Optimising Positive-Energy Districts through Interoperable Digital Platforms
OPTIX is a project that aims to optimize the energy performance of urban districts through interoperable digital platforms. The project will combine clean energy technologies in the built environment, such as solar, battery, hydrogen, and smart contracts, with 4th generation district heating and cooling technology, which provides efficient renewable heating and cooling via a low temperature network. This will enable positive-energy districts (PEDs) to create and operate digital platforms that can facilitate renewable energy generation, storage, and trading. The project will also develop peer-to-peer energy trading and active buildings concepts, which allow buildings to become active elements in both heating and power systems. The project will test the solutions in seven real-world cases in seven countries including Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Turkiye, Austria, Romania and Germany, representing different types of urban districts, climates, regulations, and digitalization levels. The project is relevant to the CETPartnership as it addresses the challenge of renovating and integrating the old building stock, which consumes more than 40% of energy in the EU. The project will
contribute to the CETP goals of reducing emissions, increasing renewable energy use, enhancing energy efficiency, and advancing the transition towards a climate-neutral Europe. The project will also provide guidelines and best practices for scaling up and
transferring the solutions to other PEDs across Europe.