PEOPLESimon Pezzutto

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Simon Pezzutto

Senior Researcher
Institute for Renewable Energy

T +39 0471 055 622

simon.pezzutto@eurac.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7804-2185

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About

Team lead
Project coordination
Project management
Energy economics
Circular economy
Heating and cooling
R&D funding

Short bio

Simon Pezzutto completed his doctoral project (PhD in Engineering) at the University of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU Vienna). He also spent his PhD outgoing period at the European School of Economics in Madrid, where he obtained a Degree in International Marketing. Previously, he got a Master in Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering (Dipl.-Ing. - equivalent in Italy to Ingegneria per l´ambiente e il territorio) and a Bachelor degree in Environment and Bio-Resources Management at BOKU Vienna. He has deep experience in project management acquired by leading various WPs and tasks (e.g. HEU MODERATE, H2020 project HotMaps, EnerMaps, BuiltHub, Tender ENER/C1/2018-493 – Renewable Cooling under the Revised Renewable Energy Directive, and Tender ENER/2020/OP/0019 – Pathways for Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling, etc.). He is working at EURAC since 2010 where he contributed/is contributing to the implementation of technical and economic analyses as WP/Task leader within various international projects, mainly HEU, H2020, FP7 and IEA projects (e.g. IEA HPP ANNEX 34, FP7 SINFONIA, Interreg Alpine Space GRETA, as well various H2020 projects/tenders mentioned above). Moreover, he coordinates two LIFE-CET projects (CoolLIFE and ReLIFE), a FESR project (PROSUST), a provincial study (CoolST) and a Tender (EC-JRC/PTT/2025/LVP/5055 NL-Petten: Study on cooling individual and centralized technologies to cover the current and future cooling demand in the residential sector of the EU). Since 2022 he leads a Team on Energy Economics.

Links

ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Pezzutto

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pezzutto-055891143/?originalSubdomain=it

Scientific Publications

Journal article2026

Cost-benefit analysis of technologies and measures for summer comfort – A case study of residential districts in the Paris region

Fontenaille T, Duplessis B, Gelesz A, Pezzutto S

Simon Pezzutto

Projekt: CoolST - Adapting to Climate Change Impact: Crafting South Tyrol's Cooling Future for Energy Resilience

Heatwaves in urban areas, such as Paris, substantially increase heat-related health risks and drive a growing demand for space cooling. However, most existing buildings are ill-equipped to cope with rising temperatures, highlighting the urgent need for effective adaptation strategies. This study presents a comprehensive framework to evaluate and compare space cooling solutions—including active technologies and passive mitigation measures—within urban contexts. Unlike prior approaches focusing narrowly on individual technologies or building-scale analyses, our method integrates both direct impacts (thermal comfort and energy consumption) and externalities such as noise pollution and urban heat island effects.

To thoroughly assess these multifaceted impacts, a combined model has been developed and implemented. Beyond energy consumption, the modelling framework considers heat rejection from cooling systems contributing to urban heat island intensification and greenhouse gas emissions during the use phase. Additionally, a bespoke sound propagation model evaluates noise discomfort caused by air conditioners in urban environments.

This paper introduces a novel multi-impact modelling workflow combined with cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to assess the overall performance of selected cooling options at the city scale. Results, aggregated at the district level and considering societal costs and benefits, reveal the broad applicability of fans across contexts and highlight the advantages of district cooling networks in the densest districts. This integrated approach offers valuable insights for developing sustainable and effective urban cooling strategies.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116754

Journal article2026

How renewable cooling will affect RES target achievement in EU member states under different scenarios by 2030

Mascherbauer P, Kranzl L, Malla A, Pezzutto S, Riviere P

Simon Pezzutto

The European Commission (EC) introduced a delegated act to include renewable cooling alongside renewable heating in the calculation of renewable energy source (RES) shares and renewable energy shares for heating and cooling (RES-HC), as outlined in the renewable energy directive (2023/2413). However, the impact of this definition on expected RES share reporting by Member States is still not fully explored. The research questions of this paper are: How does this definition of renewable cooling impact the shares of RES and RES-HC in various future scenarios? And how do different accounting methodologies for renewable cooling influence the RES and RES-HC shares reported by European Member States? We carry out following key steps: (1) presenting and discussing the implementation of the renewable cooling definition according to the delegated act; (2) calculating the impact of renewable cooling on RES and RES-HC shares; (3) elaborating on the impact of renewable cooling in different future scenarios, specifically in 2030, by analyzing parameter variation to address related uncertainties; and (4) discussing the impact of potential design variations in the renewable cooling definition. The results show that countries with high cooling requirements experience a substantial boost in RES share by adopting renewable cooling in the RES and RES-HC calculations. Adopting more ambitious design variants of the renewable cooling definition could increase the incentive to use renewable energy as an input or increase cooling device efficiency. This suggests that EU Member States have the potential to significantly incentivize renewable energy utilization in this field – surpassing mere accounting outcomes – provided that a more ambitious definition of renewable cooling is adopted.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124709

Conference proceedings article2025

Empowering Occupants: Significance of Behavioral Choices in Reducing Space Cooling Demand in Europe

Gelesz A, Fakhari M, Elkarymy O, Belleri A, Reith A, Pezzutto S

Annamaria Belleri, Simon Pezzutto

Projekt: EU LIFE-CET CoolLIFE - Open-Source-Tools zur Bewältigung des steigenden Raumkühlungsbedarfs von Gebäuden in der EU

As space cooling (SC) demand in Europe continues to rise, with significant growth anticipated by 2030 and 2050, effective strategies are needed to manage and reduce cooling requirements. Occupant behaviour, as identified by the IEA, is a key factor in building energy performance, shaping energy use and helping occupants adapt to internal thermal changes, especially in summer.

This study quantifies the impact of different occupant behavioural profiles on SC demand across diverse European locations and building typologies. Using advanced simulation tools: Ladybug Tools and EnergyPlus as the engine, energy savings under different scenarios are assessed, considering different building archetypes, constructions, and under present and future weather scenario. Various behavioural actions are concerned, covering occupant presence, window opening, shading control, adaptive or controlled thermal environment, lighting and equipment use. Behaviours are categorized following three attitudes: i) baseline, unconscious behaviour, reliant on active cooling; ii) mitigative, where passive, adaptive behaviours are adopted in response to discomfort; and iii) adaptive, where behaviours prevent discomfort proactively.

Results show that adaptive behaviour reduces SC demand by up to 97%-100%, compared to the unconscious, worst-case behavioural profile adapted in policies and building codes. This highlights the potential to substantially reduce or even eliminate the need for active SC by adaptive behaviours, while maintaining indoor comfort. This should be facilitated through building and neighbourhood designs that provide components and elements that ease such behavioural flexibility.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1546/1/012071

Journal article2025

Enhancing Sustainability Through Quality Controlled Energy Data: The Horizon 2020 EnerMaps Project

Pezzutto S, Bottino-Leone D, Wilczynski EJ

Simon Pezzutto, Eric Wilczynski

Projekt: EU H2020 EnerMaps - Open Source-Tools zum Teilen, Vergleichen und Wiederverwenden von Energiedaten

The Horizon 2020 EnerMaps project addresses the fragmentation and variable reliability of European energy datasets by developing a reproducible quality control (QC) framework aligned with FAIR principles. This research supports sustainability goals by enabling better decision making in energy management, resource optimization, and sustainable policy development. This study applies this framework to an initial inventory of 50 spatially referenced energy datasets, classifying them into three assessment levels and subjecting each level to progressively deeper checks: expert consultation, metadata verification against a customized “DataCite/schema.org” schema, documentation review, completeness analysis, consistency testing via simple linear regressions, comparative descriptive statistics, and community feedback preparation. The results show that all datasets are findable and accessible, yet critical FAIR attributes remain weak: 68% lack explicit licenses and 96% omit terms-of-use statements; methodology descriptions are present in 77% of cases, while quantitative accuracy information appears in only 43%. Completeness screening reveals that more than half of the datasets exhibit over 20% missing values in one or more key dimensions. Consistency analyses nevertheless indicate statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) for the majority of paired comparisons, supporting basic reliability. By improving the FAIRness (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) of energy data, this study directly contributes to more effective sustainability assessments and interventions. The proposed QC workflow therefore provides a scalable route to improve the transparency, comparability, and reusability of heterogeneous energy data, and its adoption could accelerate open energy modelling and policy analysis across Europe.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su17177684

Journal article2025

Investigating circularity in the construction and demolition sector through remote sensing: A case study of Bolzano/Bozen, Italy

Shkirman K, Stoppato A, Giussani F, Pezzutto S

Simon Pezzutto, Fabio Giussani

Projekt: EU DUT ECLECTIC: Aktionsplänen zur Kreislaufwirtschaft für kleine und mittlere Städte

The built environment in urban areas contributes significantly to global waste generation through construction and demolition activities, highlighting the need for circular economy strategies to ensure sustainable development. Digital technologies offer fast and reliable methods to track material flows and improve resource efficiency. This study proposes a novel approach that integrates data from OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the Urban Atlas for land-use identification. The material stock (MS) is estimated via a geographic information system (GIS) to analyse the spatial characteristics of buildings, combined with material intensity (MI) data to assess the mass of materials within structures. Together with the quantification of material stock, hotspots of construction materials within the building stock are identified. When applied to the case study of Bolzano/Bozen, Italy, this approach estimated 130 tonnes per capita of accumulated building stock in the city and 40 tonnes per capita of material stock in infrastructure networks. This remote sensing methodology provides detailed insights into the quantity and distribution of materials in buildings and networks. The openness and availability of OSM data, as well as their independence from cadastral records, make this approach particularly advantageous for obtaining input data for the life cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings and the development of waste management strategies.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.cec.2025.100156

Journal article2024

Bottom-up method to derive cost curves for space heating savings in residential buildings for all European countries

Oberegger Filippi U, Prina MG, Hummel M, Kranzl L, Pezzutto S, Lollini R, Sparber W

Simon Pezzutto, Roberto Lollini, Wolfram Sparber, Matteo Prina

Space heating constitutes approximately a quarter of final energy consumption in the European Union. Aligned with the ambition of the European Green Deal for climate-neutrality by 2050, effective energy system modelling is crucial for shaping strategies. However, integrating energy efficiency within the building sector remains challenging due to limited methodologies and data on specific energy consumption, heated surfaces, and retrofit costs. This paper proposes a methodology that balances accuracy and implementation effort through clustering analysis and relies entirely on open data primarily from the Hotmaps project to compute country-specific cost curves for energy savings in building space heating for each of the EU-27 countries. The aim is to empower energy system modelers to better incorporate energy efficiency measures into scenarios, thus advancing strategies in line with the European Green Deal. Findings indicate that the retrofits considered – insulation of façade, roof, ground floor; windows replacement – can save 40–60 % of space heating energy demand in most countries but marginal costs range widely, from 2 to 180 Eurocents invested per kWh saved over the retrofit lifetime. Climate conditions and existing insulation levels significantly influence the cost-effectiveness of these retrofits. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders working towards climate-neutral objectives.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.111303

Journal article2024

Drivers and Barriers in the Adoption of Green Heating and Cooling Technologies: Policy and Market Implications for Europe

Pezzutto S, Bottino-Leone D, Wilczynski E, Fraboni R

Simon Pezzutto, Eric Wilczynski, Riccardo Fraboni

Space heating and cooling (H&C) constitute nearly half of Europe’s total energy consumption, yet only 23% of this demand is fulfilled by renewable sources. Green H&C technologies, characterized by both renewable energy usage and energy efficiency, remain underutilized despite their significant environmental and economic advantages. This study aims to identify the socio-economic barriers and drivers influencing the adoption of green H&C technologies across Europe. Employing a comprehensive analysis of policy, technological, and market dynamics, this study indicates how a synergy of policy frameworks and market forces can enhance the diffusion of these sustainable technologies. The results showed that key barriers, including dependence on fossil fuels, electricity supply challenges, lack of professional know-how, inertia, and concerns over noise and supply security, can be substantially mitigated through strategic policymaking and technological advancements. Moreover, policy measures, subsidies, incentives, R&D activities, and regulatory frameworks can effectively reduce uncertainties and enhance the competitiveness of green H&C systems compared to conventional methods.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su16166921

Journal article2024

Review of Existing Tools for the Assessment of European Building Stock Energy Demand for Space Heating and Cooling

Bottino-Leone D, Balest J, Cittati VM, Pezzutto S, Fraboni R, Beltrami F

Simon Pezzutto, Jessica Balest, Filippo Beltrami, Riccardo Fraboni

Projekt: EU LIFE-CET CoolLIFE - Open-Source-Tools zur Bewältigung des steigenden Raumkühlungsbedarfs von Gebäuden in der EU

There is currently a growing interest in lowering energy demand and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors. Several attempts by national governments to reduce energy demand are centered on the residential sector, since it accounts for a significant amount of the final energy demand. In order to estimate its energy demand and to evaluate the techno-economic effects of adopting energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, there are comprehensive models suited for residential applications, since energy demand characteristics of the residential sector are complicated and interrelated. Based on these models, several tools are nowadays available to support designers and policymakers. These tools are designed to be user-friendly and to include the possibility to develop simulated scenarios for energy demand, production of CO₂ emissions, and economic costs. The present study aims to offer an up-to-date extended overview of the most functional and widespread tools for the assessment of the current energy demand of the European building stock for space heating and cooling demand, both regarding open source and commercial licenses. Results highlighted the tools most commonly used by examining real applications, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and pinpointing the primary deficiencies for the benefit of future developers.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su16062462

Journal article2024

Use of Machine Learning Techniques on Aerial Imagery for the Extraction of Photovoltaic Data within the Urban Morphology

Giussani F, Wilczynski E, Zandonella Callegher C, Dalle Nogare G, Pozza C, Novelli A, Pezzutto S

Giovanni Dalle Nogare, Simon Pezzutto, Eric Wilczynski, Cristian Pozza, Fabio Giussani, Claudio Zandonella Callegher

Projekt: EU HEU MODERATE - MARKTFÄHIGE OFFENE DATENLÖSUNGEN FÜR OPTIMIERTE GEBÄUDEBEZOGENE ENERGIEDIENSTLEISTUNGEN

Locating and quantifying photovoltaic (PV) installations is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but it is necessary for monitoring their distribution. In the absence of existing data, the use of aerial imagery and automated detection algorithms can improve the efficiency and accuracy of the data collection process. This study presents a machine learning approach for the analysis of PV installations in urban areas based on less complex and resource-intensive models to target the challenge of data scarcity. The first objective of this work is to develop a model that can automatically detect PV installations from aerial imagery and test it based on the case study of Crevillent, Spain. Subsequently, the work estimates the PV capacity in Crevillent, and it compares the distribution of PV installations between residential and industrial areas. The analysis utilizes machine learning techniques and existing bottom-up data to assess land use and building typology for PV installations, identifying deployment patterns across the town. The proposed approach achieves an accuracy of 67% in detecting existing PV installations. These findings demonstrate that simple machine learning models still provide a reliable and cost-effective way to obtain data for decision-making in the fields of energy and urban planning, particularly in areas with limited access to existing data. Combining this technology with bottom-up data can lead to more comprehensive insights and better outcomes for urban areas seeking to optimize and decarbonize their energy supply while minimizing economic resources.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su16052020

Journal article2023

Assessment of Building Materials in the European Residential Building Stock: An Analysis at EU27 Level

Zandonella Callegher C, Grazieschi G, Wilczynski E, Oberegger Filippi U, Pezzutto S

Simon Pezzutto, Eric Wilczynski, Gianluca Grazieschi, Claudio Zandonella Callegher

Projekt: EU H2020 BuiltHub - Dynamisches Wissenszentrum für den EU-Gebäudebestand

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the building sector requires not only improving the energy efficiency of buildings but also minimising material requirements, embodied emissions, and waste generation. Circular Economy (CE) principles can be applied to minimize resource extraction and waste generation in the building industry. However, to implement effective CE strategies, quantification and evaluation of materials accumulated in buildings are required. This study aims to provide accurate data and a detailed analysis of the materials available in the EU27 residential building sector. By elaborating the data provided by the H2020 European projects Hotmaps and AmBIENCe, the different materials used for floors, roofs, walls, windows, and insulation layers in single-family houses, multifamily houses, and apartment blocks in the different construction periods were quantified for each EU27 country. Considering results at the EU27 level, concrete and brick characterize the largest part of the European residential building stock, whereas materials such as wood and different types of rock are used in much more limited amounts. These results form the basis for policymakers to monitor the status of the residential building sector, evaluate the potential of CE policies at a national level, and assess the environmental impact of building practices through lifecycle assessment.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su15118840

Journal article2023

Assessment of the thermal energy flexibility of residential buildings with heat pumps under various electric tariff designs

Wilczynski EJ, Chambers J, Patel MK, Worrell E, Pezzutto S

Simon Pezzutto, Eric Wilczynski

Projekt: EU H2020 EnerMaps - Open Source-Tools zum Teilen, Vergleichen und Wiederverwenden von Energiedaten

With the electrification of the heating sector in Europe, there is increased pressure to reduce stress to the electric grid from increased demand. Understanding the flexibility potential of the current building stock, including both efficient buildings as well as less efficient buildings, will be vital to assess the efficacy of demand-side strategies such as time-varying pricing in enabling shifts in consumer heat demand.

The aim of this study is to assess the thermal flexibility potential of residential buildings with electric heating under different tariffs, and the effect of these tariffs on heating expenditure and electricity consumption. To accomplish this, a resistance-capacitance heat demand model was integrated into a linear optimization model set to find the lowest cost heating schedule for a consumer under four different tariff designs.

The results indicate that time-varying tariffs can be effective in enabling shifts in the heat consumption, although the additional cost savings due to the flexibility provided by an efficient building envelope is limited (1% to 4.65% additional reduction in cost savings). The results suggest that potential flexibility is price sensitive and a function of the alignment of price and heating demand. Measures such as capacity tariffs should be considered to avoid preheating surges.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113257

Journal article2023

Mapping of Energy Communities in Europe: Status Quo and Review of Existing Classifications

Koltunov M, Pezzutto S, Bisello A, Lettner G, Hiesl A, Van Sark W, Louwen A, Wilczynski E

Simon Pezzutto, Adriano Bisello, Eric Wilczynski

A lack of aggregate analysis concerning energy communities exists in the academic literature. The authors utilized a combination of literature reviews and desk research to fill this gap. The existing debate on the classification of energy communities was summarized and aligned. Discovered classifications were used to analyze the status quo of the sector. The authors found nearly 4000 energy communities with 900,000 members in the European Union. On average, there are 844 members per one energy community. Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United Kingdom are at the forefront of the movement. Different countries have different primary sources of renewable energy utilized by energy communities, and membership structures vary based on the energy source and corporate purpose of the energy community together with the sector’s maturity in a certain country. Predominantly, hydro and biomass are used by energy communities in Alpine countries, solar energy is used in Germany, Spain, and France, wind in the Netherlands and Denmark, and different renewables in the United Kingdom. More members have joined the hydro, biomass, and wind communities than solar communities. Each country has national and regional associations of energy communities. In addition, intermediary actors, researchers, and consultancy agencies have shown a growing interest in the deployment of the movement. Achieving a conformity of business models Europe-wide would probably be impossible and pointless. Distinct geographical, institutional, and policy context-specific conditions stimulate diversity rather than conformity.

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.3390/su15108201

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Conference proceedings article2025

Empowering Occupants: Significance of Behavioral Choices in Reducing Space Cooling Demand in Europe

Gelesz A, Fakhari M, Elkarymy O, Belleri A, Reith A, Pezzutto S

Annamaria Belleri, Simon Pezzutto

Projekt: EU LIFE-CET CoolLIFE - Open-Source-Tools zur Bewältigung des steigenden Raumkühlungsbedarfs von Gebäuden in der EU

DOI Quelle

DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1546/1/012071

Simon Pezzutto

About

Scientific Publications

Cost-benefit analysis of technologies and measures for summer comfort – A case study of residential districts in the Paris region

How renewable cooling will affect RES target achievement in EU member states under different scenarios by 2030

Empowering Occupants: Significance of Behavioral Choices in Reducing Space Cooling Demand in Europe

Enhancing Sustainability Through Quality Controlled Energy Data: The Horizon 2020 EnerMaps Project

Investigating circularity in the construction and demolition sector through remote sensing: A case study of Bolzano/Bozen, Italy

Bottom-up method to derive cost curves for space heating savings in residential buildings for all European countries

Drivers and Barriers in the Adoption of Green Heating and Cooling Technologies: Policy and Market Implications for Europe

Review of Existing Tools for the Assessment of European Building Stock Energy Demand for Space Heating and Cooling

Use of Machine Learning Techniques on Aerial Imagery for the Extraction of Photovoltaic Data within the Urban Morphology

Assessment of Building Materials in the European Residential Building Stock: An Analysis at EU27 Level

Assessment of the thermal energy flexibility of residential buildings with heat pumps under various electric tariff designs

Mapping of Energy Communities in Europe: Status Quo and Review of Existing Classifications

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Externe Inhalte

Scientific Publications

Cost-benefit analysis of technologies and measures for summer comfort – A case study of residential districts in the Paris region

How renewable cooling will affect RES target achievement in EU member states under different scenarios by 2030

Empowering Occupants: Significance of Behavioral Choices in Reducing Space Cooling Demand in Europe

Enhancing Sustainability Through Quality Controlled Energy Data: The Horizon 2020 EnerMaps Project

Investigating circularity in the construction and demolition sector through remote sensing: A case study of Bolzano/Bozen, Italy

Bottom-up method to derive cost curves for space heating savings in residential buildings for all European countries

Drivers and Barriers in the Adoption of Green Heating and Cooling Technologies: Policy and Market Implications for Europe

Review of Existing Tools for the Assessment of European Building Stock Energy Demand for Space Heating and Cooling

Use of Machine Learning Techniques on Aerial Imagery for the Extraction of Photovoltaic Data within the Urban Morphology

Assessment of Building Materials in the European Residential Building Stock: An Analysis at EU27 Level

Assessment of the thermal energy flexibility of residential buildings with heat pumps under various electric tariff designs

Mapping of Energy Communities in Europe: Status Quo and Review of Existing Classifications