Riga is participating in the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme project, which will develop a digital twin for real-time monitoring and management of energy flows. The lead partner of the ambitious project is Riga Technical University, whose campus will serve as a pilot area for the creation and implementation of the digital twin. The Riga Digital Agency and the Riga Energy Agency are involved in the project on behalf of the local government.
Arnis Gulbis, Director of the Riga Digital Agency, states: "The Riga Digital Agency, together with other partners, will actively work on the development of regulatory requirements for the digital twin, ensuring its implementation not only here, but also in other Riga neighbourhoods and possibly in other municipalities. This project will not only contribute to a more sustainable city, but will also facilitate data-driven energy and urban planning decisions through jointly developed tools for modelling energy production and demand. This cooperation between different countries and organisations is essential to address the challenges of European cities and promote sustainable data-driven development. With this project, we are demonstrating our commitment to this process."
The project will provide practical tools, reusable models, algorithms for monitoring, visualising and managing the city in real time and guidelines for transferring such solutions to other neighbourhoods and cities. The project solution will enable urban planners, developers and other stakeholders to more effectively plan and implement measures that will promote the development of positive energy neighbourhoods and help the city meet its climate neutrality goals in a cost-effective way.
The project is implemented by 19 partners from Latvia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain, UK, Cyprus and Belgium, ranging from education and research organisations to businesses and public administrations. The Latvian participants in the project are the IT infrastructure company DATI Group, as well as the Riga local government – Riga Digital Agency and Riga Energy Agency.
Jānis Ikaunieks, Director of the Riga Energy Agency (REA), states: "We are proud of REA's involvement in this important project, creating a digital twin that will contribute to the development of smart, climate-neutral and energy-independent cities. Our goal is to make Riga smarter, more energy efficient and less dependent on fossil fuels. Together with Riga Technical University, Ķīpsala as a pilot area will become a model for other neighbourhoods and contribute to our city's plans to achieve climate neutrality."
Combining their competences, several institutes of the RTU Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy and the Faculty of Science and Technology will develop a digital twin for the heating, power supply and ventilation systems of several buildings on the Ķīpsala campus. Riga state city agencies will develop regulatory requirements for the digital twin so that it can be implemented in other Riga neighbourhoods and possibly in other municipalities. The technology will include a set of tools for modelling energy production and demand, optimising building performance, and simulating mobility and transport. This will help energy and urban planners to make data-driven decisions. In turn, awareness and involvement of the public in energy efficiency issues will be promoted through games and co-creation approaches.
The project will run until 31 December 2026 under the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities mission of the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. More information on the project can be found here.
Information prepared by: Lelde Rudzika, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council, email: lelde.rudzika@riga.lv