Urban Building Energy Modelling for zero-emission goals
Cities account for around two-thirds of global energy use, more than half of waste production, and over 70% of emissions.
With urban populations projected to exceed 68% by 2050, how we plan and transform urban districts is critical to achieving zero-emission goals.
Insights from Bærum's Fornebu district, Norway
A new open-access paper from Making PEDs consortium researchers explores how cities can move from climate ambition to data-driven action. The study focuses on the Fornebu district in Bærum, Norway, which is undergoing transformation to achieve zero-emission status by 2027.
What the research does
The study applies Urban Building Energy Modelling (UBEM), using EnergyPlus within the Urban Modelling Interface (UMI), to simulate energy consumption across Fornebu’s diverse building stock - including residential units, schools, a kindergarten, a nursing home and a shopping mall, many of which already integrate renewable energy systems.
The district is visualised as a digital twin, capturing building geometry, operational schedules and technical characteristics. Confidential and real-time data from Fornebu’s energy management system is used to benchmark and validate the model’s results.
Why it matters
By modelling present and future scenarios, the research demonstrates how UBEM can validate energy consumption predictions while informing future urban energy planning. The findings highlight how digital twin technology can support municipalities in making data-driven decisions and developing strategies to optimise energy performance at district scale.
Publication details
Title: Urban Building Energy Modelling for zero-emission goals: A case study of Fornebu district's digital twin in Bærum, Norway
Authors: A. Bulla, N. Gaitani, A. Gustavsen
Published in: Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 3140 (2025)