Wrocław researchers use digital twins to model energy demand

A research team has published findings in the ‘International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation’ regarding the use of urban digital twins to assess energy needs. The study, part of the DigiTwins4PEDs project under the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership, focused on the Kleczków district in Wrocław, Poland.

Researchers developed a detailed 3D building model of the Kleczków area using the CityGML LoD2 standard, incorporating data on building functions and construction periods. Due to the district's heterogeneous urban structure—where historic tenements sit alongside modern residential buildings—the team utilized the SimStadt platform to simulate monthly and annual heating demand. These simulations were subsequently compared against anonymized real-world thermal energy consumption data to evaluate the potential for establishing a Positive Energy District (PED).