03 April 2026
On 23–24 March, the General Assembly of BRIDGE 2026 took place in Brussels, bringing together key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss digitalisation, innovation, and competitiveness in the energy sector.
Within this framework, Sofia Silva, participated in the event representing ECHO, alongside Beñat Uribesalgo, representing BEST-Storage. They were joined by representatives of the other two projects within the TES (Thermal Energy Storage) Cluster: Emilia Pisani from RISE, representing Thumbs Up, and David Verez from WATTEGA, representing HYSTORE.
The discussions focused on key priorities for the sector such as the digitalisation and automation of energy systems, interoperability and sector integration, flexibility and storage solutions, and risk management. Digitalisation was one of the main discussion topics, being recognised as a fundamental enabler of the energy transition, essential to ensure efficient, secure, and resilient system operation. Special attention was given to data governance, cybersecurity, and the role of AI, highlighting the need to develop robust digital infrastructures capable of supporting increasingly complex and interconnected energy systems.
Working Group sessions were organised in dedicated parallel tracks, with one session for each group: Consumer and Citizen Engagement, Business Models, Regulation, and Data Management. During these sessions, participants presented the work carried out over the past year and discussed how to continue advancing their activities in the next phase. Particular focus was placed on strengthening collaboration, refining methodologies, and aligning priorities with evolving policy and market needs. Beñat Uribesalgo and Sofia Silva participated in the Consumer and Citizen Engagement and Regulation sessions, contributing to the exchange of experiences and future perspectives.
Overall, the Assembly reinforced the importance of collaboration across projects, sectors, and stakeholders to address the challenges of the energy transition. It highlighted the key role of BRIDGE in fostering knowledge exchange and supporting the transition from research and innovation to the large-scale deployment of clean, secure, and affordable energy solutions across Europe.
