How Did KInIT and ZSE’s Long-Term Partnership Begin?

KInIT recently celebrated the 3rd anniversary of its cooperation with the ZSE, one of the first companies with which KInIT started a long-term research collaboration. Our journey began with a research project focused on disaggregating electricity consumption in households. The goal was to analyze common data on electricity usage and provide households with an overview of the share of consumption by individual appliances. During regular meetings in a creative atmosphere, we discussed various aspects of the problem. This led to the proposal of methods for disaggregating the consumption of selected types of appliances. Together with expert estimates, we developed a tool for disaggregating and visualizing consumption.

Our cooperation also progressed in other areas as well. Together, we engaged in submitting European grant projects, with the vision of sustainable energy guiding us toward proposals for more efficient use of renewable energy sources and supporting grid stability.

One of the first successes of the joint effort is the Interreg project – Visegrad Group for Vehicle to Grid (V4Grid), which we obtained in collaboration with other partners from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. This innovative project focuses on connecting the energy system with the transport sector using Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. The aim is to enable electric vehicles not only to draw energy but also to return it to the grid, thus contributing to grid stability and reducing the risk of outages. The V4Grid project, which started in June 2024, aims to develop the infrastructure and business models necessary for V2X implementation in Central Europe. ZSE, as the main implementer, is responsible for managing the entire project, providing infrastructure and domain expertise. KInIT plays a key role in designing control algorithms for managing the charging and discharging of vehicles using artificial intelligence and machine learning. A successfully completed project will represent an important step toward sustainable and green energy in the region.

However, our collaboration does not end with this project. We are looking for further opportunities for joint engagement in international teams addressing complex issues related to the transition to green energy. Together with the University of Odessa in Ukraine, we have secured funding for the DanubeEnergy project under the Seed Money Facility program. The aim is to build a consortium and prepare another project focused on utilizing renewable energy sources for heating, for which we will seek grant support.

Our collaboration with ZSE demonstrates that the connection between research and practice plays an important role in addressing current challenges in the energy sector. Innovative projects like V4Grid represent a key step toward an eco-friendly energy infrastructure. Our goal is to continue seeking solutions that will benefit not only the energy sector but also society as a whole. We look forward to the further challenges that await us in collaboration with ZSE and other partners, and to the opportunities that will enable us to bring new solutions for a sustainable future.