Towards interoperability in cross-border energy data exchange: a case study from Europe

Data interoperability ensures that data can be easily accessible and readily processed and re-packaged across systems using different types of data. The concepts of data integration and interoperability have been extensively explored in the healthcare sector; however, in the energy sector it remains poorly explored. In focus on Europe, interoperability of energy data is especially necessary as the European energy retail and service markets are highly fragmented due to differences in regulation and data access across countries, which prevent the spread of energy retail, efficiency and flexibility solutions in Europe. This paper analyses a conceptual European cross-border energy data exchange platform which renders regulated data hubs interoperable and connects energy-related app owners to data hubs in different countries. The viability and value of this solution are appraised within a Horizon2020 project, EU-SysFlex, using a number of business modelling tools, including the value creation ecosystem (VCE) and the energy system improvement canvas (ESIC).