HYSTORE Ontology now is a CEN Workshop Agreement 

CEN Workshop TES

A semantic framework for Thermal energy Storage 

 

The work carried on by the CEN Workshop on Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems lead by the Hysotre partners University College Dublin and supported by the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), has now been formalised into the CEN/CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA 18385:2026).  The CEN agreement is based on the  SAREF ontology,  a semantic framework that makes TES systems smarter, simpler, and more accessible for everyone.

What’s CEN, and Why Does It Matter?

CEN (the European Committee for Standardisation) is one of Europe’s main standardisation organisations, working alongside CENELEC and ETSI. Their mission is to help create voluntary standards that make life easier for businesses, researchers, and consumers alike. These standards help ensure products and services are safe, high-quality, and compatible across borders—think of them as the “common language” for innovation in Europe.

CEN Workshops are a particularly flexible and open way for people from different backgrounds—companies, universities, and more—to come together and develop new guidelines or best practices. The results, called CEN Workshop Agreements (CWAs), are designed to be practical, easy to use, and ready to support fast-moving fields like TES. The CWAs Agreement serves as a practical guide for designing, installing, and integrating TES systems

HYSTORE’s Ontology: Making TES talk 

One of the most interesting outcomes of the  HYSTORE project is the  SAREF ontology: an IoT-based ontology (think of it as a smart dictionary and rulebook) which focus is on making TES systems smarter and more connected. Thanks to the  SAREF ontology, different TES systems “talk” to building energy management systems, grids, and even other devices. The platform, based on the SAREF ontology, uses AI and advanced reasoning to help TES systems make better decisions in real time.

This approach isn’t just about technology, but about making TES easier to use, more reliable, and ready for the future of smart buildings and communities. The HYSTORE team has reviewed hundreds of studies and is building tools that will help everyone, from researchers to building managers, get the most out of TES.

Impact and Benefits

A standardized SAREF4TESS ontology will:

  • Improve TES system interoperability, allowing seamless integration into smart grids.

  • Enhance energy management, enabling predictive energy optimization.

  • Reduce operational costs for providers and end-users.

  • Support decarbonization through increased reliance on renewable energy.

Key stakeholders set to benefit include:

  • Energy utilities and grid operators – for improved grid flexibility.

  • Industrial and commercial energy users – for cost reductions.

  • Manufacturers of TES technologies – for enhanced market expansion.

  • Policy makers – for streamlined regulatory frameworks.

  • Consumers – for more efficient and affordable energy solutions.

Spotlight on HYSTORE: Tackling TES Challenges Together

 The HYSTORE project, funded by Horizon Europe, is at the heart of this workshop. HYSTORE is all about overcoming the hurdles that have held TES back:

  • Complexity: Right now, TES systems often need to be custom-designed for each building, which can be time-consuming and expensive.
  • Installation Know-How: There aren’t enough clear guidelines or trained installers, making it tough to roll out TES on a large scale.
  • Cost: TES needs to become more competitive with other energy solutions.
  • Integration: TES is often seen as an “add-on” rather than a core part of building and grid systems.
EXPLORE THE CEN AGREEMENT

READ MORE ABOUT THE HYSTORE ONTOLOGY:

Read the interview with Dr Eleni Mangina, University College Dublin HERE