An interactive workshop introduced the ECLIPSE Open App and explored how energy-system information can help households and small businesses make more informed energy decisions.
How can consumers turn complex energy-system information into practical decisions about their electricity use?
The ECLIPSE Cyprus Pilot, supported by TSOC and CINTECH, addressed this question through an online workshop introducing the ECLIPSE project, its Common European Reference Framework (CERF) and the ECLIPSE Open App. The session combined an introduction to the project with a practical demonstration and hands-on activities, allowing participants to explore the app and assess how useful its information could be in their everyday lives in Cyprus.
Bringing energy-system information closer to consumers
ECLIPSE DIGITAL is developing an open-source reference framework to support interoperable digital applications for energy consumers. The aim is to make energy information easier to understand and help users respond voluntarily to changing grid conditions through energy reduction or load shifting.
During the workshop, participants learned how the Cyprus Pilot applies this approach to households and small businesses, connecting information from the energy system with features designed around consumers’ needs.
The session also explained the roles of TSOC and CINTECH in the pilot and how the ECLIPSE framework supports the development of the app and its functionalities.
Exploring the ECLIPSE Open App
A central part of the workshop was a walkthrough of the ECLIPSE Open App, introducing participants to several features designed to make energy information more accessible and actionable. The demonstration covered:
- Energy-system status: information on electricity demand, generation and the share of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Generation and electricity prices: time-based views of electricity generation and day-ahead market prices, helping users understand changing energy conditions.
- Local grid alerts: location-based warnings, including district-specific information and plain-language explanations of situations such as curtailment.
- Personalised advice: practical energy tips and settings that allow users to select their preferred language, area and advice categories.
Together, these features illustrate how digital energy applications can present technical information in a format that is easier for consumers to interpret and use.
Putting usability and consumer feedback to the test
The workshop went beyond a traditional presentation by inviting participants to explore the app through a hands-on exercise. They were asked to identify useful information on the home screen, select a geographical area and an alert, review generation or price data, and choose the advice categories most relevant to them.
The exercise also encouraged discussion about the questions consumers may have when using an energy application. Participants raised topics such as how the app could help reduce electricity consumption or bills, what actions to take following a grid alert, where the data comes from and how frequently it is updated.
Data privacy and transparency were also important discussion points, with participants asking what personal information the app collects and how it is protected. They also explored how their feedback would contribute to improvements in the application and the wider Cyprus Pilot.
This exchange helped connect the technical development of the pilot with practical user expectations, highlighting the importance of clear information, relevant advice and an intuitive user experience.
From feedback to further improvements
The workshop marked the beginning of a feedback and refinement cycle for the Cyprus Pilot. The team will consolidate participants’ comments, identify priority improvements and refine the app’s content and interactions before using the revised experience in the wider pilot demonstration.
By involving users in the evaluation process, ECLIPSE DIGITAL is exploring how energy applications can better respond to consumers’ information needs and support informed, voluntary action.
The Cyprus Pilot contributes to the project’s wider objective of developing interoperable digital energy services that make energy-system information more accessible and encourage active consumer participation across Europe.