A Design Tool for Virtual Test Environment of Buildings and Local Energy Communities

level - from national grids to individual neighbourhoods. Buildings are becoming more active players in this system: not only consuming energy but also producing, storing, and coordinating it locally. This shift is driving the development of Local Energy Communities (LECs), where groups of buildings work together to increase energy flexibility, reduce CO2 emissions, and ease pressure on the electricity grid.
However, designing these local energy systems is technically complex and involves planning uncertainties. Municipalities, consultants, and energy planners need tools that help them evaluate possible scenarios and configurations - particularly to understand their impact on sustainability, performance, and infrastructure.
This EngD project, developed within the TROEF innovation program, delivers a simulation platform that supports planning and design of energy systems for individual buildings and energy communities. As a core of the design tool, a virtual testing platform, so-called EneCross, has been developed to allow users to model energy demand, solar PV production, and battery storage, then simulates and compares how different system setups affect energy savings, carbon emissions, and grid interaction. The platform is designed with an interactive web interface to support scenario-based planning. It allows users to adjust system components and building configurations and immediately view results through clear visual dashboards. The platform is designed in an open manner to be able to integrate various energy management strategies, e.g. FlexMS, which can be further expanded to include new technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, and economic evaluation tools.
To validate the performance of the design tool, the virtual testing platform was applied in two real-world case studies: the BAM Campus and the HU Science Park. These applications demonstrated its adaptability to different planning conditions, levels of data availability, and building types. The results showed that the platform can support more informed decisions in the early design stages of sustainable energy systems.
This report is divided into two parts. Part I introduces the tool and its virtual testing platform from a user perspective, including its purpose, features, and potential applications in planning. Part II presents the technical foundation of the platform, including its system architecture, simulation models, data handling, and results from the case studies. Together, these parts demonstrate how the platform bridges energy system modelling and real-world planning needs - helping communities design smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions.