HFT Stuttgart sub-project: Definition and life cycle-optimized sustainable assessment of representative industrial and commercial areas archetypes

The Ind-Supply research project is concerned with the climate- and resource-optimized development of mixed-use commercial districts in Germany. The project is set against the backdrop of complex requirements for secure, cost-efficient, and ecologically sustainable energy supply, as well as the need to harness synergies, such as waste heat utilization. Ind-Supply's objective is to develop a digital (pre-)planning tool designed to support municipalities and planners in selecting and evaluating sustainable solutions.

In collaboration with Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Fraunhofer ISE, Prognos, and greenventory, the project is developing transferable solutions that serve as a foundation for the decarbonization of German industry.

Primary focus of the HFT Stuttgart research team:

• How can commercial districts be categorized in archetypal ways to facilitate the implementation of transferable and effective transformation strategies?
• What methods and key performance indicators are suitable for the assessment and management of the sustainable, climate- and resource-optimized development of these districts?
• Which sustainability dimensions – beyond energetic parameters that are to be assessed in depth by our project partners – are most relevant for a full environmental assessment of commercial districts?

Classification of industrial and commercial district archetypes:

The development of a systematic, indicator-based typology of commercial districts is currently underway at HFT Stuttgart. Representative archetypes are defined on the basis of structure, usage, and energy demand profiles. The methodology is grounded in the analysis of urban planning principles, energy metrics, and sector-specific characteristics. The objective of this study is to establish a typology applicable throughout Germany, providing a basis for further analyses and the development of benchmarks.

Lifecycle-Oriented Sustainable Assessment and Optimization:

The simulation tool SimStadt will be specifically enhanced to comprehensively represent not only energy-related but also non-energy aspects such as water management, green and open spaces, material flows, and climate adaptation. The development of suitable indicators (KPIs) will first be informed by relevant data, and these will subsequently be integrated into SimStadt’s modelling suite. The methodology encompasses the collection and evaluation of district data, the development of assessment algorithms, and the derivation of sustainable development pathways to systematically strengthen the resilience and adaptability of commercial districts to climate change.

• Classification of industrial and commercial district archetypes: The development of a practical typology is imperative for the purpose of facilitating the categorisation and comparability of industrial and commercial areas.
• Key Performance Indicators for the environmental assessment of commercial districts: The definition of metrics for sustainable development is provided, and these metrics serve as targets and benchmarks within the planning tool.
• Enhanced simulation and planning platform SimStadt: The integration of the developed methods and KPIs into SimStadt facilitates the assessment and optimisation of commercial districts, as well as the simulation of various development pathways and their impacts at the district level.
• Transferability and practical applicability: The close collaboration with industry partners, as well as the incorporation of real case studies, guarantees the applicability and practicality of the developed solutions on a nationwide scale. This project makes a significant contribution to the decarbonisation and sustainable development of Germany.