DigiTwins4PEDs Information
Programme:
DUT – Driving Urban Transitions
Call:
Positive Energy Districts Pathway (PED)
Topic:
Energy flexibility strategies – technological,
legal, societal challenges
For more information:
DUT Call 2022
The purpose of the DUT Call 2022 is to foster transnational research and innovation projects aimed at addressing urban challenges, thereby assisting cities in transitioning towards a more sustainable economy and functionality. These challenges are categorized into three themes known as Transition Pathways: Positive Energy Districts (PED), the 15-Minute City (15mC), and Circular Urban Economies (CUE).
Projects selected under this Call will receive funding directly from national or regional Funding Agencies. Each proposal must involve a minimum of three partners from three selected countries, eligible for funding by their respective Funding Agencies.
The Call welcomes a wide range of scientific disciplines and encourages interdisciplinary approaches. It aims to support various activities, from research to innovation and implementation. Furthermore, the Call emphasizes explicit engagement with stakeholders (companies, public authorities, NGOs, etc.) in the projects and underscores the importance of considering users’ needs in defining project goals.
Funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Partnership scheme, the DUT Call 2022 also contributes to the Urban Transition Mission of Mission Innovation as part of the MICall 2022 initiative.
Our Mission Outline
The main concept of the DigiTwins4PEDs project is to use Urban Digital Twins as a digital representation of the real world, opening up a wide range of possibilities for modeling the energy aspects of cities. This innovative approach aims to create a platform for residents and stakeholders to exchange information, enabling them to visualize various PED scenarios before their actual implementation.
Our research will draw on the experience of previous initiatives carried out by consortium members, including IN-SOURCE and SUNEX, and will be based on the development of tools such as SimStadt. This will allow the integration of socioeconomic and legal factors that characterize selected test areas, while modeling future energy demand.
The project is a step toward carbon-neutral cities and a sustainable energy future. Additionally, its goal is not only to develop the technology, but also to put it into practice using interactive tools and information-sharing platforms that will help prepare communities for PED implementation, encouraging the involvement of residents in the energy transition process.
Our Goals
DigiTwins4PEDs was initiated in response to the growing challenges of the clean energy transition and the need to engage the public in the process. The goal is to create living labs for residents to co-create positive energy areas (PEDs) in their neighborhoods.
Optimizing Urban Energy Transformation
DigiTwins4PEDs aims to leverage the power of Urban Digital Twins and advanced tools to optimize the transformation of urban energy systems, fostering sustainability and resilience in cities.
Co-Creation of Positive Energy Systems
The project is dedicated to facilitating collaboration among diverse teams, pooling expertise from different regions, with the goal of co-creating flexible positive energy systems for urban districts. This approach encourages inclusivity and shared responsibility for sustainable energy solutions.
Integration of Socio-Economic Factors
DigiTwins4PEDs extends beyond technological innovation by integrating socio-economic and legal factors. By simulating future energy demand and consumption patterns, the project seeks to address the dynamic interplay between technology and society, ensuring a holistic approach to urban energy planning
Interactive Implementation and Community Engagement
Beyond technology development, the project’s objective is not only to create advanced tools but also to implement them interactively. Through user-friendly interfaces and information exchange platforms, DigiTwins4PEDs encourages active community engagement, preparing local communities for the adoption of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and fostering a sense of ownership in the energy transformation process.
Uban Developement and Social Challenges in Stuttgart’s Nordbanhnhofviertel
The Nordbahnhofviertel is facing urban development, social and societal challenges as a result of Stuttgart 21. The question arises how the existing and new neighbourhoods can be developed together sustainably and how the livelihood and well-being of current/future residents can be considered in the context of PEDs. Around 5,500 people live in the Nordbahnhofviertel. The neighbourhood is characterised by a high number of residents with a migration background, gentrification pressure and dense development in a limited space in the Stuttgart basin.
As part of a hybrid participation format, the target groups of 1) children and young people, 2) tenants and 3) owners are to be involved in temporary, target group specific interventions. An interactive participation platform is used to answer the question of which benefits Urban Digital Twins (UDT) have for the energy transition to PEDs.
