Energy development of Smart Cities
The concept of Smart Cities revolves around the advancement of urban areas where zero emissions and the integration of modern technologies in various domains play a crucial role. Initiatives and experiments in this realm are already underway globally, including within Poland. Energy transformation stands out as a pivotal objective for the European Union in the upcoming years, with substantial funds allocated in the EU budget to empower local governments to execute projects that propel them towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly trajectory. However, the linchpin for success lies in the innovation and creativity of projects, as well as collaborative efforts across diverse fields. The pursuit of Smart Cities is not only about embracing technological advancements but also about fostering sustainable practices and synergies for a more efficient and eco-friendly urban future.
Energy transformation in local governments
Energy transformation is a gradual and inclusive process that involves transitioning to green energy while considering various aspects like industry, society, and the economy. Modern technologies play a crucial role in making the shift faster and necessary. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should happen step by step. Local governments, responsible for implementing EU laws, need to focus on technologies and projects that can lead cities to zero emissions in the next few years. This primarily involves using renewable energy, adopting a circular economy, and cutting down on energy usage.
What technologies are chosen today for energy transformation in municipalities?
Today, concerning our initiatives, the primary focus of energy transformation in municipalities is the comprehensive modernization of lighting infrastructure. This goes beyond simply replacing fixtures; it involves integrating control systems for the entire lighting infrastructure. Moreover, municipalities are showing a growing interest in Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, 5G technology, and incorporating cameras to analyze available parking spaces near the lights. They are also exploring the integration of smog and air temperature sensors, monitoring systems, and even establishing a network of electric vehicle charging stations powered directly from the lighting network.
The array of possibilities is extensive! It’s not inconceivable that in the future, road luminaires might communicate with autonomous vehicles passing beneath them. Today, the implementation of such solutions is feasible through the use of control systems. The current system in place is the largest and arguably the most advanced lighting infrastructure control system in Central and Eastern Europe. – Maciej Witczak, President of the Management Board, Street and Road Lighting sp. z o. o. in Kalisz
Poland is confronted with a substantial challenge related to energy transformation, especially as 70% of its energy relies on coal. Given recent events connected to the Ukraine crisis, the country has no alternative but to undergo this transformation, incurring significant expenses. Władysław Mielczarski from the Lodz University of Technology estimates that the total cost of this Energy Transformation in Poland will exceed PLN 1,000 billion. Almost PLN 600 billion (60%) is earmarked for renewable energy sources, assuming a 50% share of renewables in electricity production by 2050. The question arises: can we feasibly afford this? In terms of technologies, local governments currently see potential in the advancement of solar energy, where the country has made significant progress. However, challenges include issues with transmission networks and a shortage of energy storage facilities. Ongoing regulatory changes may impact the market’s development dynamics. Plans for nuclear energy are on the horizon, but it’s a distant prospect. Wind farms in the north seem closer, but preparations, including technical facility adaptations and port readiness, are necessary. Options also include hydrogen, waste combustion, and the increasingly popular geothermal energy. In summary, Poland’s energy mix should aim for maximum diversity. – Jurand Saternus, National Consultant of the Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Airly
Implementation of the “Fit for 55” package by local governments
The legislative package “Fit for 55” is designed to achieve a 55% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions across the European Union by the year 2030. This ambitious goal necessitates extensive efforts and decisive actions, with a limited timeframe for implementation.
The primary responsibility for implementing the “Fit for 55” package lies with Local Government Units that receive EU funds for this purpose. For local governments, the focus is predominantly on projects related to renewable energy sources and digitalization. Additionally, activities encompass transitioning to a circular economy and combating smog, reflecting the multifaceted approach required under the “Fit for 55” initiative.
Zero-emission city – how to achieve this goal in Poland?
A zero-emission city represents a strategy aligned with achieving climate neutrality. These cities prioritize environmental sustainability and adhere to recycling principles. With supportive national policies, Polish cities have the potential to become cleaner and more resident-friendly in the next 20-30 years. The crucial factor for reaching this objective lies in close collaboration across various levels. Innovative projects, prudent allocation of funds (including local government and EU funds), partnerships with social organizations, engaging in consultations with residents, and ultimately, cooperation at the highest government levels are all immensely important facets of this endeavor.
What steps are Polish cities taking now towards zero emissions?
In addressing the lighting infrastructure of local governments, it’s crucial to assess the condition of the existing lighting network. The key to achieving zero emissions lies primarily in the modernization of the lighting infrastructure using control systems.
Merely replacing old street luminaires with LED ones is deemed insufficient. The true potential of LEDs becomes apparent when they are connected to a remote control system, as evidenced by our example.
Savings are realized in two ways. Immediate effects stem from the reduction in electricity consumption. Over the long term, there is a decrease in infrastructure maintenance expenses. We continuously receive data on the technical condition of each luminaire. If an issue arises, the system promptly notifies us, eliminating the need for technicians to investigate the cause on-site. They already know what malfunctioned and what components to bring.
Furthermore, the system grants us the ability to remotely control each luminaire. We can adjust the power of a specific luminaire and determine when it turns on and off. It is challenging to envision forgoing these capabilities and limiting lighting modernization to the replacement of fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs alone. If such a step is taken, it is worthwhile to act comprehensively, leveraging all the benefits of this solution, especially considering the rising prices of CO2 emission allowances that suggest energy costs in Poland will increase.
As a company, we are also listed on the Polish Power Exchange, allowing us to significantly reduce electricity costs for municipalities. This approach aims to generate additional savings for local government units and enhance energy resource management in Poland. Through the gradual modernization of lighting infrastructure, we hope to see increased progress and a relatively smooth transition toward achieving “zero emission.”
Maciej Witczak, President of the Management Board, Street and Road Lighting sp. z o. o. in Kalisz
Financing green investments in local governments
By 2027, our country is set to receive nearly EUR 30 billion for climate-related purposes, presenting an opportune time to finance green investments at the local government level, where the responsible management of these funds is crucial. This funding aims to contribute to the realization of the European Green Deal, a suite of political initiatives designed to guide countries toward energy transformation, ultimately transforming Member States into a climate-neutral region. The European Green Deal is a specific response to the perilous changes occurring in the climate and the ongoing degradation of the natural environment. The EU’s overarching objective is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
EU funds are intended to support various areas, with a primary focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (in both buildings and transport), enhancing energy efficiency (i.e., reducing energy demand), and increasing the share of renewable energy sources.
While funds for these activities are provided, the implementation requires innovative and successful ideas, which can be realized by Local Government Units. These projects should encompass mitigating the effects of climate change, safeguarding water resources, promoting sustainable resource use, and transitioning to a circular economy.
Investments in local governments will predominantly involve Renewable Energy Sources (RES), encompassing energy derived from wind, water, sun, biomass, and geothermal sources. Renewable energy sources offer the opportunity to reduce environmental pollution and generate clean energy, addressing the escalating demand for such resources.
Air quality control and response policy – Clean Air program
The Clean Air Program is a nationwide subsidy initiative aimed at combating smog, enhancing air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving energy efficiency in residential buildings.
A total of PLN 103 billion has been allocated for this program, which has already been disbursed and will continue to support owners or co-owners of single-family residential buildings. The program is also open to owners of residential premises in single-family buildings, provided they have a separate land and mortgage register.
Funds can be obtained for the replacement of outdated and inefficient heat sources with modern alternatives meeting appropriate standards. Additionally, support is available for necessary building works involving the replacement of old furnaces. In the basic financing option, a single house can receive up to PLN 30,000. In the higher variant, this amount increases to PLN 37,000, and in the highest variant, it reaches PLN 69,000. The funds can be utilized for various purposes, primarily the replacement of old solid fuel stoves with eco-friendly heat sources. Additionally, the funds can cover central heating installation, mechanical ventilation, house insulation, and the replacement of doors and windows. Micro photovoltaic installations are also eligible for financial support.
Notably, financial assistance can be obtained not only for planned works but also for those in progress or already completed. Different programs have varying timelines for project completion and criteria for fund allocation.
Circular Economy
An enormous amount of waste, exceeding 2.5 billion tonnes, is generated annually across the European Union. Consequently, efforts to transition to a Circular Economy, emphasizing sustainability and waste reduction, are currently underway in the European Parliament.
The Circular Economy prioritizes more sustainable product design and aims to significantly decrease waste. At the EU level, specific focus is directed towards sectors with substantial resource consumption, such as construction, plastics, and electronics. The EU envisions achieving a circular economy in Member States by 2050, implementing measures like stringent recycling regulations and establishing binding targets for material consumption and use.
Key principles of the Circular Economy include recycling, repairing, and reusing materials for as long as possible. The overarching goal is to extend the life cycle of products and minimize waste generation. This approach stands in contrast to the linear model, characterized by the mass production of easily accessible and inexpensive materials, often involving “planned obsolescence”—designing items to become unusable after a certain period.
Circular Economy seeks to manage products and materials wisely and sustainably, promoting their prolonged functionality without the need for frequent production and disposal. Consequently, this transition is anticipated to yield savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance competitiveness and economic growth. Furthermore, it is expected to create new job opportunities and offer consumers more durable products, thereby improving their quality of life and facilitating genuine savings.
Economical energy management in Smart Cities
The Smart Cities concept, already being implemented in countries like Germany and France, revolves around utilizing modern technologies to enhance urban operations and increase infrastructure efficiency. This innovative approach contributes significantly to environmental improvement, greenhouse gas reduction, and overall operational efficiency. Research from Schneider Electric indicates that sustainable solutions and projects within Smart Cities can result in energy savings of up to 30%.
Smart Cities encompass various domains, with energy being a crucial focus. Innovative projects enable energy conservation in city lighting, reduced operational costs in buildings, and minimized traffic delays. Numerous European cities have already implemented such solutions, and Polish cities like Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Wrocław are gradually adopting them.
In Smart Cities, modern IT technologies are integrated with energy infrastructure, giving rise to Smart Power Grids. This system incorporates energy-efficient city lighting, updated buildings with reduced energy consumption (leading to tangible savings), utilization of renewable energy sources, and advanced network management systems for electricity, gas, heating, and water supply.
Buildings in Smart Cities emphasize intelligent energy management systems and automation, resulting in decreased energy consumption and substantial savings. Modern systems can cut energy consumption by up to 30% in existing, modernized buildings, while new buildings can achieve an even more impressive 70% reduction.
What should cooperation between energy suppliers and local government units look like?
The collaboration between Local Government Units and energy suppliers plays a crucial role. Similar to interactions in private life or business, fostering positive relationships and communication enables a better understanding of the needs of both parties. This understanding, in turn, facilitates precise planning of subsequent projects, including network expansion, contributing to the economic development of the community. In this collaborative effort, the local community plays a significant role by identifying important issues. Energy and ecological awareness are key factors in this aspect, and the combination of these factors with creativity allows for the development of new projects that benefit everyone involved.
Rising energy prices – where to look for savings?
Across the European Union, energy prices are experiencing a rapid and substantial increase. While the situation appears unlikely to change soon, the primary solution is to adopt measures to conserve energy. Making adjustments to daily habits can effectively reduce electricity bills without being perceived as a sacrifice. This surge in energy prices impacts not only households but also puts considerable pressure on local governments and businesses. Consequently, there is a growing need to explore energy-saving technologies and solutions that promise substantial long-term savings. Households, local governments, and businesses can adopt practices such as switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs and disconnecting unused devices. At the local government level, additional activities promoting savings include the installation of photovoltaic panels, enhancing insulation, upgrading windows and doors, modernizing internal systems, and modernizing street lighting through the adoption of LED technology.
Energy-saving LED lighting and intelligent light control systems
The widespread adoption of LED lighting can be attributed to its energy efficiency, as it eliminates energy losses associated with heat production. LED lighting utilizes light-emitting diodes, which do not generate heat during the light production process, unlike traditional lighting. In addition to energy savings, LED lighting minimizes UV radiation and avoids emitting harmful substances into the atmosphere, a common occurrence in traditional lighting. This makes LED lighting align seamlessly with the principles of Smart Cities by enabling savings while positively impacting the environment.
Furthermore, the implementation of intelligent light control systems is crucial. These systems often feature automated motion sensors strategically placed in areas where continuous lighting is unnecessary. Such intelligent lighting control systems are beneficial for households, businesses, and local governments alike. They not only reduce energy costs but also enhance overall comfort by adjusting lighting based on contextual data specific to a given location.
Good Smart Cities practices from Poland and abroad – examples
What projects are European cities implementing related to the Smart Cities concept?
In London, a congestion charge system has been implemented, imposing fees for driving in the city center. Copenhagen, Denmark, took a similar approach but went a step further by entirely closing its city center to vehicular traffic. Amsterdam invested significantly in ecological city vehicles, leading to 90% of residents using them.
Vienna replaced traditional buses with electric ones powered by renewable energy. In Poland, Warsaw stands out as a Smart City example, undertaking initiatives like transitioning city light bulbs to energy-efficient LED, resulting in a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint.
While the Smart City concept offers numerous benefits for residents and the environment, it also raises concerns. Experts highlight issues such as data privacy, the risk of treating Smart Cities as utopian environments, and the challenge of digital exclusion for those unable to use modern technologies like smartphones. Additionally, potential blackouts pose a threat, leading to city-wide paralysis due to electricity shortages.
These topics and more will be explored by experts during the 14th SMART CITY FORUM, scheduled for June 14-15, 2022, at The Bridge Wrocław McGallery & Online.
More about the event at: https://smartcityforum.pl/lp/lpm/