Six applications for participation, three of which were submitted by companies from Romania, were registered within the innovative testing space (Sandbox) in the energy sector. These were analyzed during the meeting of the Project Evaluation Commission held on January 15, chaired by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Cristina Pereteatcu.

The projects reviewed address priority areas for the development and modernization of the energy sector, including:
• digitalization and smart monitoring of electricity networks;
• integration and operation of energy generation and storage systems;
• digital solutions for forecasting, balancing, and operational data exchange;
• the use of renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources;
• testing innovative flexibility and aggregation models.

A significant part of the initiatives presented aligns with the objectives of the National Program for the Digital Transformation of the Energy Sector 2026–2030, contributing to the controlled testing of innovative technological solutions and operational models in the absence of a permanent regulatory framework.

For each application, presentations, Q&A sessions, and deliberations took place, with the final evaluation and formulation of recommendations to be carried out in accordance with the established procedure. Projects recommended for approval will be publicly announced at a later stage, after completing the institutional steps предусмотренные by law.

The innovative testing space (Sandbox) represents a public policy instrument designed to support innovation in the energy sector by testing new solutions within a regulated framework, while ensuring consumer protection and the safe operation of the energy system.