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New research project aims to optimize positive energy districts 

10 February 2025

Linköping University is part of a new European research project aimed at improving energy efficiency in urban areas. The project will run for three years and involves partners from six countries.

Solar pannels, blue sky.
The project’s approach combines multiple clean energy technologies, including solar power, hydrogen storage, etc, with modern district heating and cooling systems. The goal is to create seamless, energy-efficient urban districts where communities can generate, store, and trade renewable energy in a smarter way.

The project, called OPTIX (Optimizing Positive-Energy Districts through Interoperable Digital Platforms), focuses on Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) – urban areas that generate more renewable energy than they consume. By using digital platforms, OPTIX aims to optimize energy production, storage, and distribution in these districts.

Using technology to improve energy systems

OPTIX will integrate different renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels, solar blinds, advanced energy storage, and smart heating and cooling systems. The goal is to make energy production more efficient and allow PEDs to share or trade surplus electricity. LiU researchers will contribute by developing digital twins – virtual models of real-world energy systems. These models will help simulate the performance of these integrated energy systems and optimize different energy scenarios using AI and machine learning.

Yang Liu standing in a corridor.
Senior Associate Professor Yang Liu, from the Division of Environmental Technology and Management at the Department of Management and Engineering (IEI).
"By creating virtual representations of the physical energy systems, we can test and optimize various scenarios for renewable energy integration, energy flexibility, energy trading, and grid balancing", explains Yang Liu, project leader and Senior Associate Professor at the Division of Environmental Technology and Management, the Department of Management and Engineering (IEI).

The project will also use the Minerva framework, a system that enhances data security while optimizing energy use. It allows data to be processed locally, reducing the need for cloud computing and improving efficiency.

The project is funded by the European Commission through the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) and involves 12 partners from six European countries. OPTIX is coordinated by the Technical University of Denmark. The LiU team involves several researchers at IEI and the Department of Science and Technology (ITN). LiU has been granted a total funding of SEK 2,330,300 from the Swedish Energy Agency.

Testing in seven countries

To ensure the solutions work in different environments, OPTIX will run pilot projects in seven countries: Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Austria, Romania, and Germany. These locations were chosen to test how the system performs under different climates, regulations, and levels of digital development.

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