Universal Smart Energy Framework wins Smart Grid Network & Communication Award at the European Smart Energy Awards

European Smart Energy Awards 2016 recognises excellence, innovation and creativity in the Smart Energy Industry and acknowledges those who are playing a defining role in moving the industry forward

The Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF), a framework for the market design for smart energy products and services, that enables the trade of flexible energy use, has today been awarded the Smart Grid Network & Communication Award at this year’s European Energy Awards, part of the Annual Smart Energy UK & Europe event held at the Lancaster Hotel, London.

USEF Foundation, established by seven Dutch and Belgium energy market players sees this award win just two months after officially launching its new flexibility market framework, helping all participants in the energy system to benefit from flexible production, storage and use of energy. The USEF framework delivers one common standard on which to build all smart energy products and services and enables the trading of flexible energy use with the aim of becoming the de facto standard for smart energy systems, and accelerate the many initiatives and connect the various market players. Smart energy product or service developers can apply USEF to gain early market share, developing unique products and services that will be connectable and cost-effective. USEF believes that working across roles and boundaries is the fastest route to a fair and sustainable market, helping to shape the future integrated smart energy system.

The 7th European Smart Energy Awards 2016 aim to recognise excellence, innovation and creativity in the Smart Energy Industry throughout Europe and acknowledge those who are playing a defining role in moving the industry forwards. Frits Verheij, Executive Board Member of the USEF Foundation, (and Director Smart Green Cities, DNV GL) commented: “This award win not only recognises the need for the USEF initiative, but also the value it presents to the market as a whole. Because of USEF, all players in the energy system can benefit from consumer flexibility. For example, smart energy projects adopting USEF will have increased relevance and impact. By building on one common standard the transition to a renewables based energy system will accelerate, keeping our electricity supply reliable and improving the development of replicable solutions.”

At present, only major industrial users and power plants are involved in preventing congestion in the distribution system and in correcting the imbalance between demand and supply. With the increasing demand for energy and increased supplies from sustainable sources (which is less predictable), more flexibility is required to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost. Thanks to USEF, beside the traditional energy market of demand and supply, a market for the better distribution of demand and supply can arise, that includes consumers as well.

In the run up to the event, USEF was also shortlisted for Smart Energy Awards in two further categories; Roll Out Innovation of the Year and New Innovation of the Year.

The standard, the specifications and the Privacy & Security Guideline of USEF are free to download from the website www.usef.energy

About USEF
The Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF) provides the international common standard for a unified smart energy market, connecting projects and technologies at the lowest cost. With a value-to-all approach, USEF enables the commoditisation and trading of flexible energy use. The framework defines the market structure, stakeholder roles, how they interact and how they benefit by doing so.
To accelerate the transition to a commercially viable smart energy system, USEF Foundation develops, maintains and audits the framework. Founded by seven key players active across the smart energy chain (ABB, Alliander, DNV GL, Essent, IBM, ICT and Stedin), USEF partners work together to effectively address the challenges of one integrated system which benefits new and traditional energy companies as well as consumers.