Intelligent energy solutions

• Intelligent & Sustainable Energy Solutions will serve as a multidisciplinary platform to co-create and validate scalable energy innovations tailored to real-world urban contexts. By combining the expertise of researchers, data scientists, policy experts, and industry partners, this theme addresses the critical challenges of reliability, resilience, affordability, and sustainability in energy systems.

• Collaborations will focus on digital twin integration: Collecting and analysing data from smart meters, IoT sensors, and energy markets to enable evidence-based policy and near real-time optimization. We will pilot solutions that enhance renewable energy integration, optimize energy storage and distribution, and promote active citizen engagement for demand-response programs. Close links with other themes, like Smart Mobility and Urban Sustainability, will drive holistic city-wide transformations.
• Enabling municipalities, businesses, and citizens to accelerate their journey towards carbon-neutral energy systems, with a strong emphasis on user-centric design, transparency, and economic feasibility. We aim to deliver knowledge, demonstrable pilot projects, and policy recommendations that shape the future of smart energy in Estonia and beyond.
• Smart lighting systems: Developing adaptive and sensor-driven smart lighting systems that utilise real time data to enhance the functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics of urban environments. 

Prof. Einari Kisel: Professor of Practice in Energy Policies, FinEst Centre and TalTech
Einari is bringing together decades of leadership experience in energy policy, governance, and the energy sector with academic research. Before joining academia, he held senior positions at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, served as the European Regional Manager at the World Energy Council in London, and worked at Eesti Energia, giving him a unique perspective on how energy policy, markets, and innovation can accelerate the transition to climate-neutral cities. At the FinEst Centre, he leads research and collaboration on smart energy, working closely with public authorities, industry, and international partners to translate research into practical solutions for urban energy systems.

Dr. Noman Shabbir: Research Fellow, FinEst Centre
Noman’s work focuses on AI- and data-driven energy systems, including energy flexibility, second-life EV battery applications, energy community platforms, and decentralized energy management. He coordinates and contributes to EU Horizon Europe and Estonian Research Council projects that develop and demonstrate intelligent energy solutions across urban and residential contexts. Current projects explore AI-based forecasting, peer-to-peer trading, digital twins, and multi-sector energy integration, aiming to support the transition toward sustainable, low-carbon, and autonomous energy communities.

Dr. Kaija Veskioja: Researcher, FinEst Centre

Dr. Tarmo Korõtko: Senior Researcher, TalTech

Prof. Martin Thalfeldt: Tenured Associate Professor – Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Research Group; Programme Director (Indoor Climate and Water Engineering), TalTech

Dr. Kalle Kuusk: Senior Researcher, FinEst Centre

Evaluating EV-batteries’ repurposing as energy storage system: The Estonian perspective (2025)

See academic publications