Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is improving its heating system by upgrading its substations and adding a large 26MW geothermal energy source. To improve operational efficiency through system optimisation, the institution signed a 10-year agreement with Gradyent to implement a Digital Twin that will deliver a full end-to-end autopilot allowing for optimal temperature control, production dispatch, and demand response.  

TU Delft is the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university. TU Delft's goal is to become a CO2-neutral, circular, and climate-adaptive campus by 2030. To realise this ambition, TU Delft is looking to use the available energy sources as sustainably as possible and make optimum use of the heat from a new incoming geothermal source.

To optimally use the various heat sources, the institution required an advanced heat system control that automates the generation, distribution, and supply of heat for improved overall efficiency. Following an invitation to tender, TU Delft signed a 10-year agreement with Gradyent to implement a Digital Twin of its heating system that will deliver end-to-end autopilot capabilities, opening the door to faster decarbonisation and real-time optimisation of the entire system.

“We are working on various fronts to make our heating network more sustainable, partly in collaboration with scientists within our university. Combined with the digital twin that Gradyent will implement, we can take a next step in achieving our ambition. We look forward to this collaboration.”

Jaco van Noppen, Director Campus Real Estate & Facility Management at TU Delft

Building a Digital Twin of TU Delft’s heating system

The Digital Twin provides a real-time digital copy of TU Delft’s heating system, combining geographic, weather and sensor data with physics-based and AI models to deliver continuous insight into the entire system – from production, through all the pipes to each substation and user. It serves as the basis for performing all predictions and optimisations with a high level of accuracy for the coming hours and days at the TU Delft campus heating system.

The Digital Twin includes all subsystems such as heat sources, hydraulic elements in the network (pipes, distribution pumps, booster pumps and valves) and substations. In modern district heating systems, the strong interdependence between all elements necessitates an integrated approach. Separate simulations may lead to suboptimal or hydraulically impractical outcomes in optimisation. The Digital Twin helps mitigate this by taking the end-to-end heating system into account.

The Digital Twin will provide a 24-hour demand forecast, but also translate this into optimal supply temperature setpoints and setpoints for all production units. In addition, by modelling every building in detail, the Digital Twin will enable TU Delft to leverage the thermal inertia of buildings to maximise the system’s flexibility and reduce return temperatures as much as possible, boosting the efficiency of the geothermal source.

"We’re proud to support TU Delft on its decarbonisation journey and the creation of a future-proof, sustainable heating system that maximises the potential of its geothermal energy source,” said Michel de Koning, CCO at Gradyent. "This collaboration is special to us, as more than 20% of our engineers graduated from TU Delft with an MSc or PhD. Working together to contribute to TU Delft’s ambitious sustainability vision is truly special for our team."