What we do

At the Research Centre on Zero Emission Neighbourhoods (ZEN) in Smart Cities, we create solutions for the zero emission buildings and neighbourhoods of the future. This is our contribution to a low carbon society.

Together with our public and industry partners, we develop 9 test areas («pilot projects»), which are spread all over Norway. We also host the EU project syn.ikia. In addition, we test our research with cases.

Browse our publications

Our work packages

Helge Brattebø

WP1 Analytical framework for design and planning of ZEN

Ann Kristin Kvellheim

WP2 Policy measures, innovation and business models

Hans Martin Mathisen

WP3
Responsive and energy efficient buildings

Igor Sartori

WP4
Energy flexible neighbourhoods

Ove Wolfgang

WP5
Local energy system optimization within a larger system

Judith Thomsen

WP6
Pilot projects and living labs

X1 LCA coordination, X2 ICT coordination, X3 Tools and building services coordination, X4 user coordination

Judith Thomsen

WP6
Pilot projects and living labs

Communication

Innovation

Internationalization

Our partners

Our partners cover the entire value chain and include representatives from municipal and regional governments, property owners, developers, consultants and architects, ICT companies, contractors, energy companies, manufacturers of materials and products and governmental organisations.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is the host and leads the Centre together with SINTEF Community and SINTEF Energy.

Private sector

Public sector

Research and education

Organisation

The ZEN Research Centre is a centre for environmental-friendly energy research (“FME” in Norwegian stands for “forskningssenter for miljøvennlig energi”). It was established in 2017 by the Research Council of Norway.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is the host and leads the Centre together with SINTEF Community and SINTEF Energy.