Periodic Reporting for period 3 - POCITYF (A POsitive Energy CITY Transformation Framework)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-04-01 do 2023-09-30
Cities and their regions of influence are continuously and rapidly growing. In 2015, almost 75% of the EU population lived in urban areas and this share is expected to rise over 80% by 2050. Urban areas account for 60%-80% of global energy consumption and about the same share of CO2 emissions. Moreover, an estimated 97% of the EU’s building stock (close to 30 billion m2) is considered to be energy inefficient, while up to 75-85% of this will continue to be utilised by, at least, 2050. In order to comply with EU ambition of being climate neutral by 2050, cities need, therefore, to become way more sustainable.
POCITYF emerges as a pioneer in what concerns the application of smart city solutions in historical cities (where, due to the legal frameworks that condition the installation of more conventional sustainable solutions, such as PV panels, the road to a more sustainable future has more barriers). The project brings together 8 cities (2 Lighthouse Cities – Évora (PT) and Alkmaar (NL); 6 Fellow Cities – Granada (ES), Bari (ΙΤ), Celje (SI), Ujpest (HU), Ioannina (GR) and Hvidovre (DK)).
The project builds upon intelligent, user-driven and demand-oriented city infrastructures and services to foster energy efficiency, supported by substantial increase of renewable energy and e-mobility adoption, leading to the wide deployment and market-uptake of Positive Energy Blocks. Overall, POCITYF is creating new possibilities to make cities safer, greener and more responsive to the needs of their citizens, businesses and other organizations. To this end, it brings new technologies and renewed infrastructure to putt European cities at the forefront of the fight against global warming.
POCITYF emerges as a pioneer in what concerns the application of smart city solutions in historical cities (where, due to the legal frameworks that condition the installation of more conventional sustainable solutions, such as PV panels, the road to a more sustainable future has more barriers). The project brings together 8 cities (2 Lighthouse Cities – Évora (PT) and Alkmaar (NL); 6 Fellow Cities – Granada (ES), Bari (ΙΤ), Celje (SI), Ujpest (HU), Ioannina (GR) and Hvidovre (DK)).
The project builds upon intelligent, user-driven and demand-oriented city infrastructures and services to foster energy efficiency, supported by substantial increase of renewable energy and e-mobility adoption, leading to the wide deployment and market-uptake of Positive Energy Blocks. Overall, POCITYF is creating new possibilities to make cities safer, greener and more responsive to the needs of their citizens, businesses and other organizations. To this end, it brings new technologies and renewed infrastructure to putt European cities at the forefront of the fight against global warming.
Partners have been working on the finalizing the implementation of CIP extension services such as building-/city related data analytics, data anonymization, visual analytics to support the monitoring functions of CIP platforms in LH cities . In addition, effort has been put on the developing of reporting mechanisms to support monitoring data collection in LH cities. Work has been also performed to install monitoring infrastructure (sensors and communication means) in LH cities that will support the collection of monitoring data.
We have also seem advanced in the implementation of the CBA and the LCA, namely data collection to perform the LCA of innovative elements, start the collection of building specification to later perform the LCA of buildings, and revision and quality control of KPIs and baseline values for CBA.
Citizen Engagement strategies in the LHs and the initial planning of Citizen Engagement objectives and initiatives in the FCs took off. POCITYF engagement solutions have been analyzed and the evaluation & reporting methodology of the engagement activities was developed, based on the LHs Citizen Engagement action plans. Open Innovation Contests have been concluded successfully in the LH city of Alkmaar and Évora.
The work on business models and exploitation has been progressing as well, in business models to promote POCITYF innovation replication in public and private buildings, and to promote P2P and solutions to alleviate energy poverty.
Évora has achieved significant milestones: in terms of installations, the team has successfully implemented Wi-Fi data acquisition systems, home energy management systems (HEMS), and building management systems (BMS). Additionally, photovoltaic (PV) systems have been installed at both the University of Évora and SONAE, contributing to energy positiveness. EV charging infrastructure has been established in SONAE, City Hall, DECSIS, and LVpDÉ, and are waiting to be integrated in the EV Management Platform. 2nd life batteries and smart meters were also installed in Valverde. A key highlight is the establishment of the first energy community in Évora, which is currently awaiting licensing, although the development of an energy community management platform by EDP has been achieved. In terms of data infrastructure, the project has successfully developed a data lake structure, integrated into different applications. Additionally, the project has calculated key performance indicators (KPIs) for the baseline.
In Alkmaar the IEs have now largely been implemented and put into use at all demonstration locations. The CIP (or Digital Twin) is being implemented by the municipality of Alkmaar and is expected to contribute valuable insights into policy development, offering specific data on geographical, economic, energy, sustainability, and transport characteristics. These insights will serve as a foundational basis for the Replication Plans and the 2050 Bold City Vision Roadmap.
Following the strategic Replication roadmap defined at the beginning of the activities, the FCs have successfully and timely delivered the first version of the Replication Plans.
We have also seem advanced in the implementation of the CBA and the LCA, namely data collection to perform the LCA of innovative elements, start the collection of building specification to later perform the LCA of buildings, and revision and quality control of KPIs and baseline values for CBA.
Citizen Engagement strategies in the LHs and the initial planning of Citizen Engagement objectives and initiatives in the FCs took off. POCITYF engagement solutions have been analyzed and the evaluation & reporting methodology of the engagement activities was developed, based on the LHs Citizen Engagement action plans. Open Innovation Contests have been concluded successfully in the LH city of Alkmaar and Évora.
The work on business models and exploitation has been progressing as well, in business models to promote POCITYF innovation replication in public and private buildings, and to promote P2P and solutions to alleviate energy poverty.
Évora has achieved significant milestones: in terms of installations, the team has successfully implemented Wi-Fi data acquisition systems, home energy management systems (HEMS), and building management systems (BMS). Additionally, photovoltaic (PV) systems have been installed at both the University of Évora and SONAE, contributing to energy positiveness. EV charging infrastructure has been established in SONAE, City Hall, DECSIS, and LVpDÉ, and are waiting to be integrated in the EV Management Platform. 2nd life batteries and smart meters were also installed in Valverde. A key highlight is the establishment of the first energy community in Évora, which is currently awaiting licensing, although the development of an energy community management platform by EDP has been achieved. In terms of data infrastructure, the project has successfully developed a data lake structure, integrated into different applications. Additionally, the project has calculated key performance indicators (KPIs) for the baseline.
In Alkmaar the IEs have now largely been implemented and put into use at all demonstration locations. The CIP (or Digital Twin) is being implemented by the municipality of Alkmaar and is expected to contribute valuable insights into policy development, offering specific data on geographical, economic, energy, sustainability, and transport characteristics. These insights will serve as a foundational basis for the Replication Plans and the 2050 Bold City Vision Roadmap.
Following the strategic Replication roadmap defined at the beginning of the activities, the FCs have successfully and timely delivered the first version of the Replication Plans.
During this third reporting period, POCITYF partners conducted the development of those 73 innovative solutions. Within this group, some of the most innovative solutions – such as the RECS platform, P2P platform, energy management systems, 2nd life batteries; etc. – had a substantial evolution: part of those solutions already reached their alfa versions, while others (hardware) have had laboratorial validation (e.g. 2nd life batteries and EV chargers), to ensure all safety considerations upon installation. Besides the technical part, the consortium is identifying market needs, changes and challenges that may influence the technologies implementation, innovation, and market value during the project. Moreover, for the Lighthouse City of Alkmaar, the grid congestion has had implications in the installation of innovative elements, and alternative and creative solutions had to be found to address the shortage of grid power. Sports Complex Dement has optimized energy performance with stationary batteries that were initially not included in the project, which alleviates the necessity of grid energy at peak power times.
Évora ecosystem is being strongly dedicated to the adaption of the envisioned BIPV solutions and the Community Solar Farm (CSF). The CSF process design has been a collaborative effort between the City Hall of Évora (CME) and ADENE (National Agency for Energy) and the public tendering procedure will be an outstanding use case of how municipalities can lead and develop the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) for their citizens and companies. In addition, the RECS digital platform that is being developed under POCITYF has been chosen as a pilot project by ERSE, the Energy Services Regulatory Entity, to test energy billing within self-consumption and renewable energy communities, that can be later scaled up to national context.
In the third reporting period, there will be an augmentation of the impact foreseen in the best tables for the ecosystems of Alkmaar and Évora, further contributing to the positiveness of the project.
Évora ecosystem is being strongly dedicated to the adaption of the envisioned BIPV solutions and the Community Solar Farm (CSF). The CSF process design has been a collaborative effort between the City Hall of Évora (CME) and ADENE (National Agency for Energy) and the public tendering procedure will be an outstanding use case of how municipalities can lead and develop the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) for their citizens and companies. In addition, the RECS digital platform that is being developed under POCITYF has been chosen as a pilot project by ERSE, the Energy Services Regulatory Entity, to test energy billing within self-consumption and renewable energy communities, that can be later scaled up to national context.
In the third reporting period, there will be an augmentation of the impact foreseen in the best tables for the ecosystems of Alkmaar and Évora, further contributing to the positiveness of the project.