EnergyBuilder - A Lifecycle Approach for Clean Energy Integration through Digital Transformation of Buildings into Active Energy Prosumers

Project Description

EnergyBuilder advances the digital transformation of buildings to enable their active participation in the energy system. The project develops digital capabilities across the entire building lifecycle by applying digital twins and artificial intelligence to monitor, simulate, and optimise energy flows for improved sustainability and efficiency. It promotes the seamless integration of clean energy conversion and storage technologies across electricity, heating, cooling, and mobility, guided by a user-centred approach inspired by the New European Bauhaus principles.

The project is organised into seven work packages that together deliver a modular digital twin platform, a smart Energy Management System for real-time operation, AI-based optimisation models, and a virtual power plant layer that facilitates energy sharing and market participation. A dedicated scalability framework ensures that the developed solutions can operate across different building types and climatic conditions. Activities on reporting, community engagement, dissemination, exploitation, and communication support broad knowledge transfer and stakeholder adoption. Key outcomes include validated prototypes of the digital twin platform, Energy Management System, AI models, and the virtual power plant, all tested in real-world settings.

EnergyBuilder validates its results in four living labs representing diverse geographical and operational contexts: K Water’s Busan Eco Delta Smart Village in South Korea, SDU Smart Campus in Denmark, the Politecnico di Torino campus in Italy, and GECAD’s Building N in Portugal. These sites provide high-quality data, advanced metering infrastructure, and operational platforms for forecasting, optimisation, and control.

The consortium unites complementary expertise from the SDU Centre for Energy Informatics as coordinator, ISEP GECAD in Portugal, Dong A University and K Water in South Korea, and Politecnico di Torino in Italy. Each partner leads key technical activities and contributes unique living labs and platforms to accelerate development and deployment.

EnergyBuilder follows open access principles, applies FAIR data management, and embraces open-source practices where feasible. Through clear communication and active stakeholder engagement, the project aims to ensure strong uptake and lasting impact. Expected outcomes include reduced energy costs through higher efficiency and self-consumption, new community value through energy sharing, and tangible contributions to a just and inclusive clean energy transition.

Project Summary