Open call: test, innovate and co-create in our new DC network & demonstration area

Call

Are you working on solutions for the energy transition? Then we invite you to help build the energy system of the future! In the Open Thor Living Lab we are developing a unique DC network where companies, knowledge institutions, system integrators and start-ups can test, validate and co-create technologies in a realistic and safe environment.

The new demonstration area (DemonstraThor) combines an electric DC and thermal network. We are building a place where innovation becomes tangible - and you can help make a difference.

We call on innovative companies, start-ups and system integrators to join us and test their products and services. 

A few examples:

  • Testing megawatt charging for e-trucks and buses

Manufacturers and users of e-trucks and buses—such as logistics companies or port operators—can test megawatt charging systems with us, including under simulated conditions of limited grid capacity. This allows you to discover, in realistic scenarios, how smart charging or buffering with renewable sources can make a real difference.

  • Experiment with battery containers in parallel or connect them to higher voltage levels

For battery manufacturers and companies focused on battery reuse, this is the ideal place to connect various technologies in parallel, test compatibility, and optimize hybrid storage strategies for real-world use. Want to connect your battery container to medium voltage? Here, you can test the performance of your large-scale storage solutions as if they were connected to the actual grid—while benefiting from the safety and flexibility of a controlled environment.

  • Develop autonomous charging infrastructure

For producers of off-grid or mobile charging stations, the hub offers the opportunity to test autonomous charging with local generation and storage, without relying on the public grid.

  • Emulate PV integration for your specific use case

Are you working on PV installations along roads, footpaths, cycle tracks, or even railways? Here, you can connect a temporary PV setup to a simulated system and validate your integration strategy—without the complexity of field trials. This accelerates the path toward large-scale implementation.

  • Connect your system to smart building infrastructure

Start-ups and system integrators working on innovative energy, water, or digital solutions can integrate their technologies into the unique test environment of, for example, ConstrucThor or Thoreaq. Through a shared energy backbone — exchanging electricity, heat, and storage — technologies can be connected to the DC energy hub. This creates unique co-creation opportunities between building technology and energy systems, with a view to achieving a climate-neutral construction sector in Flanders.

  • Simulate off-grid neighborhoods or buildings

For start-ups active in smart energy supply, this is the ideal environment to test how much power is needed to feed a building or neighborhood off-grid. The hub allows you to safely and systematically test a variety of scenarios.

  • Verify protection strategies and apply for certification

System integrators and manufacturers of electrical equipment can subject their products to protection testing here, for example on ring structures. Thanks to the modular setup, different protection methods can be tested and validated toward certification.

  • Test electrolyzer control systems

For developers of electrolysis setups, we offer a safe testing environment without on-site hydrogen storage. Here, they can test their power electronics and control logic under realistic DC conditions.

  • Gain insights into the performance of electric construction equipment

Manufacturers of electric excavators, bulldozers, and other construction machinery can connect their equipment to temporary grid structures and evaluate performance, energy consumption, and grid impact under real working conditions.


Co-create the energy grid of the future

This infrastructure is not a closed test site, but an invitation to collaborate. We want to experiment, validate, and learn together—through open co-creation. Whether you're developing an innovative technology, looking to test a niche application, or seeking certification, our energy hub offers the space, expertise, and flexibility to bring your ideas to life.

? Contact us via  info@openthor.be

We’ll get in touch for an initial exploratory conversation.
Based on your profile and expertise, we will invite you to join co-creation workshops and validation sessions between June and December 2025.