HeatITup – Digital twin for cost-optimized operation of solar thermal plants

Solar thermal plants for district heating and industrial applications (>100 m² collector area) are a rapidly growing technology for providing cost-effective and price-stable renewable heat. They are considered a key technology for the heat transition and also generate significant local economic benefits.
However, the rapid development of digital technologies has so far remained largely untapped in the operation of solar thermal plants, as technology-specific methods and tools are lacking. This is precisely the untapped potential addressed by the HeatITup project.

To harness the benefits of digitalization within the solar thermal sector, the project is developing an open-source software solution for the cost-optimized operation of large-scale solar thermal plants. Based on data-driven modeling and a multi-level digital twin, the software will enable automated plant monitoring, condition monitoring, detection of underperformance, and predictive maintenance – helping to minimize system failures.

The value of the software will be demonstrated by integrating it into the business processes of selected lead SMEs. The development is tailored to their level of digitalization, and a tiered service portfolio will be created for companies and ACR institutes alike.