TALENT: cost-effective technological developments to accelerate the energy transition

The TALENT project, funded by European funds, will last three years and aims to support the transition to a more sustainable energy system by transforming energy infrastructure across the phases of generation, transmission, and distribution.

In recent years, the global shift toward a more sustainable energy system is becoming a reality. However, now more than ever, greater effort is needed to make this transition as quickly as possible. This change necessarily comes through a complete transformation of the energy sector, which must consider energy in all its forms.

Specifically, the electric sector must adapt to the anticipated penetration of renewable energy generation by increasing grid flexibility, ensuring its stability and security of supply, and improving energy access for all citizens. This transformation involves leveraging local renewable resources and converting the current energy generation model into a new, more decentralized one.

The main objective of TALENT is to increase the penetration of batteries in the grid by reducing costs in two key components: power electronics for batteries and software to manage hybrid decentralized energy systems. For power electronics, cost reduction will be achieved mainly through new designs and architectures, while for software, cost reduction will be achieved by offering it both as interoperable and as a service (iSaaS). The main developments to be achieved are:

• Power electronics based on new scalable architectures and new types of electronic devices;
• Modular battery systems adaptable for 800V, 1,500V, and 3,000V;
• Interoperable software as a service for managing hybrid decentralized energy sources capable of interacting with virtual power plants.

TALENT is a European-funded project that has received €3,974,906 from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program. The consortium is made up of the following partners: Rina Consulting SpA (IT), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives CEA (FR), CEGASA (ES), University of Oviedo (ES), cyberGRID GMBH (AT), Gamesa Electric (ES), with its third parties Siemens-Gamesa Renewable Energy (ES), European Association for Storage of Energy EASE (BE), Fundación CIRCE (ES), Deloitte (ES), and Mitsubishi Electric Europe (MEE).

The project results will be validated in relevant environments at the University of Oviedo, Gamesa Electric, and CEA.