CIRCE heads a €12.35 million European initiative to reinforce electricity network stability across Europe and reduce the risk of blackouts similar to the 2025 event

Ensuring that the energy transition does not compromise the security of electricity supply is one of the greatest challenges facing Europe. To address this challenge, GRID-Forming Technologies for Interoperable European Grids (GRIDFFIN) has been launched, a European project coordinated by the CIRCE Technology Centre that will develop technologies aimed at improving the stability and resilience of the power grids of the future.

The initiative has a total budget of €12.3 million, including nearly €10 million in European funding, and brings together 29 partners from 11 countries. Among them is Hitachi Energy Power Conversion Solutions, participating as the Spanish industrial partner.

GRIDFFIN will tackle one of the most pressing technical challenges facing modern power systems: the loss of inertia and grid strength associated with the growing integration of renewable energy sources. This issue has gained particular attention following the blackout experienced across the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025 and represents a common challenge for European countries advancing towards a decarbonised energy model.

The solutions developed within the project will be based on grid-forming technologies, capable of providing stability to the grid while enabling the large-scale integration of renewable energy, energy storage systems and new electrical loads. In doing so, they will enhance security of supply in an increasingly electrified economy.

From laboratories to real-world power grids

One of GRIDFFIN’s main strengths will be its validation under real operating conditions. The technologies developed will be tested through four demonstrators located in Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Türkiye, representing different grid scenarios and technical challenges.

Particular significance will be given to the Ukrainian demonstrator, where the solutions will be evaluated within a power system operating under exceptional conditions. This pilot will make it possible to assess the performance of the developed technologies in an environment where grid resilience is a critical factor, making GRIDFFIN a unique initiative within the European energy innovation landscape.

“The energy transition requires power grids to evolve at the same pace as renewable technologies. GRIDFFIN will enable the development and validation of solutions that strengthen the stability of the European electricity system and support the safe integration of clean energy sources,” said David Rodríguez, Director of Funding and Technology Transfer at CIRCE.

A new European milestone for CIRCE

GRIDFFIN also represents a strategic achievement for CIRCE, becoming the organisation’s 100th Horizon Europe-funded project since 2021. During this period, CIRCE has secured more than €57 million in European funding and coordinated 27 international projects, consolidating its position as one of Spain’s most active organisations in competitive EU research and innovation programmes.

Participation in these projects has helped mobilise more than €911 million in European innovation investment and has enabled dozens of organisations and companies from Aragón to join high-impact international technology consortia.

Through the coordination of GRIDFFIN, CIRCE further strengthens its leadership in strategic areas that will shape Europe’s energy future, including smart grids, power electronics, renewable energy integration and the digitalisation of critical infrastructures.