© Fraunhofer IUK-Verbund | generative KI
48 European organizations have set out to launch the largest public-private initiative for open AI in the energy sector. Under the leadership of the "Fraunhofer Center Digital Energy", AI.Grids aims to create a sovereign alternative to dominant private providers, focusing on openness, transparency, and European interests. An agreement signed in Brussels on June 3, 2026, marks the project’s first operational step.
Why now? Europe’s energy faces growing demands: increased renewable generation, greater decentralization, and more complex grid structures call for new tools. At the same time, Europe aims to strengthen its digital sovereignty rather than become dependent on non-European technology providers for critical infrastructure.
An open-source approach as the foundation. The AI models are developed collaboratively and trained using European data—including real operational data from grid operators as well as synthetic datasets based on European infrastructure. This is intended to ensure transparency, traceability, and interoperability between national systems.
Who’s in charge? AI.Grids is embedded in the EU’s Strategic Roadmap for Digitalization and AI in Energy. This strategy is part of the EU Commission’s so-called “Tech Sovereignty Package” (Strengthening Europe’s Tech Sovereignty), which aims to strengthen Europe’s digital independence and position it as a global AI player. The goal is to make Europe the “AI continent”—the global leader in research and development and application of artificial intelligence. The Fraunhofer Center for Digital Energy leads the working group on the data foundation. Membership remains open, so that additional organizations can become part of the initiative throughout 2026.
First products are planned for 2027. Specifically, AI.Grids is initially working on two groups of application areas: static grid modeling (such as power flow calculations) and time-series forecasts for generation and loads. A total of ten such use cases have been identified and prioritized. A key element will be training based on European data. The first operational product is scheduled to be available in early 2027 as open-source software—with a focus on European grid operators and cost-effective integration.
In the long term, the initiative aims for more than just technology: AI.Grids is intended to secure Europe’s innovative strength in the energy sector and strengthen the continent’s economic resilience.
Fraunhofer ICT Group