Addressing the research challenges of climate neutrality: EERA JP Smart Cities Special Issue series
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Since 2018, EERA JP Smart Cities has been promoting every year a peer-reviewed special issue that has proved to be pivotal in enhancing the debate and advancing research in the R&I field, especially in the smart cities thematic area.
At the time of the creation of the EERA Joint Programme Smart Cities (JPSC), in 2011, the concept of smart cities had recently been originated and was, therefore, a not yet well-defined topic. Since then, JP Smart Cities and its participants have significantly contributed to its shaping and development in the European research arena and have positioned it as a successful pillar in the energy Horizon 2020 Work Programme.
Since its formation eight years ago, EERA JPSC has contributed to the development of fundamental research and innovation strategies in the smart cities thematic area, maximizing the breeding ground EERA promotes by bringing together high-level energy research expertise across Europe. Under this framework, EERA JPSC has hosted meetings, facilitated workshops, and generated important discussions concerning the needs and priorities of the EU in the field of R&I in smart cities – both in the development of fundamental research, innovation and co-creation with city and industry partners, and in showcasing the importance of research and innovation in a field that is more and more prone to high-TRL (Technology Readiness Levels) demonstration projects.
The importance of EERA JPSC has grown over the years. From 2016 to 2018, the joint programme contributed to the development of the SET-Plan Action 3.2 Implementation Plan, aiming at developing 100 Positive Energy Districts (PED) across Europe by 2025, a fundamental project for the achievement of the European Green Deal’s objectives.
In 2017, as a result of a discussion on how to enhance the debate around smart cities that originated amongst the JPSC members, a Special Issue series was proposed and launched. For this purpose, a Scientific Board involving every year different joint programme members and an Editorial Framework were established. Furthermore, Dr. Paola Clerici Maestosi was appointed as Coordinator of the Scientific and Editorial Board working on the Special Issue series.
Starting from 2018, JP Smart Cities has been promoting every year an interesting peer-reviewed special issue. In the first two years these were:
2|2019 “Tools, Technologies and Systems Integration for the Smart and Sustainable Cities to Come”, International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management: https://journals.aau.dk/index.php/sepm/issue/view/314
The third special issue, 3| “Smart Cities & Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2020”, will be published in Winter 2020 on Energies MDPI, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal. Moreover, given the great success of the last call for papers and the valuable contributions received, a fourth special issue, 4| “Smart Cities & Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2021”, will be published on Energies MDPI as well in Spring 2021.
EERA JP Smart Cities has been at the forefront of the research in the R&I field, especially in the smart cities thematic area. Throughout the years, it has supported 47 papers -which will go beyond 60 with the third and fourth special issue- regarding R&I and Positive Energy Districts related projects; it has promoted enriching discussions amongst different types of stakeholders (e.g. government, research & technology organizations, social and civil organizations); and has gathered the scientific contribution of some of the most prominent researchers in the energy arena.
The timely and relevant role of smart cities towards climate neutrality
Cities and urban communities have a prominent role to play in the Clean Energy Transition. Within this context, cities face a formidable challenge to become energy-efficient and energy-flexible with net zero greenhouse gas emissions and active management of an annual local surplus production of renewable energy. Transforming cities into sustainable and smart communities while fostering sustainable socio-economic growth requires an interrelation between citizens, services, infrastructures and built environment components. The research questions involved in the long-term project for the creation of Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts are highly complex and discipline-specific approaches do not have the adequate capability, scope, and scale to solely handle them. Therefore, these questions can only be addressed by taking an interdisciplinary and transnational approach.
In this context, the Special Issue series published on behalf of EERA JP Smart Cities supports, promotes, and showcases European best practices, experiences, and know-how for creating smart cities and energy-efficient urban environments. Moreover, it supports the identification of European, national, regional, and local policy gaps as well as R&I priorities, which have a key role to play in the achievement of a climate-neutral Europe and world.
Special Issue 2018 - European Pathways for the Smart Cities to come
Special Issue Editor: Paola Clerici Maestosi Special Issue Assistant Editor: Paolo Civiero Special Issue Editorial Board: Mauro Annunziato, Miimu Airaksinen, Ambrosio Liceaga, Hans-Martin Neumann, Annemie Wyckmans
This special issue aims at addressing the level of complexity that characterizes Smart Cities. This is done through the analyses proposed in the following two paper sections: RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION and ESSAY & VIEWPOINT. The first section covers topics such as energy optimization, performance and assessment, energy systems, energy management, sustainable city development, retrofitting tools and techniques. The second section, namely ESSAY & VIEWPOINT, covers the following aspects: energy in smart cities, interactive energy systems and buildings.
One of the overarching aims of the 2018 Special Issue is to represent the International Scientific community involved in research in the smart cities thematic area, as well as to foster new platforms of knowledge sharing and dissemination. JP Smart Cities, through its Special Issue series, has successfully achieved this last objective, as demonstrated by the considerable amount of contributions to the smart city research area coming from Europe, the United States and China.
Within the framework of its Special Issue series, JP SC presents every month two abstracts, one in the RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION category and the other related to ESSAY & VIEWPOINTS. These abstracts include valuable analysis and research material provided by urban stakeholders, as well as useful and interesting case studies.
RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION Paper title: Towards Energy Optimized Cities Authors: Ali Hainoun, Ghazal Etminan Center for Energy, Sustainable Buildings and Cities, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Seibersdorf, Austria Abstract: This work deals with the application of a bottom-up and scenario-based approach useful to analyze the future urban energy development. For this purpose, consistent scenarios of long-term socio-economic, technological and demographic developments of the considered urban areas are prepared. The key development parameters focus on technology and infrastructure transformation related to EE improvement and electrification in all consumption sectors, including the shifts in mobility modes and lifestyle changes driven by financial incentives and environmental awareness. The concept systematically relates the specific energy needs for the production of different services and commodities to the social, economic and technological factors that affect the demand for a particular fuel. Acknowledgments of value: Stephan Hartmann (Magistrat der Stadt Wien, Austria) “As an urban planner working in the field of smart city development, I support activities optimizing integrated energy and urban planning. The proposed concept within the article “Towards energy optimized cities” is in line with this ambition and relevant for urban energy strategies”
ESSAY & VIEWPOINTS Paper title: Pathways to ZEED Authors: Roberta Pinna, Ezilda Costanzo, Sabrina Romano - ENEA - Italian national agency for new technologies energy and sustainable economic development, Energy Technology and Energy Efficiency Departments, Rome and Bologna, Italy Abstract: The EPBD, 2010/31/EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings, introduces the concept of Nearly Zero-Energy Building (nZEB) supporting the transition towards Zero Energy Emission Districts (ZEED) and potentially transforming cities’ perspectives in order to reduce human impact on the environment. The EPBD revision in course aims at decarbonizing the building stock, considering ICT facilities and smart readiness for better knowledge, management, and efficiency, both at building and district levels. Most Italian buildings were built before the 80s and more than 25% of these were built with specific architectural constraints. The transition towards nZEBs could, therefore, be extremely difficult, owing to the low net construction rate and to the feasibility of single buildings renovation. The main objective of this paper is to investigate whether nZEBs could represent a useful pathway for the promotion of a transition towards ZEEDs and, in case they would be, this paper aims at identifying the benefits deriving from an energy-efficiency interactive buildings transition.
Special Issue 2019 - Tools, Technologies and Systems Integration for the Smart and Sustainable Cities to come
Special Issue Editor: Paola Clerici Maestosi Special Issue Assistant Editor: Paolo Civiero Special Issue Editorial Board: Laura Aeleni, Hans-Martin Neumann, Annemie Wyckmans, Dorota Chwieduk, Poland Wojciech Bujalski
This special issue aims at addressing the level of complexity that characterizes Smart Cities. This is done through the analyses proposed in the RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION section which covers topics such as modelling, district heating, energy transition, sustainable energy system and management, smart city platforms, KPI, buildings and smart community. Unlike Issue 1|2018, issue 2|2019 does not include the so-called ESSAY & VIEWPOINT section.
One of the overarching aims of the 2019 Special Issue is to represent the International Scientific community involved in research in the smart cities thematic area, as well as to foster new platforms of knowledge sharing and dissemination. JP Smart Cities, through its Special Issue series, has successfully achieved this last objective, as demonstrated by the considerable amount of contributions to the smart city research area coming mainly from Europe.
Within the framework of its Special Issue series, JP SC presents every month selected abstracts which include valuable analysis and research material provided by urban stakeholders, as well as useful and interesting case studies.
RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION Paper Title: Modelling the Future of Low Carbon Energy Systems – A Case Study of Greater Copenhagen, Denmark Authors: Sara Ben Amer, Rasmus Bramstoft, Olexandr Balyk and Per Sievert Nielsen - Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, building 424, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby,Denmark Abstract: Despite insufficient climate policies on the national and global scale, some ambitious cities are becoming the frontrunners of the climate action. Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of them. The aim of the city is to achieve a CO2-neutral energy system in 2025. Reaching this goal requires, among other things, a change in the energy supply portfolio, which can be assessed using energy system modelling. The aim of this study is to construct and evaluate possible scenarios for sustainable electricity and heat supply in Greater Copenhagen with a particular focus on the new district called Nordhavn. The energy scenarios are modelled with the energy system model Balmorel and they are assessed and compared with focus on heat and electricity prices and CO2 emissions. Sensitivity analysis are conducted considering changes in the coefficient of performance (COP) of heat pumps and the discount rate. The results show that expanding Copenhagen’s district heating system to Nordhavn is a promising solution in socio-economic terms. In the case Norhavn’s heating supply should come from a local source, power-to-heat technologies are preferred. Despite the narrow geographical focus, the challenges discussed and methods developed in this paper are relevant for other European urban areas aspiring to build sustainable energy systems. Acknowledgments of value:Niels Bethlowsky Kristensen, Climate and energy planner in the City of Copenhagen “I am not formally involved in the research conducted by Sara Ben Amer et al., but I believe that both the methodology and results authored by them could have a positive effect on my own area of activity, by providing perspectives for planning the future CO2-neutral Copenhagen”
Paper Title: Solutions and services for smart sustainable districts: innovative Key Performance Indicators to support transition Authors: Carola Clemente, Paolo Civiero and Marilisa Cellurale Abstract: The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) supports the Energy Union’s policies by setting the strategies for the European Union’s energy sector. In 2018, the Implementation Plan traced the pathway for the planning, deployment and replication of 100 Positive Energy Districts (PED) by 2025. This article presents innovative research on models, methodologies, planning tools and technology solutions for the short-medium term implementation of PEDs. The approach and methodology behind the research are based on an operational framework set up to identify gaps and sharing for urban services’ implementation and to support life improvements for citizens, consumers, and prosumers. The main output of this research is a framework to facilitate a synthetic evaluation of the positioning and improvement of each smart city solution considered in the study. These refers to engagement phase (planning, design, construction, management) and engagement scale (functional unit, building, blocks of building, infrastructures, environment). Furthermore, the framework improves the identification of strategies and stakeholders’ commitment to promote Smart Urban District or PEDs transition. This research contribution stems from the project SCC solutions for Positive Energy Districts – Research of Electric System/Annual Implementation Plan 2018/41 carried out by Sapienza University of Rome and ENEA Energy Technology Dept. – Sustainable Energy Network. The broader aim of the project has been to design a set of strategies that could facilitate the transition to Smart Energy Districts. Acknowledgments of value:Ubaldo Occhinegro, Council Representative for Urban Planning- Construction, Mobility and Strategic Plans, Municipality of Taranto, Italy “The added value of the research “SCC solutions for positive Energy District – RdS/PAR2018/041” is the setting up of a framework which supports synthetic evaluation and helps public officers within a Municipality in recognizing which alternatives could support the transition to PEDs according to Italian rules and regulation. The idea is that this framework could facilitate their deployment and replication in each local context as, for instance, Taranto. I believe that PEDs must not only be efficient from the energetic point of view, but also they must integrate functional, technological and social aspects, with an overall improvement of services for citizens to support the transition towards urban sustainability. That is why the main outputs and results of the research project could facilitate Municipal Council Representative in the comprehension and laying out of strategies which can be effective to enable urban generation. This is the main objective of the city of Taranto where it is necessary to develop an integrative approach which includes technological, spatial, regulatory, financial, environmental, social and economic perspectives driven by the city in cooperation with industry and investors, research and citizen organization”.
Special Issue 2018 - European Pathways for the Smart Cities to come
Special Issue Editor: Paola Clerici Maestosi Special Issue Assistant Editor: Paolo Civiero Special Issue Editorial Board: Mauro Annunziato, Miimu Airaksinen, Ambrosio Liceaga, Hans-Martin Neumann, Annemie Wyckmans
This special issue aims at addressing the level of complexity that characterizes Smart Cities. This is done through the analyses proposed in the following two paper sections: RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION and ESSAY & VIEWPOINT. The first section covers topics such as energy optimization, performance and assessment, energy systems, energy management, sustainable city development, retrofitting tools and techniques. The second section, namely ESSAY & VIEWPOINT, covers the following aspects: energy in smart cities, interactive energy systems and buildings.
One of the overarching aims of the 2018 Special Issue is to represent the International Scientific community involved in research in the smart cities thematic area, as well as to foster new platforms of knowledge sharing and dissemination. JP Smart Cities, through its Special Issue series, has successfully achieved this last objective, as demonstrated by the considerable amount of contributions to the smart city research area coming from Europe, the United States and China.
Within the framework of its Special Issue series, JP SC presents every month two abstracts, one in the RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION category and the other related to ESSAY & VIEWPOINTS. These abstracts include valuable analysis and research material provided by urban stakeholders, as well as useful and interesting case studies.
RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION Paper title: Urban energy assessment by means of simulation techniques Authors: Silvia Soutullo, Jose Antonio Ferrer, Maria del Rosario Heras - Energy Efficiency of Buildings R&D Unit 7 Renewable Division, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain Abstract: Current trends in energy consumption and greenhouse emissions make energy problems in cities take special importance. This situation has led to evaluate different urban configurations that combine the reduction of the energy demands with the optimization of the energy generation systems including renewable sources. The use of dynamic simulation programs allows the quantification of the energy impacts produce by the building stock and the energy generation systems that make up an urban area. Simulation environments have been defined to evaluate and optimize the energy performance of urban areas. This paper presents a modular methodology based on phases to develop a global urban model. This methodology has considered many variables that characterize an urban area. Acknowledgments of value: Juan Antonio de Isabel García (CEO GEOTER - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY S.L., Spain) “The development of theoretical tools to characterize the energy performance of an urban area represents an important issue to optimize its energy consumption and minimize its pollutants emissions. The modular methodology created by CIEMAT supposes another step in the energy quantification of cities. The application of this methodology facilitates the global optimization of the urban systems with different configurations, so I think that this research work it is of great interest.”
ESSAY & VIEWPOINTS Paper Title: Regional Energy Transition (RET): How to improve the connection of praxis and theory? Authors: Barend van Engelenburg, Nienke Maas - TNO, Netherlands Abstract: A regional energy transition (RET) implies a drastic transformation of the energy system and, hence, a lot of challenges. A RET calls for an integrative local approach. In this essay we describe and compare the current practice and the state of knowledge on this topic. We find that theory has not yet developed sufficiently to address the practical challenges. Part of the problem is that what has been developed has too little connection with local practice. We conclude that the development of theoretical knowledge must be better attuned to the needs of the practitioners.
Special Issue 2019 - Tools, Technologies and Systems Integration for the Smart and Sustainable Cities to come
Special Issue Editor: Paola Clerici Maestosi Special Issue Assistant Editor: Paolo Civiero Special Issue Editorial Board: Laura Aeleni, Hans-Martin Neumann, Annemie Wyckmans, Dorota Chwieduk, Poland Wojciech Bujalski
This special issue aims at addressing the level of complexity that characterizes Smart Cities. This is done through the analyses proposed in the RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION section which covers topics such as modelling, district heating, energy transition, sustainable energy system and management, smart city platforms, KPI, buildings and smart community. Unlike Issue 1|2018, issue 2|2019 does not include the so-called ESSAY & VIEWPOINT section.
One of the overarching aims of the 2019 Special Issue is to represent the International Scientific community involved in research in the smart cities thematic area, as well as to foster new platforms of knowledge sharing and dissemination. JP Smart Cities, through its Special Issue series, has successfully achieved this last objective, as demonstrated by the considerable amount of contributions to the smart city research area coming mainly from Europe.
Within the framework of its Special Issue series, JP SC presents every month selected abstracts which include valuable analysis and research material provided by urban stakeholders, as well as useful and interesting case studies.
RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTATION Paper Title: Low-temperature district heating networks for complete energy needs fulfilment Authors: Maria Alessandra Ancona, Michele Bianchi, Lisa Branchini, Andrea De Pascale, Francesco Melino and Antonio Peretto - Università di Bologna – DIN, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy Abstract: In order to reduce fossil fuels consumption and pollutant emissions, high contribution is given by district heating. In particular, the integration with renewable energy may lead to a significant increase in energy conversion efficiency and energy saving. Further benefits can be achieved with low temperature networks, reducing the heat dissipations and promoting the exploitation of low enthalpy heat sources. The aim of the paper is the analysis of the potential related to the conversion of existing district heating networks, to increase the exploitation of renewables and eliminate pollutant emissions in the city area. Further aim, in this context, is the optimization – from both energy production and operation management viewpoints – of a low temperature district heating network for the fulfilment of the connected users’ energy needs. To this respect, a traditional network with a fossil fuel driven thermal production plant has been considered and compared with a low temperature district heating scenario, including geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and absorption chillers. These scenarios have been analysed and optimized with a developed software, demonstrating the reduction of primary energy consumption and CO2 pollutant emissions achievable with low temperature networks. In addition, a preliminary economic comparative evaluation on the variable costs has been carried out. Future studies will investigate the economic aspect also from the investment costs viewpoint. Acknowledgments of value:Dr. Biagio Di Pietra, Senior Researcher, (ENEA-UTE, Technical Unit for Energy Efficiency) “The study provides an original and innovative approach in the research field of low temperature district heating coupled with renewables. The strong novelty stands in the conversion of existing traditional district heating networks into low temperature networks completely avoiding the use of fossil fuels without reducing the energy service to final users. Furthermore, the proposed conversion allows also to fulfill the cooling energy without modifying existing networks. The approach represents a real action in the direction of reducing CO2 emissions, dependency on fossil fuels and their use in the city area. Finally, this methodology increases the efficiency in the energy sector and represents a strategy to reduce the heating and cooling energy cost for users. All the advantages highlighted in the study are completely in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of European Commission.”
Paper Title: Interconnection of the electricity and heating sectors to support the energy transition in cities Authors: Verena Heinisch, Lisa Göransson, Mikael Odenberger and Filip Johnsson - Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden Abstract: The electricity, heating, and transport sectors in urban areas all have to contribute to meeting stringent climate targets. Cities will face a transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, with electricity acting as a cross-sectorial energy carrier. Consequently, the electricity demand of cities is expected to rise, in a situation that will be exacerbated by ongoing urbanisation and city growth. As alternative to an expansion of the connection capacity to the national grid, local measures can be considered within city planning in order to utilize decentralised electricity generation, synergies between the heating and electricity sectors, and flexibility through energy technologies. This work proposes an optimisation model that interconnects the electricity, heat, and transport sectors in cities. We analyse the investments in and operation of an urban energy system, using the City of Gothenburg as an example. We find that the availability of electricity from local solar PV together with thermal storage technologies increase the value of using power-to-heat technologies, such as heat pumps. High biomass prices together with strict climate targets enhance the importance of electricity in the district heating sector. A detailed understanding of the integration of local low-carbon energy technologies can give urban planners and other city stakeholders the opportunity to take an active role in the city’s energy transition. Acknowledgments of value:Kjerstin Ludvig, Project management (NEPP) “The North European Energy Perspectives (NEPP), a multidisciplinary project focusing on the development of local and national North European energy systems is funded by partners including energy companies, industry and the Swedish Energy Agency. Local access of power has become a major challenge in parts of Sweden. Urbanisation, new construction and the transition from fossil fuel to electricity leads to growing electricity demand in cities. Part of the solution will be increased interaction between sectors and local production units, but many questions for city planning remain. The model developed in this research provides an important tool to analyse the interconnection between the electricity, heat and transport sectors. The model and analysis of design and operation of a city´s energy system is crucial for local strategic planning and the possibility to reach climate targets. The stakeholders in NEPP will benefit from the result of the research.”
