Smart-BEEjS · Project

Tools for Building Energy-Positive Neighborhoods That Pay for Themselves

energyPrototypeTRL 3Thin data (2/5)

Imagine a neighborhood where buildings produce more energy than they consume — and residents actually benefit financially instead of just paying higher bills. Smart-BEEjS figured out the human side of making that happen: why people adopt (or resist) clean energy, what policies actually work, and how to build business models around energy-positive districts without relying on government subsidies. They trained 15 early-career researchers across 8 countries and built an online tool that helps entrepreneurs design new energy ventures centered on what real people actually want.

By the numbers

100

positive energy districts targeted by EU by 2025

80%

of electricity consumption to be managed by consumers

4 out of 5

households targeted for consumer energy management

consortium partners

countries represented

project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Cities and developers want to build energy-positive districts where buildings generate more power than they consume, but they don't know how to design business models that work without permanent subsidies and that real residents will actually adopt. The human side — energy poverty, behavioral resistance, conflicting interests between providers and consumers — keeps derailing technically sound energy plans.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 21 deliverables including an online User-Based New Venture Business Model Development Tool that helps entrepreneurs design energy district ventures centered on actual consumer needs. They also developed techno-economic planning methodologies, behavioral influence strategies for municipalities, and evidence-based policy pathways for tackling energy poverty at district level.

Audience

Who needs this

Property developers planning energy-positive residential districtsEnergy service companies designing subsidy-free business modelsUrban planning consultancies advising municipalities on energy transitionMunicipal energy officers responsible for district-level climate targetsImpact investors evaluating energy district opportunities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Real estate development

enterprise

Target: Property developers building mixed-use districts

If you are a property developer planning a new residential or mixed-use district and want to future-proof it as energy-positive — this project developed a methodology for systemic planning of infrastructure investments at city and town level to transition toward Positive Energy Districts. Their techno-economic modelling approach can help you design districts where 80% of electricity consumption is managed by the residents themselves.

Energy services

mid-size

Target: Energy service companies (ESCOs) and utilities

If you are an energy service company looking to move beyond simple supply contracts toward user-centric business models — this project built an online User-Based New Venture Business Model Development Tool. It helps design value propositions for Positive Energy Districts that work without subsidies, based on what actually motivates consumers across 8 European countries.

Municipal planning and consulting

any

Target: Urban planning consultancies advising city councils

If you advise municipalities on energy transition planning and need evidence-based strategies — this project developed policy and incentive pathways for tackling energy poverty at district level, plus strategies to positively influence citizens toward sustainable behavior patterns. The consortium of 24 partners tested these approaches across multiple European contexts.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use the business model tool or methodology?

The online User-Based New Venture Business Model Development Tool was developed as a public research output. Based on available project data, licensing terms are not specified — you would need to contact the coordinator at Nottingham Trent University to discuss access and any associated costs.

Can these district planning methods work at industrial scale?

The project designed a methodology for systemic infrastructure investment planning at city and town level, targeting the EU goal of 100 positive energy districts by 2025. The approaches were developed across 8 countries with 24 consortium partners, suggesting broad applicability, though individual district implementations would need local adaptation.

Who owns the intellectual property?

Smart-BEEjS was funded under MSCA-ITN, a Marie Curie training network. IP from the 21 deliverables is typically shared between the host institutions and researchers. The coordinator at Nottingham Trent University would be the first contact for licensing discussions.

Does this comply with current EU energy regulations?

The project was specifically designed around the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan target of 80% of electricity consumption managed by consumers in 4 out of 5 households. Their policy pathways were built to align with EU energy justice and district-level regulation requirements.

How long would it take to implement in a real district?

The project ran for 4 years (2019-2023) to develop the full methodology. Based on available project data, the tools and planning approaches are designed for city-council-level implementation, but no specific deployment timeline for a single district is provided in the deliverables.

Can these tools integrate with existing energy management systems?

The techno-economic modelling approach combines infrastructure planning with behavioral insights. Based on available project data, the tool focuses on business model design rather than direct technical integration, so it would complement rather than replace existing energy management platforms.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 24 partners across 8 countries (AT, CH, DE, ES, IT, NL, PT, UK) is heavily weighted toward academia and research, with 8 universities and 4 research organizations making up the core. Only 3 industry partners and 2 SMEs participated (12% industry ratio), which is typical for a Marie Curie training network but signals limited direct commercial validation. The 9 "other" organizations likely include municipal bodies and NGOs, which adds policy relevance. Nottingham Trent University coordinated, with strong Central European representation. For a business looking to adopt these tools, the low industry involvement means the outputs are research-grade — valuable for strategic planning but likely requiring commercial adaptation.

THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITYCoordinator · UK
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIENparticipant · AT
INNOGY SEpartner · DE
UNIVERSITAT BASELparticipant · CH
Nottingham City Councilpartner · UK
Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboaparticipant · PT
STICHTING AMSTERDAM INSTITUTE FORADVANCED METROPOLITAN SOLUTIONS(AMS)partner · NL
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE CANARIAS,S.A.participant · ES
REGIONE LOMBARDIApartner · IT
RWI - LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR WIRTSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG e.V.participant · DE
ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANOparticipant · IT
CONSULTA EUROPA PROJECTS AND INNOVATION SLpartner · ES
RUHR-UNIVERSITAET BOCHUMpartner · DE
STADT WIENpartner · AT
POLITECNICO DI MILANOpartner · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTOpartner · IT
CENEX - CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR LOW CARBON AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIESpartner · UK
WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITYparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

Nottingham Trent University (UK) — contact via university's research office or project website

Order a report on this consortium See THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how Positive Energy District planning tools could apply to your development project? SciTransfer can connect you with the research team and help translate their methodology into your business context.

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