E.ON and the University of Nottingham have launched a partnership that uses cutting-edge digital technology to address fuel poverty across the city.
The initiative, built around the university’s ‘City as Lab’ project, will apply a 3D map of Nottingham to identify households most at risk and test energy-saving solutions before implementing them.
The collaboration integrates E.ON’s PropSol data into a living ‘digital twin’—a 6.2m² model known as the Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM).
This state-of-the-art tool combines data from geography, income, census and building performance to simulate challenges and trial interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable residents.
“Fuel poverty isn’t just about statistics, it translates to cold homes, difficult choices and communities left behind,” said Fiona Humphreys, Chief Digital Officer at E.ON UK.
“With City as Lab, we can now test ideas, predict problems and design smarter solutions before implementing them in the real world.”
Nottingham faces some of the highest poverty rates in the UK, with 40% of children living below the poverty line. E.ON’s role includes identifying homes with poor energy efficiency and exploring how clean, shared energy – such as community solar projects – can serve those in most need.
Professor Paul Grainge, Academic Director of City as Lab, said: “With E.ON on board, we’re now exploring energy challenges in ways we simply couldn’t before. This is about co-creating solutions that make life better.”
The project also explores tools like Kuppa for solar planning and aims to deliver replicable strategies for other UK cities facing similar issues—creating a blueprint for a fairer, greener energy future.
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