Empowering sustainable innovation: IMM2023 Hackathon transforms photovoltaic data management for green hospitality

The IMM2023 Hackathon, supported by the EDIH Crowd in Motion, tackled a pressing challenge in the renewable energy sector: improving access to photovoltaic (PV) data for homeowners and businesses. As energy costs rise and interest in sustainable solutions grows, more people are investing in PV systems. However, many face a common barrier—expensive apps and added fees to access and monitor their energy data, especially when using ModBus-equipped electricity meters.

The hackathon aimed to develop affordable, open-source alternatives that empower PV system owners to manage their energy data independently. Key objectives included:

1. Open-source prototyping – Create tools to evaluate electricity meters in-house, removing reliance on costly third-party platforms.

2. ModBus protocol integration – Simplify the complex ModBus standard through intuitive user interfaces for real-time energy monitoring.

3. Sustainable innovation – Show how PV systems can reduce energy demand in existing buildings, advancing climate goals.

4. Community collaboration – Involve students, experts, and industry players in co-creating practical, impactful solutions.

5. Real-world testing – Pilot the solutions at Hotel Das Hintersee, a green tourism leader equipped with PV panels and eBike charging stations.

6. Data empowerment – Ensure PV owners can freely access and optimise their energy consumption data without financial or technical barriers.

This challenge not only addressed a technical gap but also aligned with broader goals of digital sovereignty, sustainability, and inclusive innovation.

The IMM2023 Hackathon, organised with the support of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Crowd in Motion, delivered innovative, open-source solutions to transform how photovoltaic (PV) data is managed. The challenge focused on enabling PV system owners to monitor and optimise energy consumption without relying on costly commercial apps or closed platforms.

Participants developed open-source prototypes that allowed users to read and evaluate data from their in-house electricity meters. These tools provided a free, user-friendly alternative for tracking energy use, significantly lowering financial and technical barriers.

A core technical achievement was the integration of the ModBus protocol, commonly used in modern electricity meters. Developers addressed its complexity by designing intuitive interfaces that translated raw meter data into accessible, visual insights for all users, regardless of technical background.

Sustainability was a guiding principle. Solutions were designed to enhance energy efficiency in existing buildings—especially hotels and tourism facilities—by leveraging PV systems to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources.

The hackathon brought together a diverse community of students, professionals, and experts, whose collaborative work fostered both creativity and practicality. Their solutions were tested in a real-world setting at Hotel Das Hintersee, a pioneer in green tourism equipped with a PV system and eBike charging stations. This partnership helped validate the functionality and relevance of the developed tools.

The EDIH Crowd in Motion played a key role by providing technical guidance, testing infrastructure, and networking support, creating a collaborative space that accelerated innovation. The result was a set of sustainable, scalable tools that empower users to take control of their energy data and contribute to the broader digital and green transition.

The resolution of the photovoltaic (PV) data management challenge during the IMM2023 Hackathon, supported by the EDIH Crowd in Motion, delivered tangible benefits for SMEs, PSOs, and the broader innovation ecosystem:

1. Cost savings for PV owners
   Open-source prototypes developed during the hackathon eliminate reliance on commercial apps, enabling PV system owners to monitor energy data at no cost, reducing operational expenses.

2. Improved data accessibility
   Users can now independently access, visualise, and optimise their energy consumption, leading to smarter energy use and more informed decision-making.

3. Sustainability in green tourism
   Hotel Das Hintersee, as a pilot site, improved its ability to optimise solar energy usage and reduce its environmental footprint, supporting its sustainability goals.

4. Innovation through collaboration
   The hackathon fostered cross-sector collaboration among students, professionals, and experts, driving technological innovation and practical solution development.

5. Real-World testing and validation
   The Living-Lab at Makerspace Gemini Salzburg enabled hands-on testing of prototypes, ensuring their technical feasibility and real-world applicability.

6. Community engagement & skills development
   Participants gained experience with ModBus integration, open-source tools, and collaborative development, boosting local digital skills and innovation capacity.

7. Promotion of sustainable energy practices
   SMEs and PSOs are now better equipped to adopt data-driven strategies for energy efficiency and sustainability, reinforcing the shift toward renewable energy.

8. Open standards & interoperability
   The solutions promote open data standards and user-friendly design, paving the way for scalable innovation and the potential creation of a community-driven energy data platform.

In summary, the hackathon delivered measurable economic, environmental, and technological value, demonstrating how local collaboration can drive digital and sustainable transformation.