Kopernikus ENSURE

What Kopernikus ENSURE does

Kopernikus ENSURE is a publicly funded research project within the German Kopernikus-Initiative, operated under the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR, formerly BMBF) and coordinated by Projektträger Jülich (PtJ). Launched in 2016 as one of four Kopernikus projects (Ariadne, ENSURE, P2X, SynErgie), ENSURE focuses on grid solutions as the foundation for Germany's complex future energy supply, targeting climate neutrality by 2045. The project serves German distribution network operators and urban grid operators by addressing the technical challenges of integrating distributed renewable generation, managing bidirectional power flows, and ensuring grid stability through sector coupling across electricity, heating, and transport.

The project's core technology stack centers on real-time co-simulation that couples laboratory capacities to validate grid management solutions under realistic conditions, alongside proprietary algorithms for distribution grid state detection. ENSURE operates what is described as Europe's largest simulation network for energy infrastructure. Its research portfolio includes low-voltage grid monitoring, protection technology analysis for evolving grid conditions, and tools that help network operators handle hundreds of photovoltaic, heat pump, and e-mobility connection requests per week. AI-based predictions from related Kopernikus work are cited as capable of reducing electricity procurement costs by up to 17% through identification of flexible consumption windows.

ENSURE does not operate as a commercial enterprise. The project is funded by the German federal government and has no disclosed pricing model, no commercial products or services, and no shareholder revenue. Its 14-person team conducts research in partnership with universities, Fraunhofer Institutes, industrial companies, and multiple German distribution network operators across regions including Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia. Public engagement is conducted through channels including the Innovation Insights video series, the Power2Change traveling exhibition, the Babbel Bubble dialog space, and the Energiemobil mobile tour.

Name

Kopernikus ENSURE

Legal name

Kopernikus-Projekt ENSURE

Website

https://kopernikus-projekte.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kopernikus ENSURE is a German federally funded research project developing real-time co-simulation and grid state detection algorithms to help distribution network operators integrate renewable energy and manage bidirectional power flows for Germany's energy transition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Grid Research

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (221121)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAMAIAE

Protection, Control & Relaying (Settings, Coordination, Anti-Islanding)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Renewable Grid Integration & Interconnection (Power Electronics, SCADA, Forecasting)

SECONDARYIMAFAHAF

Protection, Control & SCADA/Automation Installation (Relay Panels, RTUs)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Power & Utility Infrastructure Construction (T&D, Substations)

SECONDARYEUAEADAD

SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Renewable Balance-of-Plant EPC (Wind/Solar/Hydro)

SECONDARYEUAMAIAJ

Commissioning, Testing & Field Services for Interconnection (Energization, Acceptance Tests)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Renewable Grid Integration & Interconnection (Power Electronics, SCADA, Forecasting)

Keywords

• Grid simulation research
• Energy transition research
• Distribution grid management
• Renewable integration
• Real-time co-simulation

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kopernikus ENSURE is a government-funded research project that develops real-time co-simulation technologies, algorithms for distribution grid state detection, and tools to support Germany's transition to climate-neutral energy supply by 2045. The project operates Europe's largest simulation network for energy infrastructures, coupling laboratory capacities to test grid management solutions and address the technical challenges of integrating distributed renewable generation into distribution networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovation Insights: Video series taking viewers to where energy transition happens: from research flights over power grids to substations, from solar parks to underground facilities, providing compact insights into current energy research and innovative technologies for stable, climate-neutral electricity grids.

Quantifiable outcome

• AI-based predictions can target flexible consumption points to cost-effective phases and reduce electricity procurement costs by up to 17% (SynErgie research applicable to grid integration)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Global incumbent offering grid management software, protection systems and SCADA platforms used by German DSOs. Operates broadly across the same domain as ENSURE's research but with commercial scale, productized offerings and a much larger installed base.
• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation incumbent with EcoStruxure grid offerings. Comparable to ENSURE in targeting distribution grid digitalization and renewable integration, but serves the same customer base via commercial products rather than research outputs.
• DNV: Independent energy advisory and assurance provider with grid simulation, testing and certification services. Comparable to ENSURE in providing simulation infrastructure and grid integration advisory to utilities navigating the energy transition.
• Hitachi Energy: Provider of grid automation, protection and control, and grid integration solutions. Directly comparable to ENSURE's protection-technology and renewable-integration research, with a commercial product portfolio addressing the same German DSO customers.
• ABB: Broad incumbent supplying protection relays, SCADA, distribution automation and grid digitalization to utilities worldwide. Competes in the same addressable problem space as ENSURE — integrating renewables into distribution networks — but from a commercial, productized angle.

Direct peers

• OFFIS – Institute for Information Technology: Oldenburg-based research institute with major programs on energy management systems, distribution grid automation and real-time simulation. Comparable to ENSURE in combining IT systems design with grid research for the German Energiewende.
• Fraunhofer IEE: German applied research institute focused on energy economics and energy system technology, including grid integration of renewables. Closely comparable to ENSURE in mission (grid stability, sector coupling) and stakeholder base (German distribution operators, BMBF-funded).
• PSI Software: German-headquartered vendor of energy management and grid control software for distribution and transmission operators. Comparable to ENSURE in serving German DSOs with grid state determination, load management and network planning tooling, but as a commercial vendor rather than a research project.
• RWTH Aachen — ACS | Institute of Automation of Complex Power Systems: Academic research group at RWTH Aachen focused on automation, monitoring and real-time simulation of power systems. Directly comparable to ENSURE in co-simulation methods, control room research and renewable integration studies.

Regional players

• TenneT: Dutch-German transmission system operator responsible for high-voltage grids across the Netherlands and large parts of Germany. Comparable as a key stakeholder/customer of ENSURE's grid integration research, though operating in transmission rather than distribution and as a regulated commercial entity rather than a research project.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=vuILA2I1KH8
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kopernikus-ensure

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kopernikus ENSURE