CITYOPT planning tool for energy efficient cities

Abstract

There are many ways to integrate components (renewable energy sources, storages and energy efficient buildings) into a sustainable district or city and various corresponding urban strategies. However, the best solution is not always straightforward, and simulation tools are needed to select the optimal design according to specific criteria. The objective of the CITYOPT project is to create tools to support planning, designing and operating sustainable energy solutions in cities. In particular, the CITYOPT planning tool will support simulating, optimizing and analyzing various city planning alternatives. This holistic approach will integrate, among others, energy dynamics of local grids, buildings and consumption behavior and patterns, energy storages, and local energy production using renewables. The results from test use of the tool are presented alongside with business models for the case areas. For the Vienna case, the CITYOPT planning tool will allow to assess different possible designs for an industrial waste heat-based micro district heating network, supplying low-energy buildings. Existing renewable energy solutions and thermal storages (long and short term) are also considered. The Helsinki case consists of electricity storage solution planned in Kalasatama district and a combination of sustainable heating solutions planned for the Östersundom district.