Three Key Learnings from Enlit Europe 2025

Earlier this month we were thrilled to attend Enlit Europe for the first time. The event was filled with buzzing conversations around the future of energy, the challenges the transition is facing and most excitingly, the creative, innovative solutions being developed to combat them.

System operators, utilities, and policymakers across Europe were united on the challenges: integrating high volumes of renewables while managing surging demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and data centres.

For the team at Open Climate Fix, we left feeling re-energised (pun intended) and more committed than ever in our mission to advocate for better energy data regulation across the UK and Europe. Plus, a renewed focus on driving the adoption of innovative research and technology across industry to accelerate the transition.

Across Europe, the lack of accessible, usable energy data is actively slowing innovation. We heard from multiple speakers that the biggest hurdle is no longer development of effective AI models, but the "red tape" and fragmentation of the data sources.

Policy Officer Stavros Stamatoukos (European Commission) and Dara Lynott (EAI) both highlighted that crucial data, such as that from millions of smart meters in Ireland, is often blocked by regulatory processes (like GDPR), despite the clear benefit to TSO/DSO modernisation.

As Scottish Power Energy Networks and Elexon contacts confirmed, data is often disorganised and inaccessible. We cannot build the smart grid without common rules, open APIs, and easily usable data.

Innovation funding is increasing (especially with the upcoming Horizon Europe applications), but the market is struggling to scale solutions. Utilities are cautious about relying solely on venture capital-dependent startups that may prove unreliable.

European utilities confirmed a major frustration: finding engineering talent capable of building and implementing cutting-edge AI solutions within the complex energy sector.

Meanwhile, companies are shifting the focus to adaptive, modern software and trusted partners who understand the long investment cycles of network infrastructure. This validates OCF's non-profit, open-science model as a stable, transparent partner for utilities and TSOs seeking sustained, reliable innovation.

While the acceleration of electrification (EVs, heat pumps, data centres) is driving major investment, the necessary flexibility solutions are not uniform across Europe.

As researchers from Universidad de Deusto noted, each European country requires bespoke solutions depending on its unique generation mix and policy priorities. What works in Texas may not work in the UK due to the differing geographies and weather patterns.

The European-mandated Flexibility Needs Assessment will force member states to set specific targets by the end of 2025. This creates an urgent, mandated need for smart software and AI tools that can connect intermittent supply with dynamic storage and demand flexibility, a strategic focus acknowledged by speakers from both Iberdrola and EDP during the conference.