The CERVINO project, named after the mighty mountain in the Alps, aims to develop an energy data platform for the Alpine region. Why is such a platform important and how is it being developed?

The Alpine Space benefits from important energy flows between regions. These energy flows can lead to cross-border energy projects, which in turn can significantly contribute to achieving the EU goal of being CO2 neutral by 2050. A necessary basis for joint energy projects is reliable cross-regional energy data. They make it possible to define framework conditions and projects, to implement them and to check their success.

There are various challenges in obtaining a reliable, transnational data basis: Energy data, which have a different spatial and temporal scale, must be collected and analysed. The data must also be reliable and updated regularly and cost-effectively. The results need to be presented in a way that is easily understood by all stakeholders in the region. And stakeholders need to know about the data platform and its usefulness.

The CERVINO project addresses all these challenges. Based on previous energy surveys, it is developing a new platform: the CERVINO Alpine Energy Data Platform. It enables the exchange of energy data between regions and supports decision-making processes.

To do so, CERVINO will leverage an already existing activity developed within EUSALP's AG9, the "EUSALP Energy Survey", implemented in 2017 and updated in 2019. Taking that past experience as a starting point, it will reshape, upgrade and improve the existing Energy Survey structure based on the lessons learned. The project develops a simple, user-friendly energy data tool allowing for automated management of the Survey. It conducts the reshaped Survey using the new tool and validate the developed solutions. A roadmap for the durability of the new energy data management tool shall ensure the regular update of the Survey and ultimately leading to the establishment of an Alpine Energy Observatory. And CERVINO makes the Energy Data Platform known among the stakeholders to maximise its use and usefulness.

To ensure the quality and usefulness of the new platform, CERVINO is involving stakeholders from the Alpine region in its development. Among them will be regional authorities as well as members from EUSALP’s Action Group 9, an Action Group focused on Energy in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP). In March 2024, a platform will be available for the first time that will allow the exchange of energy data for the Alpine Space in an automated, cost-efficient and regularly updated way: the CERVINO Alpine Energy Data Platform.

Organisations implementing the CERVINO project are energy agencies and a research institute that are experts in energy planning and energy data in the Alpine region:

From Italy

• Region Liguria: IRE spa, the Regional Agency for Infrastructure development, building Renovation and Energy of Liguria as lead partner.
• Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen: Eurac research

From France
Region Rhône-Alpes: Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Energy Environment Agency

From Slovenia
Region Vzhodna Slovenija: Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška Region

From Germany
Region Oberbayern: Civic Foundation Energiewende Oberland (EWO)

Learn more about the CERVINO project team here.