AIM Centre to Lead €1.23 Million RE:FLEX Project Supporting SME Energy Flexibility Across Europe
New Interreg NPA project will demonstrate how energy flexibility can support sustainable manufacturing and business competitiveness
AIM Centre has been confirmed as Lead Partner on RE:FLEX, a new €1.23 million Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) project that will help SMEs across Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Iceland reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions through smarter electricity use.
Launching in September 2026, RE:FLEX will explore how businesses can adapt electricity consumption in response to renewable energy-driven price signals, supporting both sustainability goals and business competitiveness.
A Competitive Funding Success
The funding decision was made by the Interreg NPA Monitoring Committee at its meeting in the Faroe Islands on 3 June 2026.
RE:FLEX was approved through the programme's sixth call for proposals, which attracted a record-breaking 33 applications competing for approximately €10 million in available funding. Securing approval through such a competitive process highlights both the importance of the challenge being addressed and the strength of the international consortium behind the project.
Helping SMEs Respond to Changing Energy Markets
As renewable energy becomes a larger part of Europe's energy mix, electricity prices are becoming increasingly dynamic. While this creates opportunities for businesses to reduce costs and emissions, many SMEs lack the tools and evidence needed to implement energy flexibility measures with confidence.
RE will address this challenge by analysing electricity market data from Ireland and the Nordic region, identifying opportunities for energy flexibility, and evaluating how production scheduling and battery storage can help businesses respond to changing energy prices.
The project will generate practical evidence and test solutions in real business environments, helping SMEs understand how energy flexibility can be implemented without disrupting operations.
Generating Evidence Where It Matters Most
What makes RE:FLEX different is its focus on generating evidence where it matters most - inside real SMEs.
The project will deliver pilot activities across Ireland, Sweden and Finland, combining research test beds with real-world industrial environments.
Pilot SMEs include:
Masonite Ireland, where flexibility solutions will be tested within a live MDF door manufacturing facility operating 24 hours a day.
Jaakkolan Tukku, Finland, where battery-supported flexibility strategies will be evaluated within a wholesale and logistics environment operating under Nordic electricity market conditions.
Alongside these pilots, AIM Centre and Luleå University of Technology will conduct test-bed demonstrations to assess production-shifting and battery-supported flexibility scenarios using Irish and Nordic electricity market data.
By testing solutions under real operating conditions, RE:FLEX will provide SMEs with practical, evidence-based approaches to reducing energy costs while maintaining productivity.
International Collaboration Driving Innovation
As Lead Partner, AIM Centre will coordinate a consortium of research and industry organisations committed to accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and resilient energy systems.
Project partners include:
AIM Centre (Ireland) – Lead Partner
Luleå University of Technology (Sweden)
North Karelia Chamber of Commerce (Finland)
University of Iceland (Iceland)
Masonite (Ireland) - Pilot SME
Jaakkolan Tukku (Finland) - Pilot SME
RE:FLEX is further strengthened by the involvement of several Associated Organisations that will support stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing and the wider adoption of project outcomes:
ESB (Electricity Supply Board), Ireland
Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Pohjois-Karjalan Sähkö Oy, Finland
PKS Sähkönsiirto Oy, Finland
Business Joensuu Oy, Finland
Energikontor Norr, Sweden
Together, these organisations bring expertise across energy systems, research, innovation, industry and regional development, ensuring project outcomes are both scientifically robust and commercially relevant.
A Collaborative Achievement
Being selected for funding is a significant milestone for everyone involved in RE:FLEX, and AIM Centre is immensely proud to lead the project over the coming years.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Interreg NPA Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat for their guidance, support and dedication throughout the application process.
We are also grateful to our project partners and associated organisations across Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Iceland for bringing their expertise, energy and commitment to building a project that addresses a real challenge facing SMEs across the Northern Periphery and Arctic region.
Finally, thank you to the AIM Centre team. Months of hard work, sharp thinking and quiet persistence have led to this achievement. This approval is a testament to the dedication, expertise and commitment of everyone involved.
As RE:FLEX prepares to launch in September 2026, we look forward to working alongside our partners to support SMEs in their energy transition journeys and demonstrate how energy flexibility can deliver tangible benefits for businesses, communities and the environment.
Project updates, pilot activities and results will be shared throughout the project lifecycle.