MONEFLEX Wins the Best Energy Innovation Award 2026

The MONEFLEX (Business Models Based on Flexibility and Demand Response in Industrial Refrigeration Systems) project has been awarded the Best Energy Innovation Award at the fifth edition of the Energy Awards organised by El Periódico de la Energía. The award recognises an innovative solution that enables the agri-food industry to optimise electricity consumption, reduce operating costs and actively contribute to the stability of the energy system. 

The award ceremony took place on 7 July during La Noche de la Energía (Energy Night), held at Fundación Canal in Madrid. The event once again brought together representatives from leading companies, public administrations and institutions across the energy sector to recognise outstanding initiatives in areas such as decarbonisation, energy efficiency, digitalisation and energy storage.

From Industrial Refrigeration to Energy Flexibility

Industrial refrigeration is one of the most energy-intensive processes within the agri-food industry. At the same time, it represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for providing flexibility to the electricity system.

MONEFLEX was created to unlock this potential. The project introduces a new approach to managing refrigeration facilities through advanced technologies that transform cold storage chambers into genuine“virtual batteries”. By storing energy in the form of cold, these facilities can shift part of their electricity consumption to periods that are more advantageous from both an economic and energy perspective, without compromising product quality or food safety. 

As a result, infrastructure originally designed to preserve food becomes an active asset capable of supporting grid stability and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. 

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins for Demand Optimisation

The solution combines two key technologies: thermal digital twins and artificial intelligence.

High-precision virtual models of refrigeration chambers are created using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. These models accurately reproduce airflow distribution and predict how stored products respond under different operating conditions. This understanding makes it possible to determine precisely when and for how long refrigeration equipment can adjust its operation without affecting the cold chain. 

Building on this foundation, machine learning algorithms continuously analyse variables such as electricity prices, photovoltaic generation availability, weather forecasts and plant operational requirements. Based on this information, the platform sends dynamic control set-points to industrial automation systems, optimising energy consumption in real time. 

From Energy Efficiency to New Business Models

One of the most innovative aspects of MONEFLEX is that its value proposition goes well beyond conventional energy savings.

In addition to reducing the operating costs of refrigeration facilities, the platform enables companies to participate in flexibility and demand response mechanisms, making their adaptive capacity available to the electricity system. This opens up new revenue streams linked to participation in energy markets and flexibility services. 

Project results indicate direct savings of around 8% in energy costs associated with industrial refrigeration, together with the potential to generate up to €30,000 per year for every 100 kW of flexibility offered to the system. The solution also demonstrates the possibility of flexing up to 40% of refrigeration-related electricity consumption without affecting industrial operations. 

Supporting Renewable Energy Integration

MONEFLEX also addresses one of the key challenges of the energy transition: integrating greater amounts of renewable energy into industrial processes.

When photovoltaic generation is available, the platform can use surplus electricity to store energy in the form of cold, temporarily increasing the thermal capacity of refrigeration chambers. This maximises renewable self-consumption while reducing the need to export surplus generation to the grid.

This capability not only improves the profitability of renewable energy installations but also strengthens industrial energy resilience and contributes to a more efficient use of energy resources. 

Recognition of Applied Innovation

MONEFLEX has been developed by CIRCE, Voltiva and Gestockal, where the pilot plant has been deployed in Alhama de Murcia, Spain. Throughout the project, the technology has progressed from intermediate levels of technological maturity to reach TRL 8, demonstrating its viability under real operating conditions. 

The Best Energy Innovation 2026 award recognises the project’s potential to address some of the most pressing challenges of the energy transition, including renewable energy integration, industrial digitalisation and intelligent demand-side management. For CIRCE, the award also reinforces its commitment to developing technologies capable of delivering a tangible impact on industrial competitiveness while contributing to a more sustainable, flexible and efficient energy system. [M