Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Smart-BEEjS (Human-Centric Energy Districts: Smart Value Generation by Building Efficiency and Energy Justice for Sustainable Living)
Reporting period: 2021-04-01 to 2023-04-30
Smart-BEEjS presents a balanced consortium of beneficiaries and partners from different knowledge disciplines and different agents of the energy eco-system. The project trains at PhD level an initial generation of transformative and influential champions in policy design, techno-economic planning and business model innovation in the energy sector, mindful of the individual and social dimensions, as well as the nexus of interrelation between stakeholders in energy generation, technology transition, efficiency and management. Our aim is to boost knowledge sharing across stakeholders, exploiting a human-centric and systemic approach to design Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) for sustainable living for all. PEDs have a better than zero net energy balance (excluding grey energy) across their lifetime, producing more energy from renewable sources than they consume, while achieving desirable comfort levels for end users.
The project explores a human-centric and systemic approach to design PEDs for sustainable living for all with the following objectives:
• To develop a practical tool that popularises the evidence-based knowledge of the relationships between socio-economic factors and citizens’ practices, enabling citizens to become active promoters of PEDs (WP3 – D3.3);
• To develop strategies that can positively influence citizens towards sustainable behaviour patterns, which will be used to advise at city/town council level (WP3 – D3.5);
• To develop a methodology for systemic planning of infrastructure investments that can be recommended at city/town level in order to transition towards PEDs, by designing a systemic modelling approach combining techno-economic aspects and pathways toward the creation and sustainability of PEDs (WP4 – D4.3 and D4.4);
• To identify an evidence-based policy and incentives pathway for tackling energy injustice and poverty, by an effective design of policy implementation at PED level (WP5 – D5.3 D5.4);
• To develop a user-based value generation tool that initiates user-centric BMs and value proposition designs exploring PEDs, without the need for subsidies (WP6 – D6.5 and D6.6).
The project explores a human-centric and systemic approach to design PEDs for sustainable living for all with the following objectives:
• To develop a practical tool that popularises the evidence-based knowledge of the relationships between socio-economic factors and citizens’ practices, enabling citizens to become active promoters of PEDs (WP3 – D3.3);
• To develop strategies that can positively influence citizens towards sustainable behaviour patterns, which will be used to advise at city/town council level (WP3 – D3.5);
• To develop a methodology for systemic planning of infrastructure investments that can be recommended at city/town level in order to transition towards PEDs, by designing a systemic modelling approach combining techno-economic aspects and pathways toward the creation and sustainability of PEDs (WP4 – D4.3 and D4.4);
• To identify an evidence-based policy and incentives pathway for tackling energy injustice and poverty, by an effective design of policy implementation at PED level (WP5 – D5.3 D5.4);
• To develop a user-based value generation tool that initiates user-centric BMs and value proposition designs exploring PEDs, without the need for subsidies (WP6 – D6.5 and D6.6).
The Smart-BEEjS project has designed a Researcher Development Framework (RDF), extending the Vitae RDF to include two further themes relevant to contemporary career needs and personal attributes – Enterprise, and Global Citizenship. Each element of the DTP aims to develop specific knowledge, skills and attributes well beyond the minimum requirements for whatever career path they choose: as academics, entrepreneurs, consultants, employees in SMEs or large firms, or combinations thereof.
The work adapted because of the Covid-19 pandemic, integrating technological applications to replicate the collaborative spaces in the online environment.
Smart-BEEjS has produced a wide variety of publications and a dashboard of knowledge that has been communicated across different audiences. For example: 21 Journal paper submissions and publications; 46 conference papers and presentations; Publication of the ITC policy report, which endorsed by a series of local authorities and experts in the field; 2 special strands in international conferences.
Socio-psychological factors and Citizens’ practices: shaping the design and creation of PEDs (WP3)
The work dedicated on generating evidence-based understanding of socio-economic, psychological and political factors creating and/or enabling PEDs.
The final deliverable of the WP, D3.5 investigates empirically for the case of PEDs the theoretical framework of silo thinking that identified in D3.2 as testified by stakeholders during a round table (D3.4) and offers recommendations to overcome silo thinking to achieve better collaboration between and within stakeholder groups.
Techno-economic aspects and pathways towards positive energy (WP4)
The work dedicated on understanding the status quo across different districts and cities in a multiple cases study and developing a methodology for systemic planning of infrastructure investments, that can be recommended at city/town level.
The work on D4.3 using a case study approach, answers the overarching question of which type of infrastructure will be required to turn an existing neighbourhood into a PED, analysing the context that frames the development of potential PEDs (D4.2) techno-economic aspects and exploring socio-psychological question of inclusion and affordability as potential barriers of PEDs. D4.4 provides further technical details on the modelling approaches that can be incorporated under the planning process.
Evidence-based policy propositions to tackle energy poverty through PEDs (WP5)
This WP focused in two parallel activities: understanding the impact of existing PEDs in relation to energy justice and poverty; and, Influence the regulatory framework for tackling energy poverty through PEDs.
Seeking to capture, through a series of KPIs, the impact of different smart and sustainable city concepts, we propose an indicator-centric approach to evaluate measures against environmental, economic, and social dimensions, as set-out by the SET plan 2018 (D5.2). D5.3 is then informed by the discussion of the round table (D3.4) the responses to silo thinking (D3.2) and the current efforts at city level (D4.2) and enterprise level (D6.2) to introduce factors that need to be central in the considerations of local policy makers during a policy design process. D5.4 provides guidance of how best to incorporate necessary considerations into the design phase of the specific policies, including the needs of citizens, and in particular vulnerable citizens.
Business Models and Consumers’ Value Proposition for PEDs (WP6)
The work explored business models, that led by business, cooperatives and citizen groups towards the proposition of potential value propositions under a PED context.
Using the base of the business models archetypes identified in D6.2 and understanding from WP3, WP4 and WP5, the team worked in collaboration with colleagues from the other WPs, designed and enacted a foresight exercise with horizon 2040 (the method is described in D6.3). The possible pathways to achieve its development across the eight regions participating in the project, are articulated in D6.4. Finally, D6.6 Future Images: pathways to exploit future desire scenarios, disruption points and long-term interventions with innovative business models, articulated and was presented at the IEEE International Smart Cities Conference 2022.
The work adapted because of the Covid-19 pandemic, integrating technological applications to replicate the collaborative spaces in the online environment.
Smart-BEEjS has produced a wide variety of publications and a dashboard of knowledge that has been communicated across different audiences. For example: 21 Journal paper submissions and publications; 46 conference papers and presentations; Publication of the ITC policy report, which endorsed by a series of local authorities and experts in the field; 2 special strands in international conferences.
Socio-psychological factors and Citizens’ practices: shaping the design and creation of PEDs (WP3)
The work dedicated on generating evidence-based understanding of socio-economic, psychological and political factors creating and/or enabling PEDs.
The final deliverable of the WP, D3.5 investigates empirically for the case of PEDs the theoretical framework of silo thinking that identified in D3.2 as testified by stakeholders during a round table (D3.4) and offers recommendations to overcome silo thinking to achieve better collaboration between and within stakeholder groups.
Techno-economic aspects and pathways towards positive energy (WP4)
The work dedicated on understanding the status quo across different districts and cities in a multiple cases study and developing a methodology for systemic planning of infrastructure investments, that can be recommended at city/town level.
The work on D4.3 using a case study approach, answers the overarching question of which type of infrastructure will be required to turn an existing neighbourhood into a PED, analysing the context that frames the development of potential PEDs (D4.2) techno-economic aspects and exploring socio-psychological question of inclusion and affordability as potential barriers of PEDs. D4.4 provides further technical details on the modelling approaches that can be incorporated under the planning process.
Evidence-based policy propositions to tackle energy poverty through PEDs (WP5)
This WP focused in two parallel activities: understanding the impact of existing PEDs in relation to energy justice and poverty; and, Influence the regulatory framework for tackling energy poverty through PEDs.
Seeking to capture, through a series of KPIs, the impact of different smart and sustainable city concepts, we propose an indicator-centric approach to evaluate measures against environmental, economic, and social dimensions, as set-out by the SET plan 2018 (D5.2). D5.3 is then informed by the discussion of the round table (D3.4) the responses to silo thinking (D3.2) and the current efforts at city level (D4.2) and enterprise level (D6.2) to introduce factors that need to be central in the considerations of local policy makers during a policy design process. D5.4 provides guidance of how best to incorporate necessary considerations into the design phase of the specific policies, including the needs of citizens, and in particular vulnerable citizens.
Business Models and Consumers’ Value Proposition for PEDs (WP6)
The work explored business models, that led by business, cooperatives and citizen groups towards the proposition of potential value propositions under a PED context.
Using the base of the business models archetypes identified in D6.2 and understanding from WP3, WP4 and WP5, the team worked in collaboration with colleagues from the other WPs, designed and enacted a foresight exercise with horizon 2040 (the method is described in D6.3). The possible pathways to achieve its development across the eight regions participating in the project, are articulated in D6.4. Finally, D6.6 Future Images: pathways to exploit future desire scenarios, disruption points and long-term interventions with innovative business models, articulated and was presented at the IEEE International Smart Cities Conference 2022.
The Smart-BEEjS work has attracted the interest from one of our partners, the-ITC, inviting through the secondment scheme 3 ESRs to produce a policy paper on infrastructure requirements for the UK. The policy paper has been published and endorsed by local authorities and experts in the field - Heinz, H., Margraf, C. and Galanakis K. 2022. Achieving net zero carbon transport in our cities: Key issues for policy makers. The Independent Transport Commission, London, UK.
Two ESRs participated in collaboration with researchers from UC3M in the public consultation on local energy communities in Spain, organised by the Spanish government.
The experience from the Smart-BEEjS is utilised by two ESRs and two beneficiaries to advise and form a proposal for the ENER/2021/OP/0006 call for tenders.
Two ESRs participated in collaboration with researchers from UC3M in the public consultation on local energy communities in Spain, organised by the Spanish government.
The experience from the Smart-BEEjS is utilised by two ESRs and two beneficiaries to advise and form a proposal for the ENER/2021/OP/0006 call for tenders.