Intelligent Urban Energy Systems, Markets and Communities

This research Group in the Competence Center DEEP is concerned with data-driven, economic, socio-technical, and AI-enabled approaches for resilient and sustainable energy systems.

About the Research Group

The Intelligent Urban Energy Systems, Markets and Communities research group conducts applied and fundamental research at the intersection of urban energy systems engineering, energy markets, data analytics, and citizen-centric socio-technical approaches.

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Forschende diskutieren Projekt-Ideen im Verkehrshaus der Schweiz

Our Mission

We support the transition towards resilient, sustainable, and inclusive energy systems by developing innovative methods that combine artificial intelligence, data-driven and physics-informed modelling, economic analysis, and participatory research. The group focuses on real-world challenges in cities and districts, where technical, economic, and social dimensions of the energy transition converge.

We therefore operate in close collaboration with municipalities, industry partners, public authorities, and citizens, and are strongly embedded in national and European research initiatives.

Research Focus and Expertise

Energy Communities and Citizen-Centric Energy Systems

We explore how citizens and local actors can actively shape the energy transition through energy communities, combining technical, regulatory, and socio-technical perspectives.

Energy Markets and System Economics

We design and analyse local energy markets and economic mechanisms that align system operation, flexibility, and incentives in decentralised energy systems.

Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence for Energy Systems

We apply data-driven and AI-enabled methods to model, monitor, and optimise energy systems, supporting informed decision-making and resilient infrastructures.

Urban Energy Systems and Electromobility

We address the integration of renewables and electromobility into urban energy systems, focusing on grids, charging infrastructure, and sector coupling.

Living Labs and Science Communication

We use living labs and participatory methods to test energy solutions in real-world settings and translate research into accessible knowledge and impact.

Selected Projects and Collaborations

The research group is involved in a broad portfolio of Swiss and European research projects.

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SFOE SWEET LANTERN develops living lab interfaces and participatory methods to support the Swiss energy transition through real-world experimentation and stakeholder engagement.

DUT Partnership (EU) PERSIST: Positive Energy Districts Driven by Citizens explores how citizens can drive Positive Energy Districts, combining technical solutions with governance, markets, and community engagement across Europe.

SNSF Multifractal and AI Approaches for Coherent and Resilient Energy Networks in Urban Territories: This project develops AI-enabled and multifractal methods to analyse, model, and enhance the resilience of urban energy networks.

Lucerne Living Labs provide a real-world experimentation ecosystem connecting research, industry, public authorities, and citizens to co-create energy innovations.

SNSF STAR-SOLAR: Socio-Technical Approach for harnessing Residential Solar PV Adoption investigates socio-technical pathways for residential solar PV adoption, integrating behavioural, regulatory, and technical perspectives.

SFOE Collaborative Energy Engagement Lab for the Integration of Electric Vehicles: This project develops participatory tools and engagement formats to support the integration of electric vehicles into local energy systems.

Innosuisse – eNet: An Adaptable Platform for Advanced Local Energy Markets is an adaptable digital platform enabling advanced local energy markets and the coordination of distributed energy resources.

SFOE SWEET CoSi Co-Evolution and Coordinated Simulation of the Swiss Energy System and Swiss Society studies the co-evolution of the Swiss energy system and society, combining coordinated simulations with socio-technical analysis.

Check out the videos and discover Gridly Communities and Gridly Mobility

Gridly Mobility

Gridly Mobility is an interactive simulation tool that illustrates how electric vehicles, charging behaviour, and energy infrastructure interact within urban energy systems. By testing different mobility patterns, charging strategies, and flexibility options, users can explore their impacts on grids, energy demand, and system stability. The tool supports learning, stakeholder dialogue, and informed decision-making around sustainable mobility and energy integration.

Yousra Sidqi und Manuel Christen testen Gridly auf dem interkativen Datentisch

Gridly Community

Gridly Community is an interactive simulation and visualisation tool that allows citizens, researchers, and decision-makers to explore how energy communities and local energy markets function in practice. Users can experiment with different roles, technologies, and behaviours to understand collective decision-making, flexibility, and energy sharing. The tool supports participatory workshops, education, and co-creation, helping translate complex energy system dynamics into intuitive, engaging experiences.

Our latest publications

Team