On July 24, a tender was opened for the development and testing of open-source software to enable communication between energy-intensive devices (such as heat pumps and charging stations) in and around the home and Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). Parties interested in participating in this innovative development project can submit their applications until September 19, 2025, at 17:00.
This project is an initiative by ElaadNL and the Flexiblepower Alliance Network (FAN), under the National Action Plan for Grid Congestion (LAN). Earlier this spring, an initial assessment was carried out to define the intended objectives. Parties are now invited to develop open-source, standardized software connectors that facilitate clear communication between HEMS and flexible consumers such as heat pumps and charging stations for electric vehicle charging.
The Netherlands is in the midst of the energy transition, experiencing rapid growth in the number of electric vehicles, heat pumps, home batteries, and solar panels in households. The combination of these energy-intensive devices offers significant opportunities for flexible household electricity consumption by responding to moments of local sustainable generation or scarcity. This enables optimal use of locally generated electricity and reduces the load on the power grid—an essential step in times of grid congestion.
To fully harness the potential of household flexibility, Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are essential. A HEMS is a physical or virtual device that connects all flexible devices within a household. It coordinates and optimizes their operation, making it possible to automatically respond to external signals such as low energy tariffs or available grid capacity. A HEMS can also create intelligent schedules to ensure that household energy needs are met in the most efficient way.
A major barrier to the current development of both the devices mentioned and HEMS is the lack of a standardized way for these devices to communicate with a HEMS. Similarly, there is no standardized method for connecting these energy management systems to the outside world. As a result, household energy consumption cannot be optimized yet, preventing households from fully benefiting from dynamic price signals. This situation may also lead to consumers being forced to purchase specific brands to ensure compatibility with their HEMS. Much like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, we want all devices from all brands to communicate seamlessly with each other. Without a standardized communication method, it is also difficult for market players and grid operators to understand the available flexibility within a neighborhood.
Parties interested in participating can find more information on the English section of this website. Registration is open until September 19, 2025, at 17:00.
Based on insights gathered during the preparatory phase, it is expected that this project offers an attractive opportunity for developers. By participating, they can take a leading role in a highly anticipated market development without taking on major risks. Through their contributions, companies will help build a shared foundation for household energy flexibility. Developers involved in the project will be able to bring products to market faster that comply with the emerging standards.
Once the project is completed, households will be better equipped to take advantage of dynamic energy tariffs and align their consumption with the capabilities of their own connection and the broader power grid—now and in the future. This will not only benefit HEMS owners but also ensure optimal use of the electricity grid, ultimately reducing costs for all consumers in the Netherlands.