On May 19, 2026, the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) hosted its Energy & Clean Transition Working Group Meeting in Brussels. Entitled “EU Energy systems and grids: state of play and territorial perspectives,” the session brought together regional leaders, policy experts, and academic researchers to discuss the future of European energy infrastructure.
A standout highlight of the meeting was a practical case study session showcasing the REFORMERS project, presented by Ander Martinez Alonso, Senior Researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The presentation provided a clear territorial perspective on how European cities and regions can achieve full energy autonomy through the systematic deployment of Renewable Energy Valleys (REVs).
ERRIN Energy Working Group Meeting: Grids, Financing, and Electrification
The workshop opened with a comprehensive look at the European political frameworks and legislative priorities shaping future energy networks. Eero Ailio, Adviser for Energy Transition & Local Governance at the European Commission’s DG ENER, shared crucial insights into the EU policy pipeline.
Key initiatives detailed during his briefing included:
- The Action Plan for Affordable Energy.
- The Energy Grids Package.
- The upcoming EU Electrification Action Plan (expected in the second quarter of 2026), designed to accelerate green transitions across industry, transport, and heating/cooling sectors.
Ailio also addressed how energy infrastructure will be positioned within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), setting the stage for how regions can mobilize funding for comprehensive grid modernization. Following the policy update, Angela Berger from the Clean Energy Transition (CET) Partnership illustrated how integrated regional energy systems can create essential opportunities for cross-territorial coordination and systemic innovation.
Renewable Energy Valleys in Action: Insights from the Presentation
Building on this policy context, Ander Martinez Alonso presented the REFORMERS methodology as a scalable blueprint for regional energy alignment. As our readers know, the Horizon Europe-funded initiative aims to develop regional ecosystems where local renewable generation fully covers a territory’s annual energy needs across electricity, heat, and fuels.
During the session, Alonso shared key operational updates from the frontline of the project:
- The Alkmaar Flagship (Netherlands): Insights were shared from the primary innovation testbed, which connects 300 businesses and 3,000 households to a highly complex, multi-vector energy grid utilizing solar, wind, bio-waste gasification, and innovative bio-hydrogen electrolyzers.
- The 6 Replication Valleys: The presentation highlighted how transition tracks are being customized across diverse European territories, including Western Macedonia (Greece), Murau District (Austria), Tolosaldea (Spain), the Greater Poland Energy Valley (Poland), the DDS Region (Belgium), and the Delft Region (Netherlands).
- The Replication Toolbox & Digital Twin: Attendees were introduced to the project’s multi-disciplinary deployment tools. This includes advanced control algorithms and a scalable Digital Twin designed to balance multi-vector generation in real-time, alongside frameworks to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of regional energy valleys.
The presentation sparked a lively open discussion among ERRIN members, proving that the successful implementation of the REPowerEU plan relies heavily on this type of localized, co-managed innovation.
Looking Back and Moving Forward: Recent Milestones
The momentum from the Brussels meeting carried directly into the project’s next major event. On May 28, 2026, REFORMERS successfully hosted its Hybrid Knowledge Transfer Workshop, entitled “Strategies & Tools for setting up Renewable Energy Valleys.” The interactive event allowed municipal and regional planners from all over Europe to deep-dive into the practical deployment steps of the REFORMERS toolbox.
A dedicated follow-up article covering the key outcomes, takeaways, and presentation materials from that workshop will be published here on the website shortly.
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