Planning tool

THERMOS (Thermal Energy Resource Modelling and Optimisation System) is an EU Horizon 2020 funded research project which will provide advanced energy system data and models in a user-friendly open-source software to make heat network planning faster, more efficient, and more cost effective.

The PLANHEAT project develops a simulation tool so that your city can map, plan and identify low-carbon, economically viable scenarios!

The overarching goal of Hotmaps is the development of an open source heating / cooling mapping and planning toolbox and to provide default data for EU28 at national and local level. These data and tool allow public authorities to identify, analyse, model and map resources and solutions to supply energy needs within their territory of responsibility in a resource and cost efficient way. Those results will help authorities to develop heating and cooling strategies on local, regional and national scale which are in line with RES and CO2-Emission targets on national and EU level.

The following tool has been developed in the frame of the PLANHEAT project which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.

The PLANHEAT tool is the “heart” of the PLANHEAT project. It will help your city to simulate its way to decarbonising its heating and cooling system by showing you economically feasible scenarios.

The Sustainco project aims to increase the visibility and understanding of the Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) philosophy, with special emphasis on rural areas. This will be done by providing easy access to practical information on how to build or retrofit buildings to reach NZEB standards. SustainCo also aims to increase the visibility of front-runners, for both new-build and retrofits, with the aim of capacity- and confidence-building in the public sector. To find out more, check out our Toolkits and case studies, which you will find in the menu to the right.

RETScreen® International is a free, universal tool developed in collaboration with many government, industry and university experts. The program is managed and has ongoing support from Canmore ENERGY at the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources. On the territory of Poland, training for users is led by the Foundation for Energy Efficiency. The organization is the translator of educational materials available at www.retscreen.net. There is also a free e-learning course available at www.e-szkolenia.fewe.pl.

The RE-SEEties tool is a set of energy forecasting equations that was developed by CRES in the framework of the RE-SEEties project (SEE Programme). Its aim is to estimate future energy needs which can be fed into the ICLEI tool in order to calculate emissions also for future years. For the residential, commercial and transport sectors a series of equations have been developed by CRES to estimate future needs. If necessary longer term projections correction of emission factors may also be provided.

 The INSMART methodology was developed in the INSMART FP7 Smart City project. The objective is to use a scientifically sound approach in developing Sustainable Energy Action plans a city level. The methodology covers all the energy consumption sectors within a city (buildings, transport, municipal buildings, other uses) and local energy generation (solar water heaters, PV systems etc).

The objective of the EnPC-INTRANS is to develop local capacities of the public sector at the level of municipalities to set up and use EnPC models for financing of their investments in EE improvements of public municipalities and services. EnPC-INTRANS capacity building concepts and tools are jointly developed on the basis of stakeholder consultations, cooperation, and international exchange of concepts, ideas, and experience.

The handbook gives the strategic framework and help public authorities buy goods and services with a lower environmental impact.