Integrated Digital Twin -

Integrated Digital Twins

Tool description

This Digital Twin tool supports city councils and municipalities in evaluating, planning, and optimizing the energy performance of buildings. It enables a current assessment of building envelopes in terms of thermal transmittance and models the impact of residential energy systems, helping cities to reduce energy consumption and monitor CO₂ emissions at the district level.

The tool includes two main modules that work together to support energy transition and climate resilience efforts:

Greenhouse gas (GHG) Emission Balance Tool
Energy Profile & Planning Module

Together, they offer advanced simulations and environmental impact assessments to support building retrofitting, energy planning, and climate action.

By making this information publicly accessible, the tool empowers both local authorities and citizens to make informed decisions, contributing to healthier and more equitable urban environments.

Objectives

Evaluate heating and cooling needs and identify efficiency potential
Analyze thermal performance of building envelopes
Estimate energy savings and GHG reductions using Life Cycle Assessment
Simulate energy profiles for future scenarios (2030 & 2050)
Support optimal planning for PV, storage, and energy communities
Design energy tariffs and business models

Expected Impact

Informed retrofit planning: Supports data-driven decisions on building retrofits
Alignment with climate targets: : Helps cities plan interventions aligned with Net-Zero goals
Risk reduction: Reduces financial risk by identifying cost-effective energy solutions
GHG analysis for action: Enables carbon neutrality planning through detailed GHG balance analysis
Collaborative digital governance: Facilitates open data sharing and stakeholder engagement through digital tools

How the tool supports cities' pathways towards climate action?

In Istanbul, the Integrated Digital Twin tool directly contributes to the city's carbon neutrality strategy by providing detailed GHG balances for various renovation actions and scenarios, evaluating energy consumption reductions resulting from thermal and system upgrades, and offering projections for 2030 and 2050 to support future-proof city planning. The tool enhances urban resilience by helping reduce upfront investment risks for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures through quantitative scenario analysis. Aligned with the principles of a Just Transition, it leverages digital technologies to support open-access data and energy pattern mapping, making sustainable urban planning more inclusive, transparent, and equitable.

Partners involved

Contact details

Diego Redondo (Project Manager at CIRCE)

dredondo@fcirce.es

More information at

www.fcirce.es

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/605

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This project has received funding from the Horizon Innovation Actions under the grant agreement n° 101096405.