Episode Transcript
[00:00:10] Speaker A: Welcome to the EU Energy Projects Podcast, a podcast series from Enlida and France focusing on the clean energy transition for the European Union and the EU Commission funded energy projects that will help us achieve it. My name is Aretid Daradimu. I am the editor of the EU Energy Projects Podcast and your host.
In this episode of the EU Energy Projects Podcast we explore how innovation meets real world impact in Europe's energy transition. I'm joined by Alicia Cams and Sophia Mullero representing the EU funded projects Built on and Open Lab to initiatives working to accelerate decarbonisation through digitalization, open innovation and citizen centered energy solutions.
To begin, ladies, I would like to first thank you for being here with me today and could you briefly introduce yourselves and the projects built on an open lab? Alicia, may I ask you to start first?
[00:01:18] Speaker B: Thank you for inviting me. It's great to be here. I'm a researcher at Cerner Spain, is renowned national renewable energy center based in Navarra, Navarre. I work on European projects like Open Lab within the Department of Grid Integration, Electric Storage and Hydrogen. This project, Open Lab is is a horizontal 2020 European funded project that brings 32 permits across Europe. Our goal is to transform the rural urban districts into positive energy neighborhoods or pens. When we say positive energy neighborhoods we mean an area that is energy efficient and energy flexible. I mean for net city zero emission and managing renewable energy sources.
It can even create a local surplus over the year in that neighborhood. So we are currently working in three neighborhoods in Pamplona, Spain, in Tartu, Estonia and in Gang, Belgium. In these communities we help the residents, cities, industry and researchers to co create solutions together, meaning in renovating either public or private apartments and of course the infrastructure of that neighborhood providing comfort and accessibility.
[00:02:48] Speaker A: Thank you Alicia. Sophia.
[00:02:50] Speaker C: Yes, hello. Thank you also for this opportunity. My name is Sofia Munero, I'm a researcher at Cardiff. It's a technology center located in Valladolid in Spain.
I work on digitalization to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Mainly my background is in engineering and data science and I'm currently the coordinator of the build on project.
BuildOne is a European funded project that aims to accelerate the smart transformation of buildings. Combining digital technologies, artificial intelligence, user centric approaches, we develop optimization services digital twins to better manage energy, integrate renewable energy sources and interact with the energy system.
The solutions are tested in a set of five pilots located around different places in Europe to ensure that they are practical, scalable and ready for the real world.
[00:03:49] Speaker A: What core challenges would you say Sophia, that in Europe's energy transition Is your project aiming to address? And Alicia, I'll come back to you with the same question.
[00:04:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:04:01] Speaker C: One of the main challenges is that buildings are very inefficient and not well integrated with the energy system.
Sometimes the problem is the lack of real time data, limited controls capabilities and that the interaction between users and buildings is not that well.
In addition, we have buildings with very genuine systems.
So harmonizing the data collection and ensuring the interaction between the technologies is also very difficult.
This is what we want to address in build on. We want to improve monitoring, having advanced control strategies and also introduce optimization services so that we can reduce consumption and we can also keep comfort and control the building and harmonize everything into a single place.
[00:04:59] Speaker A: Makes sense. Thanks, Sophia. Alicia.
[00:05:03] Speaker B: Yeah. I will say one of the biggest challenges in Europe's energy transition is scale.
We simply can't decarbonize each building.
It's too slow and too fragmented, even with the more innovative technologies. So we are doing in Open Lab is shifting the focus to the neighborhood level. Instead of optimizing only individual buildings, we are creating coordinated energy system across entire districts.
In our case, to act in local neighborhoods.
All these integration and digitalization challenges are covered in our product in viable packages dealing with the scalability.
[00:05:54] Speaker A: Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that even though both projects approach in a way innovation, they approach it in a different way. Can you please explain the main concept behind each project, but also the difference, like I said, in how you approach innovation. Sophia, would you like to go first?
[00:06:14] Speaker C: Yes, sure. So build on is very focused at building level and we adopt a holistic approach. We want to develop a generic and scalable framework to be applied different buildings with different constraints and nature.
For this we are providing a unified technological layer, what we call the which is exposed to the rest of the systems through what we call a universal building API. So that interaction is facilitated. We have a seamless interaction with the different systems systems and also the technology that is built on top of this. This is one of the main innovations that we are proposing.
And this can be also combined with the digital twins that we are proposing with are acting on a high level because we are closing the loop so that all the technology is also exposed to them.
[00:07:16] Speaker A: Alicia, what about Open Lab?
[00:07:19] Speaker B: In this case, the key innovation is thinking at system level, but also at neighborhood level. So at system level, not every building can be energy positive by its own, but that neighborhood can. So we treat districts as micro energy hubs where building renewal, storage, the grid all work together.
But innovation is not Just technical, it's also social. In this project we use a quadruple Elix model, meaning that we co create solutions with industry, with all the partners, with public authorities, researchers and citizens. From the start, residents are not only beneficiaries of the project, but they also are real actors and can help decide on how the neighborhood will look like.
For example, in Gang, a large scale phototech mural has been created combining clean energy in a huge visual striking installation as a common infrastructure at neighborhood level that ensures that the energy transition is not only sustainable, but deeply human. This is our innovation in Open Lab.
[00:08:51] Speaker A: Now, what makes your solutions distinct compared to existing approaches in the market? And the consumer in me really hopes that you're going to say that it's cheaper.
Please Sophia, let me know what you.
[00:09:04] Speaker C: Yeah. In terms of technology, what makes different our solution to the others in the market is that we integrate the different layers into a single place.
Starting with the artificial intelligence optimization mechanisms.
The capabilities to control this is also integrated with this layer that abstracts all the complexity of the building, so that interaction is facilitated.
In addition to this, we not only focus on in technology, trying to make it up to date, but we also try to facilitate interaction with users using intuitive applications and digital twins.
These kind of applications are also oriented to different kinds of users, depending on their background. We have an application more focused on facility managers and experts of buildings, so that this application looks different from the application that is more focused on a smart home level, so that in a neighborhood not very expert, people can also interact with the systems in an easy way. And we also that way we can make more attractive the technology for only people.
[00:10:32] Speaker A: And Alicia.
[00:10:34] Speaker B: Well, there are three main differences.
First of all, the scale we work at district level, so this is not solutions for individual building, only for individual buildings. Second, co creation, we customize the solutions which are developed with communities, with the people with an identity, so they are not imposed on them. And thirdly, the integration, we bundle renovation, renewals, storage and the common digital twins into one solution package that is fully adaptable. Yeah, so we are working mostly in occupied homes, which are complexity because some renovations are within the stakeholders, the occupants inside. But it's essential if you want solutions that actually work in real life, to be tested in real life.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: Alicia, how important is digitalization? I mean, you mentioned digital twin in your answer earlier. How important is digitalization in enabling your project outcomes?
[00:11:47] Speaker B: Yeah, in this digital transformation, digitalization is absolutely critical.
So we use advanced energy management systems that are coupled with the digital twins of the buildings. And these energy management systems Works at building and neighborhood level to optimize energy flows in real time between buildings and between neighborhood infrastructure. These systems connect sensors, devices and platforms into a fully interoperable ecosystem.
So this is really important to achieve the positive energy neighborhoods. So with digitalization you simply can't manage local energy communities of consumption or energy sharing effectively with the user in center.
[00:12:42] Speaker A: I would assume the same goes for Build On Sophia. So I would like to also ask you, because Alicia mentioned the energy communities, have you also encountered any barriers when trying to engage end users or communities?
[00:12:57] Speaker C: Yeah, in Build on users are mainly engaged using feedback mechanisms in our services, service and also co creation activities. In some cases, for example, some services are only acting on on a recommendation level.
We use this feedback to better improve our services that work in closed loop operation so that we control the building. Also based on their answers, we also engage facility managers and building operators to ensure that the solutions really fit with the real world problems. Yeah, in addition we also have, yeah, as I mentioned before, these different kind of user tools that are designed on a different level of detail because we are approaching different kinds of people.
One of the main barriers that we are facing now is that controlling the building in closed loop is not that easy because we need users to be really committed with the activity. And yeah, it's very difficult to to make them trust on technology when this has not been tested before.
[00:14:17] Speaker A: Of course, makes sense. Alicia, I would like to ask you the same question, but also would like to ask you how Open Lab engage end consumers or communities.
[00:14:31] Speaker B: So in Open Lab we are working also in real life conditions.
And for example, in Tartu, Estonia, rising energy prices linked to the war in Ukraine made renovation decisions more sensitive and really hard to engage the community of the neighborhood to be aligned. And we also see behavioral challenges like adapting the new technologies, changing everyday life energy habits. I mean, yeah, to address these challenges we use tools that make energy easier to understand.
A nice example from Genk is the Lumi lamp for example, to help the users to understand the energy change of the change of energy behavior. I mean a smart lamp that changes color depending on where your electricity comes from. So green means the energy comes from solar panels, purple means your home battery and orange means the grid. So this is real time feedback. Big feedback helps residents become aware of their electricity use. When the lamp glows green, it's a good moment to run your dishwasher.
Because solar energy is available.
This is how we can deal with these challenges. But for the rising energy prices, this is really hard to use. These are really challenges for us.
[00:16:18] Speaker A: Yeah, that makes total sense. Apart from the rising prices, which makes total sense. I'm also wondering about vulnerable or less digitally literate groups. How do you. How do your projects ensure inclusivity? Sophia?
[00:16:34] Speaker C: Yes, in the case of buildloan, we bid for this smart home application that is using simple accessible interfaces so that users that are not experts can use it regardless their level of digital literacy.
We also collect feedback to design these interfaces from different user groups to ensure that the application meets their expectations. And for example, in the case of one of our pilots, the pilot located in Spain, most of the occupants are elderly people.
We need to ensure that the interaction is done with the system.
We are prioritizing that easy design, clear information, minimal complexity, so that the system is useful.
[00:17:29] Speaker B: Yes, of course, inclusivity is built into BR design. Also because we are dealing. Yes. With different profiles. We deliver deliberately work in districts that include vulnerable groups, whether that's low income or people with disabilities or diverse communities. For example, in Pamplona, the renovated municipal apartments are now occupied by people with disabilities. In Gang and Turtu, there is a wide range of social backgrounds. Meaning that communication has to be multichannel.
Yeah. The idea is simple. The energy transition must work for everyone, not just for the early adopters. Yeah, we both coincides.
[00:18:19] Speaker A: That's great. That's refreshing to hear.
Now, I know that your projects relatively align with key EU priorities because that is a need and a prerogative before you get funding from the EU commission. But I would like to ask you from your perspective, of course, but regulatory or market barriers still hinder the the uptake of your solutions. Alicia, would you like to answer first?
[00:18:48] Speaker B: Yeah. Open Lab, as I commented, is really aligned with the European Green Deal. How?
Well, we are contributing directly to decarbonization with renewable energy integration and also efficient energy efficiency and system integration.
But for instance, in Pamplona we've installed building integrated foothold taik and are developing a digital twin as I committed to optimize energy flows across the district.
So we are not just aligning with policy, we are hoping to implement it on the ground.
Yeah.
[00:19:32] Speaker A: Sophia, how does a build on align with with key EU priorities?
[00:19:37] Speaker C: Yeah, Lindon mainly aligns with the European Green Deal or. Yeah, the European priorities in terms of energy efficiency, decarbonization, mainly the smart readiness of buildings. And we also contribute to the energy system integration because we are working on the integration of with the grid using flexibility, services, demand response and better use of the renewable energy.
[00:20:07] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. And what about collaborations? I mean, already we are here together and two projects collaborating in a podcast. What other, let's say collaborations have you done across borders, perhaps? And what role do you think that collaboration plays in your progress? And I'm asking that because the EU Commission is very interested in clusters, in creating clusters and collaborations and networking amongst projects. But what is your take, Sophia? Would you like to let us know?
[00:20:39] Speaker C: Yeah. So from buildloom, we have collaborated with many projects in webinars, workshops and even we have participated in some fairs presenting our technology.
So we really think that collaboration is essential. We also have a consortium that is, that combines research centers, university industry partners. We also have people coming from pilots with very different roles. So we somehow we are opening all that. We are approaching different opportunities from different perspectives and yeah, that way we hope that all these experiences can also be shared and all these different ways to approach the technology problem. Yeah, somehow are combined and together we can find the way to address all these challenges that we have commented before.
[00:21:44] Speaker A: Alicia, do you agree?
[00:21:47] Speaker B: Yeah, of course. European projects or initiatives such as this one should be collaborated and there are synergies in this framework. For example, Open Lab is deeply connected to the broader Positive Energy District PET community, which is itself a major European initiative under the CET plan, the Strategic Energy Technology Plan. So under this framework we are creating uranium districts that generate more energy than they consume. As I commented in our pilots in Gang, Pamplon and Tartu. But also this network of PET and PEN projects includes initiatives like Harmonize, which focuses on pets. Also you'll see openlabby is working and collaborating with Interpet and Evolution projects. Also Sophia commented in multiple researches and workshops and yeah, publications.
[00:22:59] Speaker A: Makes sense. I would like to move a little bit to the key achievements of the projects. Both of them are not new projects. They have, let's say, some miles in their engines. Are there any key achievements that you can share? So far, some tangible results.
Alicia?
[00:23:17] Speaker B: Yeah, this is the final year of Open Lab project and we are now asked for an amendment to increase one more year.
So we are still pending the resolution, but at this point we are already seeing strong results.
We have renovated in Tartu, in Genka and Pamplona, different buildings.
For example, in Tartu, an Elin district has been transformed into a modern energy energy efficient social housing block. Yeah, really modern.
Based on 5 storage renovation model. This is an integrated renovation that improves residents quality of life by reducing monthly costs energy costs. In Gang 27 social housing units of the same neighborhoods were renovated while residents remain in their homes. And additionally, seven touch houses, privately owned, function as living laboratory with different mix of technologies and materials and these demo homes can include solutions such as underfloor heating, power by a geothermal heat pump, heat recovery, ventilation, solar panels, home batteries and smart energy controls and on site electric vehicle charging. And in Pamplona also the renovation conducted have led to increase the photovoltaic energy, reducing 57 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
And on the digital and data side, in Paplana, we have tested smart urban innovations such as web based energy management systems, 3D viewer and interactive crowd mapping tools.
In May 2025 the city launched an innovative pilot using existing municipal security cameras with computer vision algorithms developed under the Smart illumina lab framework, etc. So in short, in Pampla 9 GenK in Tartu we have delivered energy packages.
We are working through scalable solutions in this Opela project.
[00:25:54] Speaker A: Not too shabby Alicia Lots of things.
[00:25:57] Speaker C: Sophia yes, so the loan will also end this year in October. So we are on the final steps of the project.
So far we have achieved the final release of several core services, those related in particular those related to monitoring, assessment and prediction.
We also have open loop digital twins for building for energy simulation and better understand building behavior. In parallel, we have also been working on the first version of our optimization services and closing up the taglines to control the building.
So this is a really key step and one of the most challenging parts of the project.
In addition, we have been working also on a set of user tools to facilitate interaction with buildings. They mentioned in a user applications and also a digital building logbook and a set of tools aligned with a smart readiness indicator.
All these components are also supported by a modular architecture to facilitate this seamless interaction between systems, users and applications to ensure flexibility, scalability and integration of all the technology.
And this was also delivered in the first phase of the
[00:27:26] Speaker A: thank you Sophia Ladies, we have reached the ending, let's say the end of our discussion and I would like to leave our audience with a little bit of a futuristic view. So I would like to ask you both to tell us what does success look like for build on an open lab in the next, let's say three to five to five years? Even if the projects have ended, let's say will there be a second life for them or I don't know, an opening to the private sector? Alicia
[00:28:02] Speaker B: so in Open Lab, as we are working with open living labs, we our success means firstly, fully operational positive energy neighborhoods, delivering real energy savings, comfort and affordability for the users and second, policy impact, real policy impact where our findings will help regulations and financing models across Europe and third, replication, as I say, scale is really important. And seeing this model adopted in cities, beyond this trade is our. Yes, our success. And ultimately in Penn, as we don't see only pilots, we search for a standard approach to urban earth transformation. So this is our success.
Hopefully.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: Excellent. Yeah, let's hope. Let's hope for the best. Alithia and Sophia what about Build On?
[00:29:07] Speaker C: Yeah, for Build on, success will be that the solutions are fully deployed in real buildings so that we have this measure, energy savings control everything interaction with the energy system and we can also control the building based on the technology and the recommendations. And beyond that, success will be also replicating the solutions across different typologies, different contexts, so that we can also demonstrate that this technology is really scalable and transferable.
Moreover, we need also to remember that Build on wants to contribute to this smart decision center and energy efficient technology for buildings. And we want to make this a standard in Europe rather than an exception.
[00:30:01] Speaker A: Fingers crossed for both projects. Ladies, thank you very much both for this very, very interesting conversation.
[00:30:09] Speaker B: Thank you very much.
[00:30:10] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:30:13] Speaker A: You've been listening to the EU Energy Projects Podcast, a podcast brought to you by Enlit and France. You can find us on Spotify, Apple and the Enlit World website.
Just hit subscribe and you can access our other episodes too. I'm Aretit Daradimo. Thank you for joining us.
