Zone Units Optimizer: Predictive Control for Thermal Comfort and Flexible Buildings

5 February 2026R+D+I

At R2M Solution Spain, the R&D&I department works continuously to develop new solutions that can reach the market and have a real impact on the energy transition. Our goal is to go beyond research, translating knowledge into products that deliver tangible value to buildings, users, and the electrical grid.

In this article, we present Zone Units Optimizer, a tool currently under development based on predictive control and intelligent models, designed to optimize thermal comfort and transform buildings into flexible energy assets. The solution enables the anticipation of needs, improves energy efficiency, and reduces costs, while facilitating a more active integration of buildings into an increasingly renewable and decentralized energy system.

What problem does the Zone Units Optimizer address?

Today’s buildings rely on reactive control strategies that compromise comfort and energy efficiency. R2M Solution has developed the Zone Units Optimizer, which uses intelligent predictive control to maximize occupant comfort while transforming the building into a flexible energy asset, reducing costs and adding value to the power grid.

The Zone Units Optimizer is based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for the optimal management of thermal zones and terminal units (radiators, fan coils, air handling units) in residential and industrial buildings. Its self-learning capability via Moving Horizon Estimation (MHE) allows the system to continuously recalibrate using real-time measurements, automatically adapting to occupancy patterns, internal heat gains, and changing weather conditions. All of this is achieved through grey-box models based on RC thermal networks that accurately capture the building’s thermal dynamics.

The Zone Units Optimizer anticipates thermal needs using weather and occupancy forecasts. With this information, it leverages the building’s thermal inertia as a ‘thermal battery’: preheating or pre-cooling when energy is cheapest or renewable, maintaining comfort during peak hours. The result: electricity demand management, peak reduction, and maximization of renewable self-consumption, without occupants noticing any difference.

The solution operates in two modes: autonomous (individual building optimization based on electricity price signals or renewable energy production) and cooperative (contributing to energy community goals by following coordinated consumption profiles).

Has the solution been validated in real-world environments?

Validated across multiple maturity levels—from virtual simulation to real-world implementation—the Zone Units Optimizer has demonstrated energy savings of 15–30% compared to conventional controls, significant improvements in thermal comfort, and the ability to shift up to 60% of energy consumption to off-peak periods, positioning itself as a key tool for the decarbonization of buildings and their active participation in grid stability.

If you’d like to learn more about the Zone Units Optimizer, explore potential use cases, or collaborate on its development and validation, contact us at contacto@r2msolution.es

Si quieres saber más sobre el Zone Units Optimizer, explorar posibles casos de uso o colaborar en su desarrollo y validación, contáctanos a través del correo contacto@r2msolution.es

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