CENER promotes the decarbonisation of Navarra’s public building stock through the development of a digital twin of the University Hospital of Navarra
The National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) has developed a digital twin of the University Hospital of Navarra (HUN) with the aim of analysing the energy performance of its buildings and supporting the definition of optimal decarbonisation strategies across the region’s public building stock. This project has been entirely funded by the Government of Navarre.
As the largest energy consumer within Navarra’s public buildings, the hospital is a priority infrastructure for advancing energy transition objectives. In this context, CENER has conducted a comprehensive analysis of energy consumption, installations and existing systems, including detailed monitoring of data over the past year and the collection of technical information on buildings and HVAC systems.
Based on this work, calibrated energy models have been developed to accurately reproduce the real behaviour of the hospital complex. These models have been used to simulate different decarbonisation scenarios through a multi-objective optimisation methodology that integrates key variables such as required investment, operational costs and CO₂ emission reductions.
The application of digital twins represents a significant advancement in public-sector energy planning, enabling rigorous assessment of the technical and economic impact of different measures prior to implementation. The analysed actions include improvements to the thermal envelope, electrification of heating systems through heat pumps, adaptation of HVAC systems to operate at lower temperatures, and the integration of on-site photovoltaic solutions.
The results demonstrate a significant emissions reduction potential. Under current conditions, the HUN generates 5,803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually. The analysis identifies a maximum decarbonisation potential of 61%, associated with an estimated investment of €6.3 million. Additionally, an optimised scenario has been defined, achieving a 34% reduction in emissions with an investment of €2.8 million and a payback period of 9.5 years, representing a balanced solution from a technical, economic and environmental perspective.
This project reinforces CENER’s role as a key player in the development of innovative solutions for the energy transition. The digital twin-based methodology is positioned as a strategic tool for optimising investments and enabling the progressive and scalable decarbonisation of Navarra’s public building stock, in line with European climate objectives.