Smart energy management

Policy brief

25 January 2024

By Platform

Smart energy management involves the efficient monitoring, controlling, and optimisation of energy systems and infrastructures through information and communication technologies and data-driven strategies. By integrating sensors, analytics, and automation, smart energy management systems collect and analyse real-time data to:

Make informed decisions
Optimise energy consumption
Reduce waste
Lower costs

As well as working on an individual building or district level, smart energy technologies are core to the creation of the smart grid.

Together, these systems can support the energy transition by facilitating better load balancing and empowering users to make informed choices while ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy supply and use.

The role of policymakers...

Policymakers across Europe have a role to play in the uptake of smart energy technologies, with regulatory frameworks, incentives and standards that encourage the adoption of efficient technologies. Support for research and innovation, as well as demonstration and pilot projects, is essential to bring technologies closer to market.

Policymakers can also support the uptake of technologies by sharing good practices and providing advisory services targeted at end users, especially private households, and small and medium-sized enterprises. As well as providing training and support for the construction and energy industries to learn about installation and maintenance.

In this policy brief, we explore approaches to smart energy, the European framework and support structures as well as policy recommendations and good practices from Interreg Europe projects.