At LF Energy Summit 2024 in Brussels, Nicolas Höning of Seita Energy Flexibility presented an insightful session titled “Knowledge Transfer Between Past to Current Projects – from Interflex to FlexMeasures.” The talk explored the complexities of sustaining innovation in energy flexibility projects, reflecting on both the successes and pitfalls of previous endeavors while offering a path forward for future initiatives. Key highlights follow, and the full session video is at the end of this post.
The Challenge: Knowledge Loss in R&D Projects
Höning began by highlighting a recurring problem in the world of energy innovation: the frequent loss of valuable intellectual property (IP) and project outcomes once R&D initiatives conclude. Drawing on his 15 years of experience in energy flexibility, including his work during his PhD, Höning lamented the “creative destruction” that often plagues research and development (R&D) efforts. Despite significant technical achievements, many projects fail to transition to market or broader implementation, with innovations being left on the shelf.
A notable example was the Interflex project, which ended in 2019. Interflex, a Horizon 2020 initiative, delivered several promising outcomes, including the Reflex VPP optimization engine, a tool developed in collaboration with TNO and based on advanced research from the University of Twente. However, despite its potential, the tool has largely remained unused for five years due to a lack of pathways for further development.
Open Source Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges
Höning drew parallels between the challenges in R&D projects and those in the open source space. While open source innovations can facilitate collaboration and broader adoption, they too face obstacles such as insufficient maintenance and community engagement. Many open source projects fail to grow into vibrant, sustainable ecosystems. As he put it, “A lot of open source projects are made, but not many of them are maintained to satisfaction.”
The Future: FlexMeasures and Reflex VPP
Höning’s presentation then shifted toward a new initiative aimed at addressing these issues: the FlexMeasures project. FlexMeasures is an open source platform designed for energy flexibility planning. It ingests data from various sources, such as sensors and third-party APIs, to optimize the timing of flexible energy assets like batteries and heat pumps. Unlike many other projects, FlexMeasures has been deliberately positioned within the open source space under LF Energy, emphasizing continuity and collaboration.
What’s particularly exciting is the upcoming collaboration between FlexMeasures and the Reflex VPP engine. The Dutch innovation project that kicks off next week will integrate these two systems, aiming to revive the Reflex engine after years of dormancy. By doing so, the project seeks to demonstrate how valuable innovations from past R&D can be rescued and repurposed for modern applications.
A Path Forward: Reducing Creative Destruction
One of the key themes of Höning’s talk was the need to combat the creative destruction that often accompanies energy R&D. This new project is an example of how existing technologies can be integrated and reimagined rather than discarded. However, he cautioned that merging two distinct bodies of innovation, like Reflex and FlexMeasures, is not without its challenges. Differences in terminology, mental models, and technical architecture present significant hurdles to integration.
Despite these challenges, Höning expressed optimism about the potential of the collaboration. The Reflex engine, long shelved, could finally find a second life through its integration with FlexMeasures, driving innovation in energy flexibility planning forward.
