Periodic Reporting for period 3 - RESPONSE (integRatEd Solutions for POsitive eNergy and reSilient CitiEs)
Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30
With cities projected to host 80% of Europe's population by 2050 and currently accounting for 60– 80% of global energy consumption and CO2 emissions, it is evident that urban areas hold immense potential to drive significant reductions in Europe's climate impact. Cities can become central to the fight against climate change by embracing sustainable urban planning, promoting local renewable energy solutions, and prioritizing smart and green infrastructure.
The aim of the RESPONSE project is to establish a strategic vision for cities to reach city climate neutrality by 2050. It will turn energy sustainability into a doable mission by solving the energy trilemma (security, equity/affordability, and environmental sustainability) at building, block, and district levels. The project builds on intelligent, integrated and interconnected energy systems coupled with demand-oriented city infrastructures, governance models and services that foster energy sustainability.
RESPONSE supports 2 Lighthouse Cities of Dijon (FR) and Turku (FI), and 6 Fellow Cities Brussels (BE), Zaragoza (ES), Botosani (RO), Ptolemaida (GR), Gabrovo (BU) and Severodonetsk (UA) to facilitate them deliver positive energy blocks and districts. It acts as a catalyst for engaging diverse stakeholders, fostering the development of innovative business models that scale and replicate effective solutions while providing a validated roadmap for creating sustainable cities across Europe and beyond.
The overall focus of the project is to create resilient and safe cities whilst increasing the quality of life and lowering the impacts of climate change.
The aim of the RESPONSE project is to establish a strategic vision for cities to reach city climate neutrality by 2050. It will turn energy sustainability into a doable mission by solving the energy trilemma (security, equity/affordability, and environmental sustainability) at building, block, and district levels. The project builds on intelligent, integrated and interconnected energy systems coupled with demand-oriented city infrastructures, governance models and services that foster energy sustainability.
RESPONSE supports 2 Lighthouse Cities of Dijon (FR) and Turku (FI), and 6 Fellow Cities Brussels (BE), Zaragoza (ES), Botosani (RO), Ptolemaida (GR), Gabrovo (BU) and Severodonetsk (UA) to facilitate them deliver positive energy blocks and districts. It acts as a catalyst for engaging diverse stakeholders, fostering the development of innovative business models that scale and replicate effective solutions while providing a validated roadmap for creating sustainable cities across Europe and beyond.
The overall focus of the project is to create resilient and safe cities whilst increasing the quality of life and lowering the impacts of climate change.
The main achievements by the end of the third reporting period are:
* Developed Master City Plans to deploy and demonstrate the Smart City Energy Transition innovations. These plans set out the requirements and factors to facilitate user adoption and define the initial scale of the solutions to be deployed in the Lighthouse Cities of Turku and Dijon.
* Completed the planning and definition of the project monitoring activities. The relevant project KPIs have been finalized. The RESPONSE online platform, which allows stakeholders and end-users of the smart city ecosystem to navigate through the different KPIs and monitor the performance of RESPONSE solutions, has been developed and tested with real-time data. End-users can now evaluate the performance of the solutions and compare different implementations within the Lighthouse Cities.
* Performed a baseline study and an in-depth technical analysis of the currently available ICT solutions in Dijon and Turku together with an analysis of the requirements (technical, operational, legislative, regulatory, business) and potential technical barriers for replication and interoperability of the project’s ICT solutions. All solutions were developed. However, the late deployment of several assets in Positive Energy Buildings led to delays in connecting two solutions in Dijon. In Turku, all solutions were implemented except for one.
* Implemented local citizen engagement activities in both Lighthouse Cities. In Dijon, several local events (kids lab, workshops, etc.) and co-creation and design thinking activities and a living lab were organized to engage stakeholders. In Turku, peer mentors were recruited and trained to organize series of local activities, meetings and workshops. In both cities, air quality related actions, the design of the project participatory platform and its content were finalized. All the cascade funding events were also organized.
* Assessed and finalized new business models for both cities. In order to help the relevant stakeholders to assess the best options, a business model evaluation tool for smart cities is currently under development.
* Implemented and demonstrated almost all technical solutions related to positive energy building systems, local energy supply and sustainable energy storage in Dijon and Turku. These are currently being monitored. However, some local constraints and barriers have delayed the implementation of some of the solutions. The constraints have been identified and mitigation plans have been defined. Activities related to monitoring, replication of solutions and preparation of the Bold City 2050 vision are progressing.
* Progressed work on the replication roadmaps and Bold City Vision 2050 of the 6 fellow cities. Cities have identified the most appropriate innovative solutions and are carrying out detailed feasibility studies of those solutions in order to integrate them into their strategic plans.
* The consortium partners have collaborated with other relevant smart cities stakeholders and smart cities related projects by participating in various events (joint meetings, webinars, workshops, etc.) and regular Scalable Cities initiatives (joint publication, board of coordinators and task group meetings, etc.). The Climate Adaptation Plan and the Air Quality Management Manual have been finalized. Work on the decarbonization of the district heating networks in both cities is progressing.
* Progressed with the work on the exploitation and post-project sustainability plan and the replication roadmap of RESPONSE solutions for other EU cities.
* Developed Master City Plans to deploy and demonstrate the Smart City Energy Transition innovations. These plans set out the requirements and factors to facilitate user adoption and define the initial scale of the solutions to be deployed in the Lighthouse Cities of Turku and Dijon.
* Completed the planning and definition of the project monitoring activities. The relevant project KPIs have been finalized. The RESPONSE online platform, which allows stakeholders and end-users of the smart city ecosystem to navigate through the different KPIs and monitor the performance of RESPONSE solutions, has been developed and tested with real-time data. End-users can now evaluate the performance of the solutions and compare different implementations within the Lighthouse Cities.
* Performed a baseline study and an in-depth technical analysis of the currently available ICT solutions in Dijon and Turku together with an analysis of the requirements (technical, operational, legislative, regulatory, business) and potential technical barriers for replication and interoperability of the project’s ICT solutions. All solutions were developed. However, the late deployment of several assets in Positive Energy Buildings led to delays in connecting two solutions in Dijon. In Turku, all solutions were implemented except for one.
* Implemented local citizen engagement activities in both Lighthouse Cities. In Dijon, several local events (kids lab, workshops, etc.) and co-creation and design thinking activities and a living lab were organized to engage stakeholders. In Turku, peer mentors were recruited and trained to organize series of local activities, meetings and workshops. In both cities, air quality related actions, the design of the project participatory platform and its content were finalized. All the cascade funding events were also organized.
* Assessed and finalized new business models for both cities. In order to help the relevant stakeholders to assess the best options, a business model evaluation tool for smart cities is currently under development.
* Implemented and demonstrated almost all technical solutions related to positive energy building systems, local energy supply and sustainable energy storage in Dijon and Turku. These are currently being monitored. However, some local constraints and barriers have delayed the implementation of some of the solutions. The constraints have been identified and mitigation plans have been defined. Activities related to monitoring, replication of solutions and preparation of the Bold City 2050 vision are progressing.
* Progressed work on the replication roadmaps and Bold City Vision 2050 of the 6 fellow cities. Cities have identified the most appropriate innovative solutions and are carrying out detailed feasibility studies of those solutions in order to integrate them into their strategic plans.
* The consortium partners have collaborated with other relevant smart cities stakeholders and smart cities related projects by participating in various events (joint meetings, webinars, workshops, etc.) and regular Scalable Cities initiatives (joint publication, board of coordinators and task group meetings, etc.). The Climate Adaptation Plan and the Air Quality Management Manual have been finalized. Work on the decarbonization of the district heating networks in both cities is progressing.
* Progressed with the work on the exploitation and post-project sustainability plan and the replication roadmap of RESPONSE solutions for other EU cities.
RESPONSE will demonstrate smart city technologies that improve the quality of life, the environment and connected services, by:
* Implementing innovative solutions and technologies related to the energy transformation, decarbonisation, smart communication, security and digitalisation. Buildings in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) will be retrofitted to achieve a positive energy balance with renewable energy services, storage, control and automation systems.
* Involving citizens in the design, evaluation and demonstration activities from the start of the project.
* Introducing innovative urban planning and governance tools (e.g. City Diagnostics) to help local authorities better organise and respond to urban needs in a timely manner.
* Introducing KPIs for performance measurement and monitoring of the solutions implemented, and links Life Cycle Assessment and air quality modelling to support district/city decision making in design.
* Promoting the adoption of electric mobility and its integration into the energy grid at city level with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and battery solutions, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) traffic management systems, and modelling techniques to de-risk future investments.
* Demonstrating solutions for grid flexibility, energy management and storage, district heating and power grids to pave the way for energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.
* Implementing initiatives, measures and services related to climate adaptation and urban resilience.
* Establishing business models that attract robust investment, blend private and public funding, serve all stakeholders and incentivize investors.
* Examining the key issues and challenges that have to be addressed to increase the impact of solutions and enable replication across the six Fellow Cities.
* Implementing innovative solutions and technologies related to the energy transformation, decarbonisation, smart communication, security and digitalisation. Buildings in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) will be retrofitted to achieve a positive energy balance with renewable energy services, storage, control and automation systems.
* Involving citizens in the design, evaluation and demonstration activities from the start of the project.
* Introducing innovative urban planning and governance tools (e.g. City Diagnostics) to help local authorities better organise and respond to urban needs in a timely manner.
* Introducing KPIs for performance measurement and monitoring of the solutions implemented, and links Life Cycle Assessment and air quality modelling to support district/city decision making in design.
* Promoting the adoption of electric mobility and its integration into the energy grid at city level with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and battery solutions, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) traffic management systems, and modelling techniques to de-risk future investments.
* Demonstrating solutions for grid flexibility, energy management and storage, district heating and power grids to pave the way for energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.
* Implementing initiatives, measures and services related to climate adaptation and urban resilience.
* Establishing business models that attract robust investment, blend private and public funding, serve all stakeholders and incentivize investors.
* Examining the key issues and challenges that have to be addressed to increase the impact of solutions and enable replication across the six Fellow Cities.