To foster the emergence of Energy Communities in a balanced way, INTERACT integrates for the first time effectively all innovative technologies, which are available in a model region, into a holistic architecture. The architecture unifies all interactions within the power system itself, between the network-, generation- and storage operators, consumers and prosumers, and the market, thus creating the possibility to harmonize them without compromising data privacy and cyber-security. It facilitates all processes which are necessary for a reliable, economic and environmentally friendly operation of smart power systems in order to establish a beneficial situation for everyone. For this purpose, INTERACT builds up and integrates both success factors of European Positive Energy Districts best practices as well as specific local needs and requirements of the municipalities, on which we focus.

The overall project goal is to enable our focus regions to introduce the worldwide first Local Energy Communities and Sector Coupling based in a holistic approach, which is respecting and optimally combining the interests of all stakeholders. This creates maximum use of the possibilities available in urban areas for effective energy use and the maximum reduction in CO2 production.

Furthermore, INTERACT will foster experience exchange, and collect successful approaches towards establishing PED´s; evaluate and integrate the stakeholder needs of the planned specific PED’s; define market-to-market and technological interfaces of the energy community according to the LINK-architecture; and create a road-map how to establish the specific Positive Energy Districts within the focus of INTERACT. This realization is planned through a follow-up demonstration project.