Buildings & TransportBuildings & Transport
Transforming the Grid: Electric Vehicles as Key Players in the Energy Landscape
The "Solution Booklet: Electric Vehicles and the Grid," acknowledges the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe, reaching around 4.7 million by 2023, and the corresponding need for comprehensive charging infrastructure development. EVs offer uni-directional (V1G) and bi-directional (V2G) charging, the latter of which can aid in grid optimization. Cities are pivotal in integrating EV infrastructure, necessitating multi-step strategies that analyze current contexts, forecast future needs, and create tailored action plans. Technical requirements for EV infrastructure include AC to DC conversion adapters for charging, with more complex systems for fast and V2G chargers to allow bi-directional energy flow. Societal adoption hinges on overcoming misinformation, maintaining user control over charging patterns, and addressing range anxiety through reliable infrastructure and clear communication. Pilot projects, such as the OVO Energy V2G trial in the UK and Amsterdam's smart charging, illustrate the benefits of V2G for grid management and user financial incentives. Policy support and standardization are provided by initiatives like the European Commission's Sustainable Transport Forum and the EU Urban Mobility Observatory, focusing on interoperable infrastructure and facilitating EV integration. Local and national initiatives support EV deployment, and evolving business models emphasize economic viability through dynamic tariffs and local flexibility markets. The Parker project in Denmark showcases the economic benefits of V2G for aggregators and fleet operators. Overall, the booklet emphasizes the transformative role of EV integration into the grid, advocating for strategic urban planning, robust charging infrastructure, policy support, and business innovation to secure a more sustainable energy future.
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The smart city puzzle: cities, platforms and service provider
Working in smart city projects requires to bring together different players in this very diverse eco-system, from IT to product suppliers, service providers, finance, social innovators and of course the cities with their various departments. A good way to start is looking at top notch smart city projects as well as knowledge, matchmaking and IT platforms.
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Revolutionizing Urban Living: Insights from the STARDUST Project
The STARDUST project exemplifies sustainable urban transformation through smart integration in energy, mobility, and ICT in "lighthouse" and "follower" cities, focusing on renewable infrastructure, innovative technologies, regulatory adaptability, stakeholder engagement, and novel business models to foster replicable sustainable city initiatives.
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Mayors Leading the Charge: A Deep Dive into the Eurocities Survey
The Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2024 indicates that European mayors prioritize climate action, seek EU support for sustainability, and face funding and housing challenges amidst global pressures. Innovation drives urban transformation, with collaborative governance being crucial for tackling complex, interconnected issues.
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Innovative financial solutions to fight energy poverty
How social housing associations and EU projects are using innovative financial and solidarity mechanisms to combat energy poverty, emphasizing the dual benefit of social welfare and environmental sustainability through the refurbishment of buildings for energy efficiency.
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Overview of main actors in the e-mobility ecosystem
The paper addresses the EU's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as key in decarbonizing transport sector emissions, crucial to achieving 2040 climate targets. The EV ecosystem involves various stakeholders, including OEMs, CPOs, and DSOs, working together towards electrification. Policies like RED, AFIR, EPBD, and the Sustainable Battery Regulation support this shift, while investment in EV infrastructure is projected to significantly increase. Data sharing is emphasized as essential for ecosystem efficiency.
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Revolutionizing Transit: Europe's Top Smart Mobility Solutions
Europe advances smart mobility, driven by sustainability and urbanization challenges. EU policies promote electric and autonomous transport, integrating innovations like IoT, MaaS, and AI. Case studies from Barcelona, Stockholm, and Amsterdam highlight smart solutions reshaping urban travel, setting global benchmarks.
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New R&D Funding Opportunity to Upscale Circular Economy Practice in Cities
CircularPSP, a consortium of eight European CE cities, is investing €5.64 million in CE R&D to expedite the circular practice adoption in municipalities and local businesses. The call for tender targets suppliers to create innovative CE solutions, with the bid deadline set for April 1, 2024.
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Research and Development Funding: IT services to help municipalities transition towards Circular Economy
European cities, regional and national organisations have to transition towards Circular Economy. Only 10% of the cities have advanced on circular transition, as it is particularly complex. Municipalities and local businesses across Europe are facing four interlinked challenges.
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Transforming Europe’s Social Housing: Survey on Energy Efficient Refurbishment Strategies
SUPER-i survey is an online survey aimed at collecting insights on the current state of the energy-efficient refurbishment of social housing stocks in Europe. Results will identify areas for improvement, enable benchmarking of energy efficiency performance, and inform decision-making processes at various levels.
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