Using Energy Data to Shape the Future of Bodø

From buildings to the city as a whole

Within HYBES, Bodø Municipality tested and monitored a range of energy production and energy-efficiency measures in municipal buildings. These pilots generated high-quality historical data on:

• Energy consumption
• Solar energy production
• Geothermal energy production

This data was analysed alongside climate data and energy price data, allowing the municipality to better understand how different solutions perform under real conditions.

What made this work particularly valuable was how the insights were scaled up. The building-level analyses were extrapolated to a city-wide perspective, using Bodø’s total energy consumption to evaluate how different solutions could affect the overall energy system.

Knowledge that travels across departments

One of the most important outcomes of HYBES has been organisational learning. Before the project, much of the energy knowledge was concentrated within the municipality’s technical building department. Through HYBES, this knowledge has spread across multiple departments and is now actively used in:

• Local climate and energy regulations
• The municipal societal plan
• Zoning plans for a new city district
• Collaboration with energy actors on long-term energy development
• Competence-building within the municipality and among external stakeholders

This internal knowledge transfer has strengthened Bodø’s ability to work holistically with energy and climate issues.

Adapting tools: from digital twin to LEAP and living labs

At the start of the project, Bodø planned to use a digital twin model to visualise energy data. When the software licence was not renewed, the municipality adapted its approach. Instead, Bodø joined LEAP modelling work led by Umeå University, which was also used in another HYBES pilot city.

Bodø provided the data, while Umeå carried out the analysis. This collaboration enabled comparisons of similarities and differences between cities and the analysis of urban energy systems from multiple perspectives, despite different local contexts and starting points.

A clear success story for Bodø has been the living lab, which brought together a wide range of relevant stakeholders. Participation was high, and the format was carefully designed to meet the interests of very different groups.

By creating tailored arenas for dialogue and interaction, the living lab:

• Spread knowledge about the work carried out in HYBES
• Enabled meaningful feedback from stakeholders
• Provided input that directly influenced further municipal work

For many local participants, this was a tangible and engaging way to take part in Bodø’s energy transition.

Learning across borders

One of the biggest surprises for Bodø Municipality was the stark differences in energy situations across the HYBES partner cities. While Bodø has had strict building regulations and no fossil heating for many years, neighbouring countries face very different challenges. At the same time, similarities in climate and demographics have shown that there is something valuable to learn from every partner.

Based on its HYBES experience, Bodø Municipality highlights two key lessons for other organisations:

• Actively explore collaboration areas—even with local differences, shared challenges often lead to transferable solutions.
  Plan for continuity, ensuring that knowledge developed in projects is sustained and further developed after the project ends.

Through HYBES, Bodø has shown how data-driven insights, cross-departmental learning, and stakeholder engagement can turn energy pilots into long-lasting value for the city and its residents.