Trustworthy and Responsible AI for Energy Communities

Austria’s transition to climate neutrality by 2040 requires innovative approaches to managing flexible energy systems, including photovoltaics (PV), battery storage systems, electric vehicles (EVs), and heat pumps. A key component of this transition is the integration of decentralized energy producers and consumers into energy communities (ECs). Achieving optimal energy use and grid stability in ECs, however, demands advanced operational strategies that are inseparably linked to user behavior patterns and entail significant challenges regarding privacy, security, and trust. The TRUST-EC feasibility study examines the transformative potential of responsible and ethical artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize energy management and enhance EC functionality. Adopting an exploratory approach, the study addresses critical uncertainties and risks—technical, regulatory, and sustainability-related—that currently impede the deployment of AI-driven solutions in ECs. By systematically investigating these barriers, the project aims to lay the groundwork for a future research and development (R&D) initiative that goes beyond the current state of the art.