i2Storage – Innovative, Smart Energy Storage

The regulatory framework—including the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG)—is placing greater emphasis on energy storage systems that are grid-supportive , can respond flexibly to price and grid signals, and can provide the necessary data. This includes quarter-hourly data, rapid discharges, peak shaving, and increased flexibility.

Currently available energy storage systems, particularly lithium-ion home storage units and conventional thermal storage systems, do not adequately address the growing need for flexibility, grid support, and potential sector coupling. Many systems are single-phase, very complex to install (not plug-and-play capable), technically monofunctional (electricity only), and lack intelligent, market-signal-driven control mechanisms. Even existing seasonal storage solutions such as earth basin thermal storage (PTES), geothermal probe storage (BTES), H₂-based technologies, and Carnot batteries, while having reached demonstration maturity (TRL ≥ 7), are not available in a customer-friendly, installable, or combinable form.

Consequently, storage systems currently available on the market generally do not offer the required capabilities, or only do so in a proprietary and insufficiently standardized manner; this is why this IÖB Challenge seeks suitable solutions.

We are seeking innovative storage solutions with a technology readiness level (TRL) of 7 or higher that can be installed by the customer or a specialized service provider following the instructions provided (“plug-and-play”), are intelligently controllable, and are grid-supportive. Desired solutions should meet the following criteria:

Technology and Usability

• A true plug-and-play solution for end customers (residential, commercial, neighborhoods) that can be integrated into existing and new buildings without complex installation processes. This should also apply to customers without their own PV generation (i.e., AC coupling desired)
• Three-phase active power > 5 kW and the ability to scale the solution modularly on-site
• Optional: Sector coupling of electricity ↔ heat, e.g., (battery + thermal storage, heat pump, power conversion), so that electrical and thermal energy can be flexibly stored, converted, and utilized
• Option for seasonal storage (thermal or chemical) as a technical expansion stage for neighborhoods and regions

Smart Control

• Smart decentralized control for optimization, forecasting, and dispatching (e.g., using AI)
• AI-based control systems that process market signals, grid tariffs, peak loads, and CO₂ price signals, thereby enabling cost-effective and ElWG-compliant grid and system-supporting operation
• Open, interoperable digital interfaces for EMS/SCADA/VPP-API for easy integration & control

Sustainability and Scalability

• Verifiable environmental, economic, and social sustainability in accordance with the SDGs/3-pillar model throughout the product lifecycle
• Durable components, recyclability, low resource intensity
• Scalability through the coupling of multiple modules

Energie Steiermark is seeking a portfolio-capable set of energy storage modules (electricity and/or heat) that can be easily installed at customer sites. The goal is to find a solution that builds on existing solutions by integrating standardized interfaces (e.g., EMS/SCADA/VPP API), edge AI (for forecasting/dispatch), and security and data protection by design; monitoring via portal/API (quarter-hourly values, latency ≤ 12 h in accordance with ElWG data access) builds upon existing solutions.

Companies, startups, and research institutions are invited to submit their prototypes or proposed solutions with a TRL of 7 or higher. Please provide a brief description of the solution, the added value it offers, and supporting material to assist the jury in evaluating your submission.

Companies must submit their submissions by May 17, 2026, via the online form:

Description:
The focus of the description should align with the evaluation criteria. Provide convincing, clear use cases and references. Include information in your description about your company, the technology used, the operating principle, the storage formats addressed (electricity, heat, seasonal), and the maturity of your product. In addition, provide information on installation (plug-and-play capability, three-phase integration > 5 kW, AC-DC coupling), control, interface capabilities, integration into existing buildings and systems, as well as the service and maintenance concept and the sustainability of your product. Also address system-supporting operations such as Flex Logic, peak shaving, and tariff coupling.

Summary of Added Value:
Summarize your unique selling point and key benefits! What makes your solution particularly innovative? What sets it apart? Why can your technology help solve the challenges faced by Energie Steiermark?

Confidential Information (for the jury only):
If available, include a brief TCO/LCOS estimate. This information can be submitted confidentially via the platform.
In this text field, you can enter additional information that you wish to share exclusively with the project managers. Alternatively, you can send a PDF via email to the challenge moderators, who will forward the information to the jury.

A cover image is also required. This will serve as your visual representation in the overview of submissions for this challenge.
Optionally, you may also attach a file. This file should supplement the text in the form fields, but not replace or repeat it! Use the file attachment, for example, for graphics.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Consortium submissions are permitted. Keep it brief (guideline: maximum of 10–12 presentation slides or 4–5 A4 pages). With this challenge, we are in the market exploration phase. It is therefore not necessary to create drafts or feasibility studies specifically for this occasion.