Framework Documentation

The European Flexibility Operating System (EFOS)

EFOS is a proposed European public–private digital infrastructure designed to provide a harmonised, cross-border operational layer for predicting, coordinating, and managing flexibility across Europe's energy system. It responds directly to the objectives of the Digitalisation of the Energy System (DES), the Green Deal, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Data Act, the AI Act, and the Net Zero Industry Act.

EFOS is conceived as a unified AI-driven infrastructure that:

  • Forecasts demand, generation, congestion, and pricing in the short term.
  • Orchestrates distributed assets across buildings, industry, storage, and mobility.
  • Provides real-time interfaces for DSOs, TSOs, and flexibility markets.
  • Implements EU-wide interoperability and data harmonisation.
  • Ensures compliance with DES, EPBD, Data Act, AI Act, and NIS2.

It is not a commercial software product but a long-term digital backbone intended to support EU system objectives.

Electrical transmission towers and power lines infrastructure representing European energy system coordination

European framework for operational sovereignty

EFOS defines how sovereign digital infrastructure can be governed, coordinated, and sustained across European institutional environments.

Institutional ObjectivesPublic service continuity · Regulatory accountability · National and regional autonomyEFOS Governance LayerShared principles for oversightAuditability and accountabilityCross-border coordination guidanceArchitecture and Control FrameworksReference patterns for infrastructure designResilience and continuity modelsSecurity and compliance alignmentOperational Systems and InfrastructureNational and regional digital infrastructureOperated within sovereign jurisdictions

EFOS operates as a coordination and reference framework. It does not function as a centralised system or authority.

Sovereignty-preserving governance model

National AuthoritiesPolicy authorityRegulatory enforcementInfrastructure oversightEFOS CoordinationFrameworkShared principlesInteroperability guidanceGovernance reference modelsRegional andCross-border SystemsCoordinated operationsShared resilience mechanismsFederated data exchange

Control remains at national and institutional level. EFOS enables coordination without transferring sovereignty.

Operational continuity across disruption scenarios

NormalOperationsDisruption EventTechnical, geopolitical,or environmentalContinuityProtocolsActivatedFallback andFailoverCoordinationServiceRestoration andAudit ReviewEFOS supports continuity planning by aligning governance, architecture,and operational responsibilities before disruption occurs

EFOS supports continuity planning by aligning governance, architecture, and operational responsibilities before disruption occurs.

Framework development and institutional adoption

Research andAnalysisFrameworkDefinitionInstitutionalDialoguePilot andValidationVoluntaryAdoption andLocalisationStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4Stage 5

EFOS adoption is incremental, non-binding, and institution-led.

Frameworks and operational systems

EFOSStrategic governance and architecture frameworkInformsOperational Systems LayerComplianceInfrastructureRegulatory reportingData governancePolicy enforcementAudit andReporting SystemsAudit trailsCompliance monitoringReporting dashboardsContinuityManagement PlatformsFailover systemsBackup coordinationRecovery protocols

EFOS informs system design and governance. It does not replace operational tools or institutional authority.

Methodological foundation

EFOS is informed by Northflow Research methodologies developed in Project HGE. HGE contributes validation workflows, uncertainty-aware reasoning, and provenance practices that strengthen system robustness over time.

Read about Project HGE

Power Grid Systems Collaboration

We are actively seeking collaboration and information exchange on power grid systems, operational continuity frameworks, and cross-border energy infrastructure governance. If your institution is working on related initiatives or requires technical consultation, we welcome the opportunity to engage.

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