Objective
URBANSTORES addresses the large-scale deployment of UTES in dense urban areas. Urban subsurfaces act as vast thermal batteries, yet UTES uptake remains limited due to fragmented planning tools, insufficient subsurface data, regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure conflicts, and societal concerns. URBANSTORES overcomes these barriers through an integrated, digital, and risk-oriented approach that transforms the urban underground into a strategic, multifunctional energy asset. At the core of the project is DigiTES, a novel Subsurface Infrastructure Information Modelling based planning and decision-support platform. DigiTES integrates geological, thermal, infrastructural, environmental, techno-economic and socio-legal data into a unified framework, enabling conflict-aware planning and optimized design of all major UTES typologies. Coupled with DT, Reduced-Order Models, Life Cycle Assessment, and system-level energy modelling, DigiTES supports design–operate–replicate workflows from building to city scale. URBANSTORES demonstrates its innovations through three pilots in dense urban contexts: two high-temperature CTES systems (Switzerland and Finland) and one Borehole BTES system (Germany). It advances fully coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical modelling, real-time fibre-optic and satellite monitoring, predictive control, and integration with district heating networks. A key breakthrough is the repurposing of legacy oil caverns into CTES, reducing CAPEX and environmental impact while enabling long-term multifunctionality, including future hydrogen storage or emergency shelter use. The project also develops PCM-enhanced Energy Geostructures, increasing storage density and mitigating SUHI effects through coordinated thermal management. Societal and governance risks are addressed via an SSH-based de-risking framework embedding stakeholder engagement, regulatory mapping, and replication tools across seven European cities.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2026-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1210 Wien
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.