recommendation reports
Advisory committee online meeting log
GEMS sustainable investment pipeline
End-of-project Dissemination Event Report
Replication target report

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
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:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2026-05-12

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

70 / 70 (100%)

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

753 / 753 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Green Energy Management Systems for business parks

Description

Thematic information

Partners (14)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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