The role of RES in the energy balance of smart cities

Expert insights

Emilia Basta, Engineer of eco-energy systems

In today’s world, renewable energy sources (RES) aren’t just an alternative way to get energy; they also offer the promise of providing cities and homes with environmentally friendly power that doesn’t harm our surroundings.

Smart Cities energy cooperativeness

The role of renewable energy sources (RES) is significant when it comes to Smart Cities, which are focused on achieving zero emissions and using modern technologies in various aspects of daily life.

In smart cities, the goal isn’t just about being environmentally friendly; it also involves the ability to predict different events by analyzing measurement data collected over months and years.

By considering the projected energy usage and demand, we can accurately calculate the likelihood of energy shortages and analyze specific areas. This enables us to make independent decisions about distributing energy between urban areas, reducing the risk of power outages.

These solutions become possible when all end users are connected to smart grids. These grids allow the creation of models for determining, managing, and forecasting energy demand. In this way, renewable energy sources play a vital role in powering smart cities efficiently and sustainably.

Profits from the European Union and local governments

The European Union’s new energy and climate policy is directing significant funds towards implementing, enhancing, and creating projects that enable the adoption of modern, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly solutions across the largest European countries.

These regulations are laid out in legal documents, with a particular focus on supporting renewable energy sources. Over the upcoming years, the European Union aims to become a frontrunner in terms of the proportion of renewable sources in the overall energy production.

Boosting the use of renewable energy is crucial for ensuring energy supply security, sustainable and affordable energy, technological advancement, innovation, and leadership in technology and industry. It’s also aimed at delivering environmental, social, and health benefits, along with generating employment opportunities and fostering regional development, particularly in rural, isolated, low-density, or semi-deindustrialized areas.

Development programs in Poland

In Poland, various subsidies have been employed to establish smart energy grids using renewable energy sources (RES) in large cities, particularly those with high energy consumption and a focus on Smart City concepts. This approach aims to enhance the urban environment and the overall quality of life for residents.

In recent years, this has been particularly evident in Krakow, where a significant effort was directed towards eliminating sources of pollution, especially in the city center. The “Clean Air” program was implemented here, targeting the reduction of smog, enhancement of air quality, decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, and improvement of energy efficiency in residential buildings.

A substantial amount of PLN 103 billion was allocated for this program. These funds are available for replacing outdated and inefficient heating sources with modern ones that meet appropriate standards. Additionally, the program supports essential building works, including the replacement of old furnaces, to contribute to a cleaner and more energy-efficient city environment.

European Green Deal

Nonetheless, there remains an insufficiency in promoting renewable energy sources (RES). There’s a lack of sufficient incentives and subsidies for larger-scale investments. By 2027, our country is set to receive nearly EUR 30 billion for climate-related purposes. This funding is intended to support the implementation of the European Green Deal, a set of policy initiatives aimed at guiding countries toward an energy transformation.

The aim is to ultimately turn the Member States into climate-neutral regions. The European Green Deal serves as a direct response to the alarming climate changes and ongoing degradation of the natural environment. The EU’s objective is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The key areas where EU funds are meant to assist include primarily the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (both in buildings and transportation), advancement of energy efficiency (reducing energy demand), and increasing the share of renewable energy sources.

While funds are available for initiatives, it’s equally vital to have innovative and successful ideas that Local Government Units can implement. Projects should primarily address mitigating the impacts of climate change, safeguarding water resources, practicing sustainable resource use, and transitioning towards a circular economy.

Investment development of Smart Cities

In the context of Smart Cities and renewable energy sources (RES), smaller-scale investments are currently quite noticeable in cities. For example, we can see parking meters integrated with solar panels. When viewed from a different angle, the Smart Cities concept involves more than just energy – it’s also about using information and communication technologies to enhance urban areas effectively.

Increasingly, we encounter information boards at bus stops that provide real-time updates on the nearest schedule. Smart pedestrian crossings are being implemented for improved safety, and apps are designed to help track city traffic and plan journeys. Moreover, modern solutions are being introduced in smart cities, including:

1. Renewable Energy Use: Integration of chargers and street lamps powered by solar panels for free use of renewable energy.
2. Digital Services: Applications enabling the purchase of city tickets, payment for parking spaces, and utilizing services in government offices.
3. E-Payments: Convenient electronic payments for various services.
4. Shared Mobility: Bicycle and city scooter rentals for sustainable mobility options.
5. Smart Lighting: Intelligent city lighting systems that adjust to different conditions.
6. Traffic Management: Advanced control systems for managing city traffic flow.

These efforts collectively contribute to creating more efficient and user-friendly urban environments that integrate both renewable energy sources and smart technologies.

Development of Smart Cities in Poland

Polish cities are showing growing interest in adopting renewable energy solutions and smart technologies. The issue of poor air quality is a concern not only in major cities but also in smaller towns. Utilizing renewable energy sources alongside smart city solutions offers an effective means of reducing emissions. This combination has the potential to significantly improve air quality and environmental conditions in urban areas of varying sizes.

Warsaw

Warsaw stands out as a leading city in Poland when it comes to adopting eco-friendly Smart City solutions. In 2020, the city joined the Urban Photovoltaic Development Program with a goal to equip all feasible public institutions and City Hall buildings with photovoltaic panels by 2030.

This program is part of Warsaw’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By joining, the city received PLN 60 million for the period 2020-2024, enabling investments to increase electricity production capacity from 9.3 to 21.3 MW.

Since 2016, Warsaw has been actively implementing Smart Cities initiatives. These include enhancing mobile apps for bike, car, and scooter rentals like Veturilu and Car-sharing. The city has also focused on boosting electric mobility by adding more electric city buses.

A significant effort was dedicated to creating a smart heating network to optimize resource usage and cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least 14.5 thousand tonnes annually—equivalent to planting 1 million trees in Warsaw.

The “Million Trees” app was introduced, enabling residents to suggest spots for new tree planting. Launched in spring 2017, the app gained substantial participation, with over 8.5 thousand locations suggested by Varsovians.

Ecological considerations were also integrated into Smart Cities through the Step by Step project, which encourages energy consumption behavior change among residents. Implemented in the Gocław district, the initiative led to 397 MWh of energy saved by actions such as using LED bulbs, switching off lights in unoccupied rooms, and turning devices off standby mode.

Szczecin

Poland’s enthusiasm for photovoltaic installations extends beyond Warsaw. In West Pomerania, a region known for its commitment to sustainability, solar-powered amenities are on the rise. Solar benches have become common sights, and photovoltaic cells are now energizing parking meters, streetlights, hospitals, and universities. A prime example is the Posejdon Service Complex in Szczecin, representing one of the largest investments. With a total power of 97.2 kWh, it supplies energy to ventilations systems, air conditioning, and indoor lighting.

Another noteworthy installation is at the Electrical and Power Engineering School Complex in Szczecin, generating 32,054 kWh annually. Moreover, the city is part of the Regional Operational Program, aiming to equip 23 educational and care facilities with photovoltaic panels. This growing trend underscores the region’s dedication to cleaner, sustainable energy solutions.

Katowice

Last year, Katowice took steps to enhance communication and transportation efficiency by implementing an Intelligent Transport System (ITS). This system, covering around 112 intersections, is designed to automatically manage traffic signals to optimize traffic flow. While this technology is not new and has been adopted in various Polish cities, Katowice’s ITS comes with added features.

Apart from controlling traffic lights, it informs drivers about traffic congestion and provides priority to trams at intersections. Moreover, a publicly accessible application and information boards will display information about available parking spaces. The city has designated over 2,000 monitored parking spots to enhance parking management and ease congestion. This initiative reflects Katowice’s commitment to improving urban mobility and communication.

Neisse

In Nysa, they have introduced innovative solutions for smart pedestrian crossings. These crossings are equipped with cameras that detect movement in their vicinity. As a result, the lights are activated, providing clear illumination for both the crossing and the adjacent road. For oncoming drivers, warning lights are emitted from 8 points on poles.

Moreover, the pedestrian crossing is equipped with a sound system that audibly alerts pedestrians. This system can also accommodate radars that measure the speed of passing vehicles and control the warning signals on the poles. These advancements aim to enhance pedestrian safety and improve overall traffic management in Nysa.

loom

Absolutely, Smart Cities solutions extend beyond public transport and can have a positive impact on various aspects of urban life. For instance, Krośnieński Holding Komunalny has introduced an innovative system for managing the water supply network on a national level. This system is designed to swiftly and effectively identify issues and leaks in underground pipes, reducing water losses.

Moreover, the system offers the capability to read water meters and flow meters daily, balance flows in different zones, and provide daily reports on network operations. This is achieved through the Smart Flow system and platform, which gather, analyze, and visualize data from various sources like GIS databases, flow meter monitoring, water meter reading systems, billing, and SCADA systems. By consolidating this information, the system improves water management and allows residents and customers to access data through the eBOK system. This smart solution contributes to efficient water resource management and sustainability in the city.

Wroclaw

The introduction of a tax control system in Smart Cities can indeed be a topic of debate. In Wrocław, for example, real estate taxes are calculated based on tax returns, but the city has also incorporated detailed analyses of satellite images and reports from a local company called SatRevolution.

Although this project incurred a cost of approximately 128,000 PLN, the city stands to potentially gain 3-4 million PLN from well-conducted inspections in a relatively short span of time. This approach aims to enhance the accuracy and fairness of tax assessment by utilizing advanced technologies and data analysis methods. However, discussions may arise about the balance between privacy concerns and the benefits of using such methods for tax control.

Other investments

Investments in SEEDiA solar garbage bins are becoming increasingly common in cities across Poland. These innovative bins help reduce the cost of waste collection from public garbage cans by up to 43%.

These bins operate using a remote monitoring system that tracks their fill levels. When a bin is nearly full, the system sends notifications to municipal services and residents. This allows waste collection routes to be planned efficiently, ensuring that only full containers are emptied. This approach saves time and fuel by optimizing collection routes within the city.

Similarly, solar-powered bus shelters have also been introduced as investments. These shelters utilize photovoltaic technology to generate clean electricity, enhancing the functionality of bus stops. The collected energy is stored in batteries and serves as a power source for various electronic devices and amenities at the bus stop. This approach promotes sustainable and efficient urban infrastructure.

Solar-powered bus shelters offer valuable features, including the automatic generation of timetables and lighting control. In some cases, they even power ticket machines. Another popular innovation is the solar bench, which effectively combines environmental care with enhancing residents’ quality of life.

These eco-friendly benches are equipped with built-in photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity. This generated energy serves various purposes, such as charging electrical devices through USB and wireless chargers integrated into the benches. This dual-functionality not only promotes sustainable energy usage but also provides practical benefits for people in the community.

Poland compared to other countries

Poland is making strides in adopting Smart Cities solutions, with several cities embracing these innovative concepts. While there is still room for growth and improvement, Poland’s progress in this area is promising.

Among global cities, Warsaw and Krakow are recognized, ranking 75th and 80th respectively out of 118 classified metropolises and smaller cities. In the 2020 IESE Cities in Motion Index ranking, Warsaw and Wrocław made appearances as intelligent cities. Moreover, other Polish cities like Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poznań, Rzeszów, Szczecin, and Białystok are also actively developing Smart City solutions.

These cities are investing in the Smart City concept, acknowledging the potential benefits that these innovations can bring to enhance urban living, efficiency, and sustainability. While Poland may be on its journey, its commitment to embracing Smart Cities solutions reflects a growing trend worldwide toward more technologically advanced and sustainable urban environments.

Innovative urban agglomerationsc

The rising trend in the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) is becoming evident not only in urban areas but also in villages and suburban regions of major cities. In these areas, residents are increasingly adopting eco-friendly practices, driven by incentives, and are installing solar panels, heat pumps, and modern pellet or briquette-powered stoves. However, in urban settings, the scope of these activities is often constrained by architectural limitations and the density of buildings. Cities should primarily focus on investing in RES, particularly as a source of fuel supplied by municipal heating companies.

It’s worth exploring whether the concept of Smart Cities could lead to a transition from traditional fossil fuels to a wide spectrum of RES applications. This includes adopting practices like installing solar panels and utilizing biogas from landfills to create a self-contained, environmentally friendly energy cycle that benefits both the ecosystem and its inhabitants.

From a different perspective, the proliferation of RES technologies in sprawling modern cities might raise concerns about their impact on the urban landscape. Is it feasible and beneficial to replace conventional fossil fuels with RES solutions? Is there a way to harmonize these seemingly conflicting issues: reducing fossil fuel consumption and preserving the cityscape? The answer lies in a creative fusion of architecture and renewable energy, presenting an innovative solution to address both of these challenges simultaneously.

In urban environments, a pivotal objective is to amplify the integration of renewable energy generated by power and heating plants. Concurrently, there’s an opportunity to incorporate small-scale photovoltaic installations into the urban architecture to power essential elements like benches, bus stops, streetlights, and more, essential for the city’s operations. This approach is already being adopted worldwide, and there are noteworthy projects exemplifying this concept, as highlighted in the following cases.

The turbines positioned amidst the towers of the Bahrain World Trade Center have the capability to supply as much as 15% of the energy requirements for both structures.

The solar panel setup on the rooftop and a section of the exterior of Powerhouse Brattorkaia produces an annual output of 500 megawatt-hours.

Integrating wind or solar installations into ongoing global construction projects is feasible, particularly in smaller setups like bus shelters or parking meters. In the broader context of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) within the framework of Smart Cities, a harmonious equilibrium between aesthetics and ecological considerations can indeed be achieved.

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