Data as an Twin-Transition Enabler – PART 2

Enabling the Implementation the EU Action Plan for Digitalisation of Energy

Common European Data Spaces

In the European strategy for data (Data Strategy) that is part of the Fit for the Digital Decade package, the Commission introduces the notion of data spaces, based on the free flow of data, and aiming to enable data-driven innovation, and for once also to enable and facilitate the twin transition. Data spaces are aimed to foster ecosystems of organisations, society and persons, to creating new products, systems and services based on more accessible data with higher levels of interoperability and quality.

While data is essential for all sectors of people, planet, economy and society, each domain generally has its own specificities. Therefore regarding data spaces, the Data Strategy and related policy instruments initially will aim to support the establishment of common European data spaces in nine (9) strategic sectors and domains, in alphabetical order being:

1. Agriculture data space;
2. Energy data space;
3. Financial data space;
4. Green Deal data space;
5. Health data space;
6. Industrial (manufacturing) data space;
7. Mobility data space;
8. Public administration data space, and;
9. Skills data space.

Energy Data Spaces

The term energy is mentioned 16 times in the Data Strategy. As mentioned above, the SYNERGIES Project is focused on the Energy data space, as visualised below.

It can be argued that each of the nine (9) data spaces mentioned above are linked to and quite essential for the various needs to achieve the envisioned energy transition. This, as everything – and everybody, in some kind of way – is connected, is influencing the other or otherwise interdependent.

In any case, regarding energy data space, the availability and cross-sector sharing of data, in a secure and trustworthy manner can facilitate innovative solutions and support the decarbonisation of the energy system. For this, several policy initiatives are either already under way or on the roadmap. For instance, and as non-exhaustive list, these:

• establish customer access to and portability of their meter and energy consumption data on a transparent, non-discriminatory basis, in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as for instance the revised Open Data Directive (proposed) Data Act, and the High Value Dataset Implementation Act,
• are aimed to improving interoperability in cyber-physical systems, edge and other connected devices,
• introduce data-sharing obligations for electricity network operators, and;

• arrange for a higher level of risk-based approach;                                                                             

• regarding cybersecurity by means of for instance the NIS2 Directive, Cybersecurity Act (CSA) and Resilience of Critical Entities Directive (CER), and;

• (ii) hardware/devices with digital elements and ancillary services including without limitation software with the (proposed) Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

SYNERGIES Energy Data Space

All in all, this is a very dynamic and very necessary domain with numerous dimensions and perspectives to take into account. The SYNERGIES Project will for sure aim to contribute to these, shaping consumer-inclusive data pathways towards the energy and digital transitions with and through a reference ‘SYNERGIES Energy Data Space’ implementation, and using data as a twin-transition enabler, while also adding to bottom up policy development, and operationalising and otherwise loading of the existing and upcoming applicable regulatory frameworks where it can.

Arthur’s Legal is consortium partner of the SYNERGIES project.