Heritage Meets Innovation in the Energy Transition

Enlit Europe 2025 was a milestone event for the energy sector, and SMARTeeSTORY was proud to be part of it. As one of six EU-funded projects in the Smart Energy Cluster, SMARTeeSTORY joined forces with ReSCHOOL, ENPOWER, CRETE VALLEY, META BUILD, and DEDALUS to showcase how collaboration can accelerate Europe’s energy transition.

SMARTeeSTORY’s Role: Preserving Heritage While Driving the Energy Transition

SMARTeeSTORY focuses on retrofitting historic non-residential buildings with interoperable smart technologies, advanced control systems, and energy optimization solutions-while respecting heritage constraints. This approach ensures that Europe’s architectural legacy remains intact while contributing to climate goals.

At Enlit Europe, SMARTeeSTORy’s coordinator Matteo Porta presented in the Smart Energy Cluster session, highlighting our historic buildings as part of the energy transition. The discussion sparked strong interest among stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of integrating heritage into sustainable energy strategies.

A Shared Vision for Sustainable Energy

The Smart Energy Cluster brings together projects working across different parts of the energy value chain. Together, they demonstrate how Europe can combine building-level innovation, community-driven energy models, and smart grid integration to deliver scalable and citizen-centric decarbonisation strategies.

• ReSCHOOL empowers energy communities with tools to manage and trade flexibility, enabling citizens and local stakeholders to actively participate in energy markets.
• ENPOWER transforms passive consumers into active “energy citizens” through ICT, AI, blockchain, and behavioral insights.
• CRETE VALLEY creates a Renewable Energy Valley in Crete, integrating multiple renewable sources and community-driven business models in a real-world Living Lab.
• META BUILD delivers electrification technologies and digital tools for residential and commercial buildings, promoting integrated solutions like heat pumps, PV systems, and energy storage.
• DEDALUS develops a demand response ecosystem using digital twins, AI, and social science insights to optimize residential energy consumption.

Why Collaboration Matters

By presenting as a unified cluster, these projects demonstrated how cross-sector partnerships can overcome regulatory, financial, technical, and behavioral barriers. The dedicated workshop sessions explored strategies for smart building renovation, energy efficiency, flexibility management, and citizen engagement, key pillars for a sustainable future.

Looking Ahead

Enlit Europe reminded us that the energy transition isn’t just about technology - it’s about people, partnerships, and bold ideas coming together. SMARTeeSTORY will continue working with its cluster partners to make energy systems more inclusive, efficient, and impactful across Europe.