ORION Summer School: Empowering the Next Generation of Energy Innovators

The ORION Summer School, held in-person on September 3–4, 2026, at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. The two-day event offered immersive learning at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and future energy systems. Attendees were drawn primarily from PhD and Master’s programmes, with additional participation from postdoctoral researchers and Bachelor’s students.

The summer school’s programme was structured around the transformative role of AI and digital twins in energy research. Sessions delved into the use of AI for energy-system analysis, planning, and operation, with particular attention to the application of digital twins (or graphical digital twins, GDT) in modelling, simulating, and visualizing complex energy systems.

The ORION consortium’s expertise was evident throughout the event. A highlight was the highly interactive GDT workshop led by Scott Young from partner organization AugmentCity. Scott guided participants through practical exercises and group discussions focused on the use of digital-twin technologies for energy-system analysis and visualization. The lively exchange of ideas underscored the appetite among young researchers for hands-on experience and innovative approaches in this rapidly evolving field. Complementing this, Prof. Antonello Monti from RWTH Aachen University delivered an insightful session on how AI is shaping the future of energy systems, offering participants direct perspectives from leaders at the forefront of digital transformation in the energy sector.

A special feature of the summer school was the guided tour of the ACS laboratory, led by Manuel Pitz, one of the institute’s laboratory managers. Attendees were introduced to the lab’s impressive experimental and computational resources, including the Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) used for real-time power-system simulation and hardware-in-the-loop experiments. They also explored the institute’s high-performance computing infrastructure, which supports large-scale grid simulations, optimization, machine-learning applications, and advanced energy-data processing.

As Fengshou Hao, Technical Program Chair at RWTH Aachen University, aptly put it: “Training activities like the ORION Summer School help young researchers connect emerging technologies such as AI and digital twins with real energy-system challenges. Building these interdisciplinary skills is essential for preparing the next generation of researchers to develop and operate increasingly digital, intelligent and interconnected energy systems.”

The success of the ORION Summer School is a testament to the project’s commitment to shaping the future of intelligent energy systems. By equipping early-career researchers with practical skills in AI and digital twin technologies, ORION is fostering the talent and collaboration needed to accelerate innovation in the energy sector. Initiatives like the summer school ensure that the next generation of energy leaders are prepared to tackle the challenges of digitalization and sustainability, driving progress towards ORION’s vision of a smarter, more resilient, and interconnected European energy ecosystem.