MagIC is proud to be a key partner in ECHO – Energy Communities Excellence Hubs, a Horizon Europe project aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy in Türkiye, Greece, and Portugal. With a total budget of €4.9 million, ECHO brings together 24 institutions from six countries to establish a robust network of Energy Communities and innovative energy services.

ECHO is structured around the need to develop sustainable, community-driven energy solutions that address local and regional energy challenges. The project focuses on:

• Reducing energy dependency by fostering local renewable energy production.
• Developing innovative energy services that integrate renewable energy sources (RES), energy storage, and demand response solutions.
• Enhancing market readiness by creating commercialization pathways for new energy technologies.
• Empowering local communities through citizen-driven Energy Communities that increase public engagement in clean energy transitions.
• Supporting regulatory adaptation to facilitate the growth of community-driven clean energy solutions in diverse national contexts.

ECHO will accomplish these goals by creating Excellence Hubs that function as collaborative spaces for research institutions, businesses, policymakers, and local stakeholders, ensuring that technological innovations translate into real-world impact.

The project is led by Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi (YTU) in Türkiye and includes top-tier universities, research centers, industry partners, public bodies, and NGOs specializing in energy innovation. The consortium follows a quadruple helix approach, integrating academia, industry, government, and civil society to create impactful, scalable solutions.

As a leader in Work Package 4 (WP4) – Market Analysis and Commercialization Strategies, NOVA IMS will ensure that the technological and social innovations developed within ECHO translate into viable business models. The team, led by Professor Tiago Oliveira with contributions from researchers Catarina Neves and Ricardo Martins, is responsible for:

• Conducting a comprehensive market analysis of the Portuguese energy landscape to identify key opportunities and barriers.
• Developing business models and commercialization pathways that allow for the scaling of Energy Communities.
• Leading incubation initiatives to nurture new energy ventures and support their integration into the broader market.
• Training and capacity building, providing stakeholders with data-driven insights to enhance their decision-making processes.

Portugal plays a crucial role in ECHO, with several institutions contributing to the project’s success:

• NOVA IMS: Leading the commercialization and market analysis efforts to ensure the project’s solutions are viable for large-scale implementation.
• INESC TEC: Providing expertise in energy systems, data science, and intelligent technologies to enhance the technical backbone of Energy Communities.
• GALP: Offering industry insights and leading the Investment Models and Toolkit Design to attract funding for emerging energy ventures.
• ADENE – Portuguese Energy Agency: Acting as a strategic advisor on the Portuguese energy landscape, ensuring regulatory alignment and policy integration.
• DECO: Representing consumer interests and ensuring that the project’s energy solutions are accessible and beneficial to end users.
• Municipality of Oeiras: Supporting the development of a pilot project that integrates renewable energy solutions into municipal infrastructure.

The project officially launched with a kick-off meeting in Istanbul, hosted by Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, bringing together all partners to define the strategic direction of ECHO. Representing NOVA IMS, Professor Tiago Oliveira, alongside researchers Catarina Neves and Ricardo Martins, participated in discussions on market analysis, commercialization strategies, and the integration of Energy Communities into national and regional frameworks. The meeting set the foundation for the collaboration and provided a roadmap for the first phase of implementation.

ECHO will establish multiple pilot projects across its three focus countries, demonstrating scalable energy solutions tailored to diverse socioeconomic and regulatory contexts. In Portugal, planned pilots include:

• NOVA Campus Initiative in partnership with the Municipality of Oeiras, integrating renewable energy into an academic and commercial setting.
• Energy Optimization Projects in Lisbon, Vila Real, and Arganil, facilitating collective self-consumption and sustainable energy transitions for residential and commercial sectors.
• Historic Villages Energy Community Initiative, aiming to introduce innovative renewable energy models in heritage sites across Portugal.

These initiatives will serve as blueprints for replication across Europe, ensuring that the knowledge generated by ECHO extends far beyond its initial scope.

MagIC’s participation in ECHO underscores its commitment to leveraging data science for impactful, real-world energy solutions. By leading market-driven innovation strategies, we will help shaping the future of sustainable energy in Portugal and beyond. Through collaboration with academic institutions, industry leaders, and local communities, ECHO is paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

Stay tuned for updates as we work towards making sustainable energy solutions a reality!