Buildings that power the grid.
Not just consume from it.
ClimaFlex transforms buildings and their HVAC systems into active, grid-responsive assets, making every building a player in Europe’s clean energy future.
Our Mission
From passive loads to intelligent assets of the grid
ClimaFlex is the architectural catalyst for the European energy transition. By modulating heat pump operations through AI-driven Demand Response, we leverage the thermal inertia of buildings to balance the grid — without compromising occupant comfort.
Our goal: dismantle the barriers preventing HVAC systems from entering high-value flexibility markets.
ClimaFlex makes heat pumps an increasingly cost-effective technology
Predictive AI Control
Thermal Inertia as Storage
Peer-to-Grid Trading
The project at a glance
R290 Prototype
Capacity Air-water heat pump
Energy Savings by 2030
vs. 1,420 MWh in 2027
CO₂ Reduction by 2030
vs. 750 t in 2027
Payback Time Down
from 7.5 yr
Current Challenges
Barriers to the flexibility of HVAC systems.
Despite their potential, heat pumps are still poorly integrated into energy markets due to several critical issues:
Technical
Limited modulation capacity, inadequate response times, and poor interoperability between systems.
Economic
High initial costs for IoT infrastructure and uncertainty in revenues from flexibility services.
Regulatory
Fragmented regulatory frameworks and aggregation models that are not yet fully developed.
Social
Perceived risk of reduced comfort and low levels of user awareness.
Technologies & Solutions
Our integrated response to every barrier
ClimaFlex’s Hardware and software working in concert to unlock the full potential of building flexibility.
R290 High-Modulation Prototype
130 kWt air-water heat pump using propane refrigerant, sub-10% modulation, and inverter efficiency 10% above market — the engine of grid flexibility.
ClimaFlex Building Interface
Powered by Rebecca.AI, this local EMS integrates IoT sensors, PV production and smart meter data to optimize comfort while computing real-time flexibility offers.
ClimaFlex P2G Trading Platform
Aggregates distributed flexibility, automates market bidding in MSD/UVAM and settles remuneration via blockchain smart contracts — removing friction at every step.
Tested in real cases
The technologies developed in ClimaFlex are tested on two buildings and real-life case studies located in Veneto.
Stay updated
Follow project updates, pilot results, and market developments on our LinkedIn page.
The Consortium
MIPU
Industrial AI · Rebecca.AI
HiRef
HVAC · R290 Prototype
R2M Solution
P2G Platform · ESCO
Università di Padova
Research · UniZEB Lab