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The article appeared in the magazine Moderní obec, issue 11/2026
The energy strategy is intended to provide the city with a basis for decision-making over many years. However, the input data on which it is based has a significantly shorter lifespan. Consumption patterns, the technical condition of buildings and energy sources are changing, whilst refurbishments and new investments are being planned. If these changes are not reflected in the strategy, the picture of the energy sector presented in the document will gradually diverge from reality.
A dynamic data model
The dynamic energy concept addresses this problem by maintaining, alongside the strategic document itself, a data model of the energy system that is updated over time. Unlike a static concept, this means that when any of the inputs change, it is not necessary to rebuild the entire picture of the city from scratch. For example, if a renovation takes place, a building’s energy consumption changes or a planned investment is altered, the new data is incorporated into the existing data model. The updated data can then be used to reassess the original assumptions, the proposed measures or their priorities.
“In practice, this means that the local authority’s decisions on prioritising investments, planning repairs or applying for grants are not based on data that is several years old, but on the current situation,” says Jan Hanus, Chief Executive of ORGREZ ECO.
Practical example: Bratislava
Together with KPMG Slovakia Advisory, we applied this principle when drawing up the Development Concept for the Slovak capital, Bratislava, in the field of district heating. The brief was to create a strategic framework for the further development of the city’s district heating system, utilising available data and its analysis. The result is not merely a concept. The solution also includes a data model that can be utilised even after its handover – it can be further updated and used in the city’s decision-making processes.
The significance of this approach is clearly evident given the scale of Bratislava. For the purposes of the strategy, it is crucial to divide the city into logical units – in the case of a large city, this means working not only with a single aggregated model, but also with smaller territorial units and their specific characteristics. The immediate proposal is drawn up for the year 2030; however, a phased approach in five-year increments up to the year 2050 is also proposed. The concept operates on the basis of variants which, in a sense, define the boundary conditions; the medium variant then works with various scenarios for resource utilisation. In assessing these, it also takes into account planned investments and the refurbishment of existing facilities, the extent to which different types of fuel are used, and the potential for utilising waste heat.
The practical outcome, therefore, is not merely an answer to the question of what the city’s heating system should look like in 2050. The model makes it possible to compare different development scenarios, assess their economic viability, prioritise investments over time and, above all, monitor progress and respond to changes.
“In the case of Bratislava, we drew up the plan in such a way that the city could continue to work with it even after it had been handed over, and could monitor progress towards the objectives on an ongoing basis,” adds Jan Hanus.
From concept to energy management
A dynamic approach can be used not only for strategic planning, but also for ongoing energy management. The ORGREZIO Cities platform enables data on buildings, energy consumption, generation and distribution, as well as related costs, to be centralised in one place. It allows users to track trends over time, compare individual properties and visualise the information. The outputs can be used for reporting, evaluating investment measures or identifying problems and deviations.
Getting started with data the easy way
Upon implementation, ORGREZIO Cities retrieves building data from public databases, and the local authority starts with a map that has already been populated. Data from energy performance certificates, audits and building surveys is added on an ongoing basis.
“Data from these documents is entered into the system either automatically or with assistance, so that the local authority or energy specialist preparing the audit or inventory not only submits the document, but also uses its content to enhance the overall overview of the local authority’s assets,” explains Jan Huml, Chief Executive of ORGREZ DATA.
For both large cities and small villages
The scope of the data model will, of course, differ between Bratislava and a small municipality. The principle, however, remains the same: the data set created can continue to be used for energy management, as a basis for producing mandatory documents, for investment decision-making and for future updates to the strategy. When preparing for a further investment or revising the strategy, it is therefore not necessary to return to the original data collection process, but it is possible to work with a continuously updated picture of the town’s energy sector.
A strategy as a long-term tool
This also changes the role of the strategy itself. It does not merely capture the state of the energy sector at the time of its creation and the target state towards which the city should be moving. Thanks to up-to-date data, it remains a basis for decision-making in the years to come. A dynamic strategy is therefore not a one-off document, but a long-term tool for managing the city’s energy development.
These concepts are backed by 70 years of practical experience
The quality of the concept depends on how well the consultant understands actual operations. ORGREZ ECO therefore first analyses the current situation and data, then proposes options. It draws on the ORGREZ Group’s engineering expertise and knowledge of a wide range of technologies and equipment. As an independent partner, it assesses each solution in terms of its economic, technical and environmental viability. The local authority thus receives a concept that delivers benefits for the budget, operations and the environment, and which, thanks to up-to-date data, remains valid for years to come.
Find out more about the ORGREZIO solution at: https://orgrez.io/cities