What is Nordic Energy Capital?
Nordic Energy Capital (NEC) is an international development project led by the City of Vaasa. Its aim is to build the energy city of the future together with residents, businesses, and experts. Within the project, Vaasa is developing smarter, more sustainable, and more predictable ways to produce, use, and manage energy.
In the Nordic Energy Capital project, Vaasa serves as a model city and a living test environment. The city tests and develops new digital solutions, such as a digital twin of the district heating system and data-driven tools that help better understand and steer energy use. At the same time, these solutions are made visible and understandable to residents as well.
The project supports Vaasa’s goal of becoming carbon neutral and acting as a bold forerunner that sets an example for other cities in Finland and across Europe. In addition to the City of Vaasa, the project is implemented together with Technology Centre Merinova, the University of Vaasa, EPV, Vaasan Sähkö, the Vaasa 4H Association, and the international partner cities of Umeå, Alcalá de Guadaíra, and Fylí. Together, they are creating solutions that have local relevance and an impact beyond the city’s borders.
Digital twin - what does it mean?
A digital twin is a virtual model of the city and the district heating system. It helps to understand how the system functions under different conditions.
With a digital twin, it is possible to:
- test energy solutions in advance without risk
- anticipate energy demand
- improve the reliability of the system
The digital twin allows solutions to be tested in advance so that everything works better in real life.
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Why is this being done?
Climate change and fluctuations in energy prices affect us all. District heating is a crucial part of everyday life, and its development has a direct impact on:
- housing and living costs, as well as exposure to energy price spikes
- the security and sufficiency of energy supply
- environmental well-being
The NEC project supports Vaasa’s climate efforts and strengthens the city’s role as a forerunner in developing solutions that can also be applied in other cities.
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What is done in practice within the project?
The project develops ways to make district heating more efficient. In practice, this means, for example, that:
- heat production can be planned
- energy is used only to the extent that is needed
- disruptions and changes can be anticipated and responded to in time
Data, digital tools, and collaboration are at the core of the work.
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What does this mean for residents?
Not everything is directly visible in everyday life, but the impacts can be felt.
For residents, this means:
- more stable costs
- a more reliable heat supply
- less wasted energy
- a cleaner future for coming generations
- information is shared with residents and schools
Even small improvements in the system can together deliver significant benefits.
Data supports smarter decision-making
The development of district heating is based on data. The project makes use of:
- satellite data
- open data sources
- local measurement data
Information is collected from multiple sources to form a comprehensive picture of heat demand and consumption. When data is up to date and reliable, district heating can be managed more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly way.
