energy cybersecurity

After three years of intensive research, collaboration, and testing, the R²D² project has reached its conclusion. Since its launch in 2022, the project has developed and validated a unique set of solutions designed to strengthen the resilience, reliability, and cybersecurity of Europe’s energy systems.

These solutions were not just created in the lab, they were tested and demonstrated in real-world conditions across four pilot sites in Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, and Portugal, covering diverse use cases and challenges.

Over 36 months, the project has delivered innovative solutions to strengthen the resilience and protection of critical infrastructures, collaborative research shaping the future of the European energy sector, and a lasting community of partners committed to carrying the results beyond the project.

The R²D² journey would not have been possible without the dedication and tireless work of our partners. Their expertise and collaboration have ensured that the project leaves behind a solid foundation for a more resilient and secure European energy system.

As final result, R²D² brings to the market four innovative products (IRIS, PRECOG, C3PO and EMMA) that address different layers of the energy value chain, offering tools to better protect critical infrastructures, enhance operational reliability, and support the transition toward a secure energy future.

C3PO – a multi-risk assessment framework integrating cybersecurity and physical resilience, composed of 15 tools. Among the most relevant are the Cyber Risk Assessment tool, the Cascading Event Simulator, and the Resilience-Driven Networked Microgrids for post-disruption restoration.

IRIS Resilience Suite – supporting TSOs, DSOs and Regional Coordination Centres in crisis management and grid coordination, with 11 modules. Key features include Emergency & Restoration functions, Phasor Angles Monitoring, and Remedial Action Automation for faster and better-informed decisions.

PRECOG – a cybersecurity framework for preventing and mitigating attacks on  Electrical Power and Energy Systems (EPES), built around 7 advanced tools. Highlights include CARMEN (AI-based traffic and anomaly detection), the Tokenization tool for secure data, and the Sandbox environment for controlled monitoring of new EPES components.

EMMA – an advanced maintenance and management toolkit with 11 modules that help anticipate failures, optimize asset management, and improve outage planning. Key modules include ARGOS for autonomous power line inspection, DYML for predictive transformer maintenance, and RACS for identifying remedial actions.

Each product has been validated under realistic conditions at the project pilots, demonstrating their capacity to face extreme events, cyber threats, and operational challenges. Together, they form a comprehensive toolbox that strengthens Europe’s capacity to secure and protect its energy systems in line with the EU’s digitalisation and resilience goals.

Demo videos are available showcasing how these tools and modules work and how they can be applied in real-world energy systems. Watch them here.

Looking Ahead

While the Horizon Europe funding that supported R²D² has officially ended, the project’s results will continue to make an impact. Several partners are already working on bringing the developed innovations closer to market, ensuring they unlock their full potential within the electricity sector.

To follow the next steps of R²D² and explore its results in more detail, visit our social networks and repository channels: LinkedIn, YouTube, and Zenodo.