€1M STEK-funded project to strengthen resilient and smart electricity grids

Photo: STEK / Shutterstock

DARES and IINES research groups at Tampere University are leading a major new research initiative to strengthen the resilience and intelligence of future electricity systems.

A new four-year research project, ViSMART_MG (Virtualized Technology Assisted Situational Awareness and Multilayer Resilient Control for Microgrids), has been awarded €1 million in funding from STEK ry. The project is led by the DARES and IINES research groups at Tampere University and carried out in collaboration with the FREESI Laboratory at University of Vaasa, bringing together complementary expertise in automation, control, and power systems.

The consortium aims to develop innovative solutions to enhance the ability of power systems to withstand and recover from disturbances, including storms, equipment failures, and cyber threats.

“Our solutions benefit many societal actors, from distribution system operators who gain better tools to prevent outages, to energy-system operators and service providers who can offer more reliable and cost-effective electricity to customers,” says Prof. Hamed Badihi, project leader, in the Tampere University news release.

The initiative places strong emphasis on real-world validation and cross-sector collaboration, working closely with distribution system operators, industry stakeholders, and public authorities.

The results are expected to strengthen the integration of distributed and renewable energy sources while ensuring secure and reliable electricity delivery—contributing to a more sustainable, resilient, and intelligent energy infrastructure in Finland and beyond.

Read more in Tampere University news (English & Finnish):

Smart and more resilient electricity grids: million-euro funding boosts research for international impact | Tampere universities

Älykkäitä ja toimintavarmempia sähköverkkoja – miljoonarahoituksen saanut hanke tavoittelee kansainvälistä vaikuttavuutta | Tampereen korkeakouluyhteisö