Digital Twin for Positive Energy Districts: A Web- Based Viewer for Scenario Simulation of the mixed-use area Jättesten, Gothenburg

Paper in proceeding, 2025

This research presents a web-based Digital Twin (DT) platform, DT4PED, developed to support the progression toward Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) through integrated modeling, simulation, and visualization capabilities. PEDs, as defined, represent urban areas that aim for net-positive energy performance by harmonizing local energy consumption with on-site renewable energy generation. DT4PED functions as a decision-support tool, amalgamating urban datasets with parametric modeling to assist municipal authorities, urban planners, and facility managers. The platform integrates Grasshopper scripting with EnergyPlus for granular, building-level energy simulations and leverages UrbanOpt for broader, district-level analyses. The interactive web viewer, developed using Unreal Engine and deployed via Pixel Streaming, facilitates real-time visualization of simulation outcomes, comparative scenario analysis, and performance metric display, without necessitating specialized hardware or software installations on the user's side. This architecture endeavors to enhance accessibility and enable collaborative engagement among diverse stakeholders. The system is designed to model various interventions, including energy efficiency measures, the integration of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and battery storage, and
demand-side management strategies. The Jättesten district in Gothenburg, Sweden, serves as the initial case study, demonstrating the platform's capacity for real-time scenario testing through interactive visualization and data-driven analytics. While acknowledging the need for further development concerning scalability, integration with existing urban platforms, and managing computational resource demands, this research underscores the potential of Digital Twins to bridge advanced computational modeling with practical energy planning in the context of PED development.