As digital infrastructures grow exponentially, the need for efficient, sustainable, and interoperable energy solutions becomes more crucial. O-CEI, an ambitious project funded by the EU Horizon Europe program, aims to transform CEI (Cloud, Edge, and IoT) infrastructures. With rising energy consumption, increasing costs, and higher carbon emissions, O-CEI focuses on creating an open platform to enhance energy optimization, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation.
Key Innovations at the Heart of O-CEI
The project unites 58 partners across 20 countries, jointly working to bring several innovations:
- Multi-Platform Ecosystem for Data Sharing: The project will develop an open platform for data exchange across ecosystems. This will support a marketplace for digital assets such as services, datasets, and AI models.
- Blueprints for Cloud, Edge, and IoT: O-CEI will create blueprints for CEI scenarios. These include formalizations, reference implementations, and automation tools. The project will also provide a toolkit with best practices and lessons from real-world applications.
- Federated Identity Management: A standardized solution will ensure smooth integration across domains while maintaining high security.
- Distributed Machine Learning for Energy Flexibility: O-CEI will develop a system for managing machine learning across domains. This will focus on privacy and combine various approaches to improve energy use and emissions models across industries.
- Automated Blueprint Development and Deployment: The project will create tools to automate CEI software development. An AI-powered system will analyze code, enhance trust, and act as a smart code reviewer and advisor.
- Standards for the CEI Ecosystem: O-CEI will support key standardization efforts for data sharing, cross-domain interoperability, CEI orchestration, and smart energy standards.
These innovations demonstrate O-CEI’s role in the transition to a digital future that is both energy-efficient and environmentally responsible. O-CEI aims to achieve tangible, real-world impact through its eight large-scale pilot projects. These pilots, built on 28 use-case scenarios across six verticals, span smart grids, electric vehicles, sustainable agriculture, and 5G networks. The pilots will demonstrate the transformative potential of O-CEI’s innovations. Additionally, more data and insights will be gathered through other use cases financed by two Open Calls. These calls will start in January 2026 and allocate up to 4 million euros.
Digital for Planet's role in driving impact
D4P plays a key role in communicating O-CEI’s outcomes. D4P coordinates the work on the communication and dissemination efforts of the initiative. Our mission is to highlight O-CEI’s progress while promoting energy flexibility and sustainability. D4P is responsible for:
- Managing the Communication and Dissemination Strategy to ensure the consortium’s efforts reach stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and the public.
- Using various outreach channels like media coverage, the O-CEI website, social media, and newsletters to share updates and progress.
- Organizing and participating in events, training sessions, webinars, and panel discussions to promote O-CEI’s objectives.
O-CEI’s focus on openness, interoperability, and sustainability paves the way for energy flexibility and a more efficient digital future. This project is an essential step towards Europe’s clean energy transition and the creation of a resilient digital infrastructure.
