News

Interreg Selects FAIR’nRG for International Research on the Future of Digital Trust in the Energy Sector

16. July 2026

Congratulations are in order! The Steering Committee of the Interreg Upper Rhine (Interreg), selected our project, the Federated Learning Alliance für intelligente, erneuerbare und resiliente Energien (FAIR’nRG) for funding. The project will bring together international partners to advance research on the future of digital trust in the energy sector. FAIR’nRG has a total budget of €1,535,840.50, with a funding period running from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029.

FAIR’nRG A digital platform to better produce, store and secure your solar energy

What is FAIR’nRG?

FAIR’nRG will develop and test a cross-border digital platform designed to support prosumers. Accessible via smartphone and the web, it will allow users to estimate their solar production, optimize battery usage, monitor equipment safety, and access regulations from all three countries, all in one place. Around thirty users in France, Germany, and Switzerland will participate in the tests. The anonymized data collected will provide local authorities and network operators with concrete information to plan the energy transition across the Upper Rhine region.

Source: Interreg Oberrhein

Expected Project Results

The FAIR’NRG project is developing a bilingual, cross-platform application (smartphone, web, IoT) that connects prosumers, companies and administrations. The solution includes three complementary modules with different focuses.

Prof. Dr. Bettina Schneider will lead Module 3: Compliance – Data Protection and Regulatory Requirements and contribute to the other two models detailed below:

Module 1: Energy Efficiency – Smart Energy Systems

This module helps prosumers optimize their energy production and use.

Features: AI-based simulator for PV production and battery usage, forecasts for self-consumption and grid consumption, recommendations for the dimensioning of PV systems and storage systems, optimisation of self-consumption and load management

The aim is to improve energy efficiency and profitability of decentralized energy systems while reducing grid loads.

Module 2: IT Security – Resilient Energy Systems:

This module addresses the growing cyber risks of networked energy systems.

Functions: Diagnostic tool for identifying security risks, assessing the IT security situation of smart home and energy devices, recommendations for securing PV systems, storage systems and IoT systems, raising awareness of cyber risks in the energy environment

The aim is to strengthen the cyber resilience of decentralised energy infrastructures and supports citizens in operating secure energy technologies.

Module 3: Compliance – Data Protection and Regulatory Requirements

This module supports prosumers and energy stakeholders in the responsible handling of energy data and regulatory requirements.

Features: Interactive guide to data protection, cross-border information on relevant regulations in France, Germany and Switzerland, raising awareness of data protection law, risks of energy data, and practical recommendations for compliance in the prosumer context

The aim is to increase awareness among citizens and promote transparency, trust and legally compliant use of energy data.