A key contribution is the continued development of the DIM, extending existing 2D representations towards 3D spatial modelling and integrating GIS, sensor, utility and other relevant data sources, while following interoperability approaches such as OGC, IFC and Semantic Web standards. Together with CIRCE, TalTech also supports the development of the PED design and expansion toolbox, bringing spatial, infrastructure and energy-related information together to support better planning and decision-making.

The work is inherently multidisciplinary. A PED brings together buildings, renewable energy generation, storage, electricity networks, heating and cooling, mobility, infrastructure, spatial planning, communities, economic considerations and regulatory frameworks. Integrating these different dimensions and data sources into a coherent and transferable digital environment is therefore a significant challenge.

TalTech addresses these challenges through close collaboration with technical partners and pilot stakeholders, with interoperability and stakeholder needs considered from the beginning. The HARMONISE co-creation approach also ensures that end users and stakeholders contribute to the specification and design of solutions, helping bridge the gap between technical functionality and practical value.

One particularly important collaboration is between TalTech and CIRCE on the PED design and expansion toolbox, an exploitable result jointly associated with both partners. This collaboration brings together spatial and district-level modelling with energy-system optimisation and planning.

The potential impact extends beyond the Estonian pilot. By creating a more integrated digital representation of buildings, energy systems, infrastructure, land use and environmental characteristics, the HARMONISE DIM can support better-informed decisions on renewable energy integration, building renovation, energy efficiency, infrastructure planning, energy storage, district expansion and long-term energy system development. It also supports the wider integration of energy vectors and sectors, including residential, tertiary, industrial and mobility applications.

For cities, planners and energy stakeholders, this means being better equipped to explore questions such as where renewable generation should be expanded, which buildings offer renovation opportunities, where energy storage could provide the greatest benefit, how energy assets can interact at district level, and how a PED can expand over time while taking technical and spatial constraints into account. Ultimately, the goal is better-informed and more sustainable decision-making.

Looking ahead, TalTech is particularly excited about moving from development towards validation and real-world application—maturing the DIM and PED design and expansion toolbox and testing how these tools perform in real pilot environments. The team also sees strong opportunities for replication beyond the pilot sites and for further collaboration with European initiatives working on Positive Energy Districts, smart cities, digital twins, GIS, energy planning and renewable energy integration.

TalTech is also contributing, together with EnGreen and SIN, to the high-level market and regulatory analysis, helping explore the conditions needed for wider uptake of HARMONISE solutions.

At its heart, HARMONISE demonstrates that the transition towards climate-neutral and Positive Energy Districts requires more than individual technologies. It requires integrated approaches, interoperable data, collaboration and meaningful involvement of people and communities. TalTech is proud to contribute its expertise in digital modelling, energy systems, the Estonian pilot, and market and regulatory analysis to a project with the potential for wider European impact.

“What makes HARMONISE particularly exciting for us at TalTech is the opportunity to see research move towards real-world application. By connecting spatial information, energy systems, digital technologies and stakeholder needs, we can help cities make better decisions and take concrete steps towards more sustainable and resilient energy systems.”