Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RES4CITY (Renewable Energies System for Cities)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-10-01 bis 2024-03-31
The RES4CITY.eu project addresses the dual challenges of achieving a carbon-neutral European Union by 2050 and upskilling the workforce to master sustainable technologies. While technical research progresses rapidly towards net-zero, the workforce's understanding and application of these technologies lag behind. RES4CITY.eu envisions a co-designed educational framework to bridge this gap, integrating best practices in renewable energies and fuel technologies through micro-programmes, serious games for learning, an industry-academia program, and industry-based case studies. The micro-programmes include specialized courses in solar energy systems, wind energy technologies, smart grids, energy storage solutions, and sustainable urban planning. The project develops and tests these programs with stakeholders, including public governance, industry, NGOs, and citizens, ensuring inclusivity and gender balance. Focused on cities, RES4CITY.eu identifies skills gaps and develops targeted educational initiatives to enhance the workforce's capacity to implement and manage renewable energy systems effectively. Expected impacts include a more skilled workforce, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, job creation, economic growth, and advanced renewable energy technologies. By fostering community engagement and participation, the project promotes sustainable energy practices and serves as a model for other cities, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Aligned with each of the work packages (excl. CDER WP, WP6), key activities:
WP1 | Project Coordination & Management
- The project has been effectively administered and financially managed to date, with progress monitoring ensuring deadlines are met, whilst management of quality and risks is maintained. Ethics and gender balance measures have been implemented - across, for e.g. micro-credentials and case studies. Consortium meetings have been held regularly, with all-partner meetings every 6 months.
WP2 | Promoting sustainability and circularity: RES4CITY strategies
- An in-depth analysis of sustainable strategies for carbon neutral smart cities has been developed, as well as multiple lighthouses case studies. Aligned with identified knowledge gaps, a basket of micro-credentials was co-created in synergy with stakeholders. 3 serious games were co-created.
WP3 | RES4CITY Innovation and Stakeholder hub
- A stakeholder engagement framework, encompassing the establishment of RES4CITY networks and hubs, alongside coordinating the co-design of pivotal exploitable outcomes, has been developed, coordinated and managed. Engaging content such as infographics, have been developed, with annual events within hubs. Surveys, stakeholder meetings, and workshops have taken place - as well as an Accelerathon, to foster collaboration between industry and academia.
WP4 | Implementation of the RES4CITY Learning and upskilling programmes
- A self-assessment tool has been developed allowing learners to tailor their micro-credential selection. As co-created in WP2, 3 serious games have been developed. Core to the project, 44 educational and professional micro-credentials have been developed, leading to 8 micro-programmes, deployed on a RES4CITY MOOC platform
WP5 | RES4CITY Learning and upskilling programmes piloting
- Student engagement & enrolment is underway, aligned with the testing and piloting of the platform and micro-programmes. This will continue in the latter half of the project, with achievement monitoring throughout.
WP1 | Project Coordination & Management
- The project has been effectively administered and financially managed to date, with progress monitoring ensuring deadlines are met, whilst management of quality and risks is maintained. Ethics and gender balance measures have been implemented - across, for e.g. micro-credentials and case studies. Consortium meetings have been held regularly, with all-partner meetings every 6 months.
WP2 | Promoting sustainability and circularity: RES4CITY strategies
- An in-depth analysis of sustainable strategies for carbon neutral smart cities has been developed, as well as multiple lighthouses case studies. Aligned with identified knowledge gaps, a basket of micro-credentials was co-created in synergy with stakeholders. 3 serious games were co-created.
WP3 | RES4CITY Innovation and Stakeholder hub
- A stakeholder engagement framework, encompassing the establishment of RES4CITY networks and hubs, alongside coordinating the co-design of pivotal exploitable outcomes, has been developed, coordinated and managed. Engaging content such as infographics, have been developed, with annual events within hubs. Surveys, stakeholder meetings, and workshops have taken place - as well as an Accelerathon, to foster collaboration between industry and academia.
WP4 | Implementation of the RES4CITY Learning and upskilling programmes
- A self-assessment tool has been developed allowing learners to tailor their micro-credential selection. As co-created in WP2, 3 serious games have been developed. Core to the project, 44 educational and professional micro-credentials have been developed, leading to 8 micro-programmes, deployed on a RES4CITY MOOC platform
WP5 | RES4CITY Learning and upskilling programmes piloting
- Student engagement & enrolment is underway, aligned with the testing and piloting of the platform and micro-programmes. This will continue in the latter half of the project, with achievement monitoring throughout.
The RES4CITY.eu project aims to significantly impact multiple domains by developing an educational framework to upskill the workforce in renewable energy and sustainable technologies. This initiative will create a highly skilled labour force essential for transitioning to a carbon-neutral European Union by 2050. Key outcomes include specialized micro-programmes, serious games for learning, and industry-academia collaboration programs to enhance knowledge in renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, and sustainable urban planning. The project's potential impacts are extensive: it will facilitate the adoption of renewable energy technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve urban sustainability. Additionally, it will create job opportunities, foster economic growth, and enhance community engagement in sustainable practices, positioning Europe as a leader in sustainable innovation.
To ensure success, RES4CITY.eu must address several key needs: ongoing research, market access, financial support, intellectual property rights, international collaboration, and supportive policies. Addressing these will maximize the project's impact and contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral European Union by 2050
To ensure success, RES4CITY.eu must address several key needs: ongoing research, market access, financial support, intellectual property rights, international collaboration, and supportive policies. Addressing these will maximize the project's impact and contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral European Union by 2050