Shift2DC was recently featured on the EU Energy Projects Podcast following its participation at ENLIT 2026. In this episode, Hugo Morais, Project Coordinator at INESC-ID, talks about three major European projects he is currently coordinating: SHIFT2DC, EV4EU, and U2Demo.
The episode asks a big question: How do we turn experimental ideas into solutions that work in the real world? Even though these projects focus on different things, they all share one goal: making our energy system cleaner, more flexible, and easier to manage.
First, an introduction to Shift2DC as it explores the potential of direct current solutions in buildings, data centers, industry, and ports to maximize energy efficiency and reduce costs. The project’s logic is presented as both simple and powerful: many modern technologies – including solar PV panels, battery storage, EV chargers, and servers – already operate natively in DC. By aligning power distribution with these technologies and eliminating unnecessary AC-to-DC conversions, Shift2DC seeks to optimize energy systems and accelerate global decarbonization efforts.
The conversation goes on to explore how digitalization, electrification, and real-world testing are reshaping Europe’s energy.
One of the things that stands out is that digitalization is not just a nice addition: “Without digitalization, we do not have control. And if we don’t have control, we don’t have intelligence. And if we don’t have intelligence, we don’t have benefits”, Hugo Morais.
However, technology alone is not the answer. While technology is advancing, regulation and the “governance and sharing” of energy services remain non-standardized, making it difficult to apply the same solutions across Europe. This lack of consistency is especially challenging for the mass adoption of electric vehicles, as projects must navigate and interpret a complex web of different national policies. Ultimately, the discussion suggests that markets and regulations are struggling to keep pace with innovation, though there is some optimism about new EU initiatives to standardize these frameworks for broader use.
Additionally, for electric cars to truly help the power grid, it is crucial to adopt a “user-centric” approach. Mass adoption depends on people feeling comfortable and rewarded, so it is crucial to deliver real benefits to users and provide transparency about technical concerns such as battery degradation.
The podcast also highlights that investing in high-quality digital infrastructure is crucial, as it is the only way to gain the “intelligence” and “control” needed to balance the energy demands of smart buildings and electric mobility.
Listen to the episode here to learn more about these and other topics!