Making energy trading accessible with AI-driven chatbots
Using AI-driven chatbots and blockchain technology, households and entrepreneurs in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion can easily manage, store and trade their energy. This lowers the threshold for active participation in the energy market and contributes to a fairer distribution of renewable energy.
AI-driven chatbots coordinate energy storage and trading
A key goal of MAS4TE is to allow households and businesses to trade surplus energy, for example from solar power, as an additional source of income. This is done through AI-driven chatbots, which communicate with users in natural language and settle transactions using blockchain-based smart contracts. This makes energy trading simple and transparent, with no technical expertise required.
Adressing energy poverty through local trade
MAS4TE focuses specifically on economically vulnerable neighborhoods, where access to affordable energy is a challenge. By sharing energy surpluses and purchasing them collectively, households in these neighborhoods can reduce their energy costs. Social trading within communities is stimulated by means of blockchain credit tokens, which allow citizens to buy and store energy at more favorable rates.
Cooperation and funding
MAS4TE is coordinated by the Open University and implemented in cooperation with Boosting Alpha (NL), Climate Cities (BE), Université de Liège (BE), Fachhochschule Aachen (DE) and Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE). The project is co-funded from the Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme and has a total budget of €2,220,119.68. From the Open University, Prof Dr Stefano Bromuri, Dr Clara Maathuis, Bea Waelbers, Dr Venkata Marella, Jean-Louis Stassen and Anna Bronzes are participating as researchers and project managers.
Cross-border cooperation in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion
The core area of Interreg Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE) comprises the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg, the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liège, the German-speaking community in Belgium, the German region of Aachen (with the districts of Aachen, Düren, Heinsberg and Euskirchen), as well as the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prum and Landkreis Vulkaneifel in Rhineland-Palatinate.
This region suffers from grid overload and limited integration of small prosumers into the energy market. MAS4TE offers a solution by creating cross-border energy communities in which households, businesses and grid operators work together. Local pilots in Heerlen, Liège and Eupen should demonstrate how energy trading can contribute to grid stability and social equity.
Innovative technology and previous INTERREG projects
MAS4TE builds on previous INTERREG projects, such as Blockchain for Prosumers (BC4P), and introduces new opportunities for energy storage and trading. Through AI-driven chatbots and smart contracts, citizens and businesses can trade and store energy based on real-time market prices.
Sustainability and the European Green Deal
The project contributes to the European Green Deal and supports the transition to sustainable energy by encouraging the use of solar and wind energy. MAS4TE shows how digital technologies can contribute to an energy economy that functions both locally and internationally.
For more information, visit the Interreg Meuse-Rhine website.
Project 'MAS4TE: Multi Agent Systems for Trading Energy on the Blockchain' is being carried out as part of the Interreg Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE) programme and co-financed with 1.110.059,84 euros by the European Union, 637.762,81 euros by Regional co-financing and 472.297,03 euros contribution by project partners.