The workshop “Empowering *the Future: Digitalizing Energy Services with H2020 AURORAL” brought together leaders and researchers from the European energy sector in Barcelona, becoming a key meeting point to share the latest developments of the European AURORAL project. Organized by Aiguasol and the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia, leading partners of the pilot in the Penedès, the event showcased transformative innovations in digital energy and mobility services. The space consolidated collaborations between the projects presented and strengthened synergies between them.

About H2020 AURORAL

The H2020 AURORAL project, funded by the European Union, aims to drive digital innovations that improve the sustainability of energy services through specific solutions for different European regions. Through collaborative projects and digital tools, AURORAL is setting a precedent for the future of sustainable energy services in the digital age.

About the workshop

The workshop brought together three European pilot projects within the H2020 AURORAL framework to share experiences, challenges and innovative business models aimed at transforming energy services through digitalization. 

  1. Västerbotten Pilot (Sweden) – Has developed an open digital ecosystem for the energy rehabilitation of buildings and accessible through virtual reality eyewear, with the aim of bringing energy efficiency improvements closer to the user. 
  2. Lapland Pilot (Finland) – With the aim of achieving advances in logistics and smart mobility, the Finnish pilot has developed a mobile application focused on optimizing the school bus transportation system for students with special needs and reducing its environmental impact. 
  3. Penedès Pilot (Spain) – The pilot aims to promote energy recovery from vine pruning and the creation of new businesses associated with the entire biomass value chain through digitization. Three solutions have been developed: Bioenergytraces tool, a marketplace where users can analyze, register and document the origin, traceability and environmental impact of biomass with certificates detailing the level of sustainability; BioenerGis, a digital tool to guide agents in the adoption of renewable technologies based on biomass and ensure the reduction of costs and CO₂ emissions in the commercial market; and Bioenergy pre-project tool, a tool aimed at professionals and public entities, to facilitate the analysis of the replacement of medium and high power boilers with biomass-based technologies. 

These projects illustrated how digital ecosystems can support sustainable, region-specific energy solutions, from bioenergy and biomass supply chains to smart logistics and energy retrofits.

The event not only facilitated knowledge sharing but also created valuable opportunities for synergy and collaboration among the pilots. Discussions focused on practical solutions to regional challenges and how digital tools can improve energy efficiency, sustainability and traceability.

 

Looking Ahead to Collaborative Potential

Organizers from Aiguasol and the Catalan Bioenergy Cluster expressed their gratitude to the attend, emphasizing the importance of collaborative innovation in the energy sector. With the commitment of these pilot teams, H2020 AURORAL continues to build momentum towards a future where digital innovation and sustainable energy solutions are accessible, practical, and impactful across Europe.

For more information about the project visit: https://www.auroral.eu/#/