When you think of a shopping centre, you probably think of bright lights, busy crowds, and cool air conditioning. But at Palácio do Gelo – one of Portugal’s premier leisure and retail hubs in Viseu- there is a much deeper story unfolding behind the scenes. This massive complex is being transformed into a high-tech energy pioneer, proving that even the largest commercial buildings can become active partners in the green transition.
The mission here is simple but powerful: Store cold to deliver comfort and flexibility.
The Story: Turning Data into Decisions
Managing the energy for a multi-floor facility with hundreds of shops and constant visitor footfall is a massive challenge. Demand changes by the minute as crowds move through the building and the sun warms the glass façades.
Instead of just reacting to these changes, the Portuguese team is using over a decade of historical data and Artificial Intelligence to get ahead of the curve. By predicting exactly when the building will need more cooling, they can manage energy use smarter – reducing waste without ever compromising the comfort of shoppers or tenants.
“Using data-driven optimisation and the ice storage system, we can reduce peak demand while keeping comfort and visitor experience as our first priority.” – Sergio Campos, Facility Manager, MOVIDA / Palácio do Gelo Operations
Innovation in Action: The Power of Ice and Digital Twins
To make this vision a reality, the demo combines three layers of cutting-edge technology that work together like a digital nervous system:
Thermal Ice Storage: This is the site’s “secret weapon.” The cooling plant can actually “store cold” by creating ice during the night when electricity demand and prices are lower. During the busy afternoon peaks, the building uses that stored ice to provide cooling, taking the pressure off the national electricity grid when it’s most stressed.
The Digital Twin: Before any new energy strategy is tested in the real building, it goes through a “virtual rehearsal.” A Digital Twin acts as a 3D digital replica of the shopping centre, allowing engineers to simulate “what-if” scenarios safely. This ensures that every energy-saving action works perfectly before it is ever applied on-site.
AI-Based Optimisation: Smart algorithms act as the building’s brain. They collect real-time data from the Building Management System (BMS) to predict footfall and weather patterns, recommending the best moments to charge or discharge the ice storage for maximum efficiency.
Why It Matters: Large Buildings as Grid Heroes
The work at Palácio do Gelo is a vital blueprint for the future of commercial real estate. Shopping centres, hospitals, and office blocks are traditionally some of the biggest energy consumers in our cities. By showing that these “giants” can shift their loads and provide flexibility to the grid, the Portuguese demo is proving that big buildings can be part of the solution rather than the problem.
By “storing cold” and using data to shave down peak demand, Luxembourg and Portugal are demonstrating that we can have both high-quality urban experiences and a stable, carbon-free energy system.
