Dear all, Thank you for joining the Grid at the Limit webinar on Monday, and for sending in so many questions. With over 125 participants it was great to see how much interest there is in the open call and how many are working on improving the high voltage grid. We have collected all questions and answers from the webinar, the chat and the Q&amp;A in one FAQ. You can find it below, together with the slides. Is your question not in the FAQ, or is something still unclear? Feel free to send us a message here on the platform.We look forward to your applications. All details on IP, confidentiality and data sharing are in our Terms &amp; Conditions and the Open Call Confidentiality Undertaking. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Terms &amp; Conditions:&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/terms-acceptance">https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/terms-acceptance</a>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Open Call Confidentiality Undertaking:&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/guidelines">https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/guidelines</a> Best regards, Jelte

Thanks to everyone interested in the call and those who joined the Grid at the Limit webinar. We bundled all questions and answers in one FAQ and share the slides here.&nbsp;

Your questions answered: Grid at the Limit FAQ and slides

Join the webinar: Grid at the Limit Open Call How do we get more out of the grid we already have? That is the main question behind Grid at the Limit, the new open call from the Grid Innovation Alliance. The Alliance is a collaboration of eight European TSOs: Amprion, Elia Group, 50Hertz, RTE, Red Eléctrica, Swissgrid, TenneT and Terna. Demand for transmission capacity keeps growing, while building new infrastructure takes years. We are looking for novel and innovative solutions that help us transport more power through our existing infrastructure, while keeping the grid secure and reliable as it operates closer to its limits. On Monday 5 October 2026 we host a webinar to talk about the open call. We explain the challenge, what the TSOs look for when they assess solutions and select partners, and how the process and timeline work. Most of the hour is reserved for your questions.<a style="display: inline-block; padding: 13px 24px; background: rgba(74, 58, 176, 1); color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); font-family: &quot;IBM Plex Sans&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 3px;" href="https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a7a36c5f-883a-4ea4-a50b-9aff6f472abe@5a2526e8-a0c1-4104-8991-4314dbad65b8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register for the webinar</a> Speakers Valerie van der Wal, TenneT Netherlands Miguel Lorenzo Sotelo, Elewit (Redeia) Sébastien Jansens, Elia Group Matteo Aguilos, Terna Julian Deumlich, Amprion When: &nbsp;Monday 5 October 2026, 14:00 to 15:00 CEST Where: &nbsp;Online via Microsoft Teams Agenda<ol><li value="1">Introduction to the open call</li><li value="2">The challenge</li><li value="3">Solutions and partners</li><li value="4">Process and timeline</li><li value="5">Q&amp;A </li></ol>Working on a solution that fits? Join the webinar and ask your questions directly to the Alliance. <a href="https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a7a36c5f-883a-4ea4-a50b-9aff6f472abe@5a2526e8-a0c1-4104-8991-4314dbad65b8">Register here</a>

Join the Grid at the Limit webinar and Q&amp;A on Monday 5 October at 14:00 CEST. Hear what the TSOs look for and get your questions answered before you apply. Sign up now

Webinar and Q&A 5th of October 14:00 CEST

How do we unlock more capacity from our existing electricity grid? The Grid Innovation Alliance (formerly TSO Innovation alliance) consisting of eight European High Voltage grid operators are looking for innovative grid enhancing technologies. Apply with your solution until the 9th of October.

Grid Innovation Alliance Open Call 2026 (closed)

Read about what we are looking for in solutions and how you can apply. 

What we are looking for

Participate in our Open Call on Grid Enhancing Technologies by submitting your technology!

Submit your Technology until 9th of October

Find the presentation as well as answers to all the raised questions in this FAQ.

Webinar and Q&A 5th of October

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Open Call Confidentiality Undertaking&nbsp; (NDA)
By registering for the Open Call, the registering entity (the Company) agrees to be bound by and to fully comply with this Confidentiality Undertaking with NLMTD B.V., registered in the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 71707867 (NLMTD).&nbsp;&nbsp;
WHEREAS:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>NLMTD organises open call sessions, bringing together multiple suppliers to participate in joint discussions with a group of European TSOs (as defined below) regarding innovative solutions to challenges faced by the TSOs’ industry (the Open Call);&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>the Company wishes to participate in the Open Call and will, in that context, share and receive, together with other participants and the TSOs, information that is confidential or commercially sensitive in nature;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>TSOs means transmission system operators, including without limitation the founding members of the “TSO Innovation Alliance” being Terna (Italy), RTE (France), Swissgrid (Switzerland), Elia Group (Belgium and Germany via 50Hertz), and TenneT Holding (the Netherlands); Red Eléctrica (Spain); and Amprion(Germany);&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>NLMTD, acting as facilitator of the Open Call, requires each participating party to strictly commit to maintaining the confidentiality of all information shared and received in the context of the Open Call;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>the Company acknowledges the value of open knowledge exchange and accepts this Confidentiality Undertaking, including the obligations owed to fellow participants and to the TSOs, as a condition for its participation.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>The Company undertakes, in relation to NLMTD and the other Open Call parties, including but not limited to the TSOs, not to disclose any of the Confidential Information (as defined below) of which the Company and/or its employees may have knowledge or to which they may have access within the context of the Open Call. The Company declares that it has been personally and specifically informed by NLMTD about the specific provisions of the Confidentiality Undertaking and that it has taken note thereof.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Any information given to the Company during or in the context of the Open Call will be deemed to be Confidential Information, unless:&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>the information was already in the public domain before it was disseminated;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>the Company was legally already in possession of the information before it was disseminated, despite the fact that the information had not been obtained directly or indirectly from the Open Call and/or NLMTD;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>after its dissemination, the Company received the information through a third party that did not have any non-disclosure obligations with respect to the Open Call and/or NLMTD.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>The Company undertakes to keep this Confidential Information confidential and to not disseminate it in any form whatsoever.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>At NLMTD’s request, or ten (10) business days after each Open Call, the Company will return to NLMTD or destroy all documents, copies or other reproductions containing all or part of the Confidential Information and will confirm to NLMTD in writing that the entirety of these documents, copies and/or reproductions containing Confidential Information have been returned to NLMTD or have been destroyed.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>The Company shall take the necessary measures to ensure strict compliance with this Confidentiality Undertaking both by all of its employees, as well as by any other person who is not one of its employees, but who comes under its responsibility and could obtain Confidential Information. The Company shall be liable for any breach of this Confidentiality Undertaking, including by persons affiliated with the Company such as group companies, agents, advisors, employees and representatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Without prejudice to the provisions of this Confidentiality Undertaking, the Company may publicly refer to its participation in the Open Call. The Company shall not, however, disclose or share any information regarding the substance or content of the Open Call.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>In the event of a breach of this Confidentiality Undertaking by the Company, the Company shall forfeit to NLMTD, without any notice of default being required, a fixed penalty of EUR 50,000 per breach, increased by EUR 5,000 for each calendar day that such breach continues. The penalty is without prejudice to NLMTD’s other right to obtain full compensation of damages and to terminate any contractual relationship with the Company. Each separate breach shall give rise to a separate penalty.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>The obligations under this Confidentiality Undertaking are also for the benefit of each other participant in the Open Call, including for the TSOs. Each participant is a third-party beneficiary within the meaning of Article 6:253 of the Dutch Civil Code and may enforce this Confidentiality Undertaking directly against the Company. Likewise, the Company may enforce this Confidentiality Undertaking directly against each other participant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>The Company’s obligations under this Confidentiality Undertaking shall apply from the date of acceptance and shall continue indefinitely thereafter.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Any dispute relating to the Confidentiality Undertaking shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Brussels, Belgium and the governing law shall be Belgian Law.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

“Grid Innovation Alliance: Open call Grid at the limit” &nbsp;Regulations&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li> Introduction</li>
</ol>
This regulation (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulation”) is part of the Open Call titled “TSO Alliance: Building a Climate-Resilient Power Grid” (hereinafter also referred to as the “Initiative”), an initiative promoted by the TSO Innovation Alliance, composed of eight leading European Transmission System Operators — including Elia, 50Hertz, Swissgrid, RTE, Red Eléctrica, Terna, Amprion, and TenneT, with the support of nlmtd. The members of the Alliance together with nlmtd will be referred to as “Open Call Owners”.&nbsp;
Role of the TSOs&nbsp;&nbsp;
Transmission System Operators carry a fundamental responsibility: ensuring the continuous supply of electricity that homes, businesses and industry across Europe depend on at every moment, with equal access for all and a commitment to clean energy for future generations. We plan, develop, operate and maintain the high voltage transmission grid, and we balance the system every second of every day, continuously matching supply and demand. As Europe moves toward a decentralized energy system dominated by variable renewable generation, that responsibility grows more complex, and the models designed for a more stable and centralised past no longer suffice. It is for this reason that eight operators have chosen to combine their innovation efforts and address the most pressing challenges of the transition together. After the open call in 2025, the second topic we now tackle together through an open call is how to unlock more capacity from the existing grid.&nbsp;
<ol start="2">
<li> Application Technology providers are invited to complete their submission for this open call including:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>A brief introduction to the organization and its solution(s)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The approach to the challenge and relevant use cases&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>More information on the organization's current business status&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The expectations for a Proof of Concept (PoC)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ol start="3">
<li> General Conditions</li>
</ol>
3.1 Participants will be selected according to the terms and conditions set forth in these Regulations.&nbsp;
3.2 Participation in the Initiative is free of charge.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="4">
<li> Eligibility, Conditions, and Participation Terms</li>
</ol>
4.1 The Initiative is open to the following entities (“Participants”):&nbsp;
4.1.1. Natural persons aged 18 and older, or project teams whose members are all aged 18 and older.&nbsp;
4.1.2. Legal entities in any form, including SMEs and micro-enterprises (as defined by EU Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003) provided their share capital is held by individuals or legal entities aged 18 and older.&nbsp;
4.2 Participants must submit project documentation demonstrating the innovation and technological maturity achieved 4.3 By participating in the Initiative, Participants fully and unconditionally accept these Regulations and agree that they govern all relationships between the parties.&nbsp;
4.4 These Regulations take effect from their publication on <a href="https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/">https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/</a> on 9 September 2026 and will remain in force until the end of the second phase (the “Final Date”), subject to updates published on the same website.&nbsp;
4.5 Proposals must be submitted via the dedicated platform at <a href="https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/">https://allianceopencall2026.innovationcast.net/</a>&nbsp;
4.6 Articles 7 (“Warranties and Indemnities”), 8 (“Limitation of Liability”), 9 (“Intellectual Property”), 10 (“Data Protection”), 11 (“General Terms”), 12 (“Accuracy and Completeness of Information”), and 13 (“Governing Law and Jurisdiction”) will survive for an additional 2 (two) years following the expiration or termination of these Regulations.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="5">
<li> Initiative Phases</li>
</ol>
5.1 Phase One: Participant Selection&nbsp;
To be eligible, Participants must submit their proposals as follows:&nbsp;
5.1.1 Deadline: 23:59 on the 9th of October 2026&nbsp;
5.1.2 Method: Submission through <a href="https://challenges.rethinking-energy.org/">https://challenges.rethinking-energy.org/</a> as per the procedures detailed therein.&nbsp;
5.1.3 Required Documentation:&nbsp;
Answers to the application form describing the solution, business model, market potential, team, competitive landscape, product roadmap, and key financial rationale.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The application can include additional files (e.g. video, images, etc.).&nbsp;&nbsp;
5.1.4 Applications must be submitted in English. Open Call Owners, at their sole discretion, will select a batch of finalist projects (“Finalists”), for the challenge, excluding proposals that:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>i. Fail to meet eligibility requirements or submission conditions;</li>
<li> Are incomplete or unclear;</li>
</ol>
iii. Are out of scope;&nbsp;
<ol>
<li> Are unfeasible or lack technical substance;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
By 16th of October 2026, Open Call Owners may request additional documentation to conduct a more thorough evaluation.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
5.2 Phase Two: In-Depth Evaluation&nbsp;
Following Phase One, selected Finalists may be invited to participate in an in-depth evaluation phase conducted by a panel comprising Open Call Owners’ representatives (the “Committee”).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
5.2.1 The Committee will independently evaluate projects using the following non-exhaustive criteria:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Market-ready technology&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Technical depth: understanding of grid operations and congestion risks&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Scalability across European TSOs&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Vendor-agnostic integration&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Novelty and potential impact of the solution&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ol start="6">
<li> Further Developments</li>
</ol>
If promising projects emerge during Phase Two, Open Call Owners may select some for Proof of Concept (PoC) testing, funded by one or more interested Open Call Owners, with budget and timing based on the defined objectives. If the selected Finalists are individuals or teams, they must incorporate as legal entities within 15 (fifteen) days from theselection date.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="7">
<li> Participant Warranties and Indemnity</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>By submitting a proposal, each Participant declares and guarantees that their Project:&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Does not infringe third-party intellectual property rights;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Contains no unauthorized trademarks, logos, or proprietary elements;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Is not subject to third-party contractual obligations;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Contains no defamatory or offensive content, or content that could damage the reputation of one or more Challenge Owners;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Contains no pornographic, discriminatory, violent, or inappropriate content;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Contains no threats, harassment, or invasions of privacy;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Complies with all applicable laws, including GDPR.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Participants agree to indemnify the Cahllenge Owner and its stakeholders against any third-party claims arising from violations of this Article.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol start="8">
<li> Limitation of Liability</li>
</ol>
Open Call Owners shall not be liable for any technical issues (e.g., hardware/software malfunctions, network errors, delayed or failed uploads). Challenge Owners also disclaim liability for any property damage or injury caused by Participants or their representatives during the Initiative.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="9">
<li> Intellectual Property</li>
</ol>
9.1 Intellectual property rights remain with the Participant who developed and submitted the Project. Participants are solely responsible for protecting their innovations.&nbsp;
The IP terms for any developments arising from the Project or subsequent PoC stages will be defined in future agreements with Open Call Owners.&nbsp;
9.2 By participating, the Participant authorizes Open Call Owners to:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Use the Participant’s and Project’s name, image, and branding for promotional purposes;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Publicly disclose the names of Finalists and PoC participants on Open Call Owners’ websites or authorized third-party sites;&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Share such information with potential investors or collaborators.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Participants agree to indemnify all of the Open Call Owners against any claims arising from breaches of this Article.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<ol start="10">
<li> Data Protection</li>
</ol>
Nlmtd owns the platform of Rethinking Energy and will collect and manage the applications in name of the other Open Call Owners. The applications will be shared with the other Open Call Owners and all Open Call Owners will process personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Regulation (EU) 2016/679&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="11">
<li> General Terms</li>
</ol>
11.1 Open Call Owners reserve the right to amend, suspend, or cancel the Initiative, its contents, or selection criteria at any time, by notice on the official website.&nbsp;
11.2 Open Call Owners may disqualify any Participant who tampers with the application process, breaches the Regulations, or behaves inappropriately. Participation in the Initiative does not constitute a job offer or contract with any of the Open Call Owners. These Regulations do not constitute a public offer pursuant to Directive 2014/24/EU (Public Procurement Directive).&nbsp;
11.3 Open Call Owners may amend these Regulations at its sole discretion, particularly to adapt to how the Initiative evolves.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="12">
<li> Accuracy and Completeness of Information</li>
</ol>
Participants guarantee that all data and materials submitted are accurate, truthful, and complete. They bear full responsibility for any misrepresentation.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="13">
<li> Governing Law and Jurisdiction</li>
</ol>
These Regulations are governed by Belgian law. Any disputes will fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Brussels, excluding all other jurisdictions.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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