Mapping and Evolving Interoperability Testing in European Energy Systems: The int:net Perspective

Abstract: The ongoing transformation of the European energy landscape, driven by the integration of renewable energy sources, digital technologies, and decentralized systems, requires a high degree of interoperability across diverse components and systems. Ensuring that these elements can exchange information and operate together reliably is essential for achieving a secure, flexible, and efficient energy supply infrastructure. While several initiatives have contributed to the development of smart grid testing infrastructures, they do not provide a dedicated or comprehensive focus on interoperability testing. A structured and harmonized overview of interoperability testing capabilities across Europe is therefore still missing. This work therefore presents a novel contribution by analyzing the European interoperability testing facility landscape through a structured survey of 30 facilities. It provides a categorized inventory of testing infrastructures, applied methodologies, and reference test cases, and introduces a blueprint for the development of future testing environments. The findings contribute to the establishment of a coordinated European ecosystem for interoperability testing, supporting collaboration, innovation, and alignment with the goals of the energy transition.