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Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 15461

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Dr. Paola Clerici Maestosi

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Guest Editor

ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department Energy Technologies and Renewables TERIN-SEN Smart Energy Networks, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: BIM; sustainable development; sustainability; urban development; urban planning; urban sustainability; renewable energy technologies; land use planning; architecture; sustainable architecture
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since 2018, the EERA Joint Programme on Smart Cities has promoted and published the most promising papers on tools, technologies, and system integration for Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts, thus positioning the EERA Joint Programme on Smart Cities as one of the strongest voices in this research area in Europe, capable of highlighting different points of view and solutions.

The Horizon Europe thanks to Partnerships (DUT&CET), Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, and New European Bauhaus, sets ambitious targets.

According to this, our ambition for the upcoming fifth Special Issue is to collect and publish papers, review articles, technical notes, and letters on the following topics related to urban dimension:

I. Positive Energy District, with a focus on (a) innovative solutions for the planning; large-scale implementation and replication of PEDs; (b) integrative approaches including technology, spatial, regulatory, legal, financial, environmental, social and economic perspectives; and (c) quality of life in cities;

II. An exploration of 15-Minute Cities with a focus on an (a) integrated planning approach; (b) urban mobility system; (c) city planning and design of public space; and (d) logistics and production;

III. Circular Urban Economies, with a focus on (a) regenerative urbanism at different spatial scales to support cities and urban areas to increase their circularity; (b) restore natural capital and increase the use of multi-functional greening to address climate change mitigation and adaptation; and (c) support community and planetary resilience, including climate action, ecosystem robustness, liveability, inclusion, equality, public health and well-being;

IV. Urban systemic transformation towards climate neutrality, with a focus on (a) model for the transformation of cities to innovation hubs; (b) new forms of participative and innovative city governance; (c) economic and funding/financing model for climate action; (d) ‘integrated urban planning’ model, (e) smart systems and data platforms;

V. Green and digital challenges to transform urban lives for the better with a focus on (a) model for the transformation of cities to innovation hubs; (b) new forms of participative and innovative city governance; (c) economic and funding/financing model for climate action; and (d) ‘integrated urban planning’ model.

Dr. Paola Clerici Maestosi
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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10 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Harmonizing Urban Innovation: Exploring the Nexus between Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts

by Paola Clerici Maestosi

Energies 2024, 17(14), 3422; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143422 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 630

Abstract

The emergence of the Smart City concept in Europe in the early 2010s emphasized the enhancement of livability and sustainability in urban environments through the integrated use of data and sensors as tools for designing comprehensive governance scenarios [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

Research

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22 pages, 4300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings in the Mediterranean Climate via a Decision Support Tool

by João Pedro Gouveia, Laura Aelenei, Daniel Aelenei, Raquel Ourives and Salomé Bessa

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051105 - 26 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1006

Abstract

Addressing Europe’s decarbonisation challenge involves widespread deployment of nearly zero-energy buildings, deep energy renovations and renewable energy integration in the building sector. Enhancing energy efficiency in public buildings necessitates tailored solutions and strategic planning involving Local Public Administration. This work focuses on advancing insights into the application of the PrioritEE Decision Support Tool in Portuguese public buildings, highlighting the energy and financial savings and carbon dioxide emission reduction potential. Using detailed building characterisation data from energy performance certificates, we applied the tool across 22 public buildings of diverse typologies in three distinct regions of Portugal, representing various public entities. Results demonstrate the tool’s adaptability, enabling a comprehensive assessment of energy performance and facilitating the exploration of customised energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. The research emphasises the critical role of user-friendly tools in aiding policymakers and local administration technicians in meeting national renovation targets and contributing to the broader energy transition objectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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58 pages, 6614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Operational Insights and Future Potential of the Database for Positive Energy Districts

by Paolo Civiero, Giulia Turci, Beril Alpagut, Michal Kuzmic, Silvia Soutullo, María Nuria Sánchez, Oscar Seco, Silvia Bossi, Matthias Haase, Gilda Massa and Christoph Gollner

Energies 2024, 17(4), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040899 - 15 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1654

Abstract

This paper presents the Positive Energy District Database (PED DB), a pivotal web tool developed collaboratively by the COST Action ‘PED-EU-NET’, in alignment with international initiatives such as JPI Urban Europe and IEA EBC Annex 83. The PED DB represents a crucial step towards sharing knowledge, promoting collaboration, reinforcing decision-making, and advancing the understanding of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in the pursuit of sustainable urban environments. The PED DB aims to comprehensively map and disseminate information on PEDs across Europe, serving as a dynamic resource for sustainable urban development according to the objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. Indeed, PEDs imply an integrated approach for designing urban areas—the districts—where a cluster of interconnected buildings and energy communities produce net zero greenhouse gas emissions, managing an annual local/regional overflow production of renewable energy. The paper describes the collaborative step-by-step process leading to the PED DB implementation, the current results and potentials of the online platform, and introduces its future developments towards a more user-friendly and stakeholders-tailored tool. The interactive web map offers a customizable visualizations and filters on multiple information related to PED case studies, PED-relevant cases, and PED Labs. Users can access detailed information through a table view, facilitating comparisons across different PED projects and their implementation phase. The paper offers insights and detailed analysis from the initial dataset that includes 23 PED cases and 7 PED-related projects from 13 European countries, highlighting the key characteristics of surveyed PEDs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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22 pages, 2369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Indicator Framework for Evaluating Building Renovation Potential

by Barbara Eschen Danielsen, Morten Niels Baxter and Per Sieverts Nielsen

Energies 2024, 17(4), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040846 - 10 Feb 2024

Viewed by 979

Abstract

Implementation of a new European Union directive on energy renovation in Denmark can be expected to have a strong impact on the country’s energy renovation requirements. Accordingly, an indicator framework has been developed with the aim of identifying and quantifying the energy renovation potential of a specific Danish municipality. We identified and selected four indicators—energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, heating costs and current energy labels—specifically for detached dwellings. The physical renovation potential was then quantified based on the indicator results, and an average score for the four indicators was calculated for each of the 10,228 detached dwellings in the municipality. All four indicators were weighted equally in the calculations of the total renovation potential score. The methods used in this study can be applied more widely as they rank detached dwellings according to their renovation potential. However, we also found that more detailed data are necessary to determine the specific renovation potential of detached dwellings. A greater effort to collect more data on the part of the municipalities would improve the accuracy of analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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18 pages, 1217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Buildings to Communities: Exploring the Role of Financial Schemes for Sustainable Plus Energy Neighborhoods

by Andrea Kerstens and Angela Greco

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5453; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145453 - 18 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1464

Abstract

The realization of sustainable plus energy neighborhoods (SPENs) is key to achieving a carbon neutral built environment, and meeting the objectives of the green deal. Financial schemes have demonstrated effectiveness in driving the energy transition of individual buildings. However, the role of financial schemes in initiating the development of SPENs remains unclear. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the extent to which existing financial schemes support the technological advancements and stakeholders involved in SPEN realization. The focus is on four European countries: Austria, The Netherlands, Norway, and Spain, where noteworthy SPEN initiatives have been established. This study investigates whether and how financial schemes facilitate SPEN development and address the neighborhood-level dynamics. Our research used a mixed-methods approach comprising a literature review, case studies, and interviews. Our findings shed light on two significant barriers within current schemes. Firstly, the schemes rarely incentivize collective energy sharing and may inadvertently impede individuals’ prosumerism. Secondly, they primarily favor individuals capable of making upfront capital investments, rendering them inaccessible to a large portion of European citizens. By identifying these limitations, our study highlights the need for policy adjustments and innovative financial mechanisms to overcome the barriers hindering SPEN implementation. Moreover, our research contributes to the broader understanding of sustainable urban development and offers insights that extend beyond the examined countries, aiding policymakers and stakeholders in other regions facing similar challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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16 pages, 850 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Classifying Regional and Industrial Characteristics of GHG Emissions in South Korea

by Hyungsu Kang and Hyunmin Daniel Zoh

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7777; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15207777 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1685

Abstract

South Korea officially committed to reducing 40% of its total carbon emissions by 2030, but the country has a carbon-dependent economic structure based on the manufacturing industry. Additionally, the industrial structure of each region in South Korea is heterogeneous. In this regard, policymakers should analyze the carbon emission condition at a regional level because abatement aspects are heterogeneous by urban spatial production. However, although various studies have developed a methodology to evaluate the GHG emission condition, these studies failed to consider the fundamental aspect of regional heterogeneity. In this regard, this study suggests a quantitative method to assess the potential of the carbon neutrality of regions and industries by using both shift-share analysis and the Log Mean Divisia Index method. Shift share analysis is used to quantify the relation between the industry and regional characteristics, and the Log Mean Divisia Index method can decompose each effect for economic growth and technological progress. By combining these two methods, this study suggests four classifications to evaluate regional and industrial characteristics of GHG emissions and analyze each region’s emission status in terms of the mining and manufacturing industry in South Korea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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18 pages, 6812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Community Designs for District Heating Networks: Case Study of Corticella (Italy)

by Maria Alessandra Ancona, Francesco Baldi, Lisa Branchini, Andrea De Pascale, Federico Gianaroli, Francesco Melino and Mattia Ricci

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5248; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15145248 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2895

Abstract

In recent years, a rapid increase in the adoption of renewable energy sources and in the transition from a centralized electricity generation system to an increasingly distributed one has occurred. Within this scenario, in line with the European directives for achieving the objectives in the field of energy transition and climate change, energy communities are seen as potential contributors. The purpose of this work is to analyze the application potential of the energy community concept associated with district heating networks, leading to better overall energy-economic performance. This was demonstrated for a specific energy community in Italy, and it can be achieved by maximizing internal energy sharing—resulting from the electricity surplus generated by the photovoltaic system—and adopting different strategies that include heat pumps in order to maximize self-consumption and self-sufficiency, as well as to evaluate the most efficient investment in economic terms by exploiting the incentive tariff on shared energy. The results show that the performance of the system can be improved with the proposed design, achieving a significant reduction in the system’s energy demand, emissions and costs: compared to the reference case, the use of photovoltaics reduces primary energy demand by approximately 11%, while the addition of the energy community configuration allows emissions to be reduced by nearly 12%, with no additional investment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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Review

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27 pages, 7374 KiB

Open AccessReview

Implementation of Positive Energy Districts in European Cities: A Systematic Literature Review to Identify the Effective Integration of the Concept into the Existing Energy Systems

by Paola Clerici Maestosi, Monica Salvia, Filomena Pietrapertosa, Federica Romagnoli and Michela Pirro

Energies 2024, 17(3), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030707 - 1 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1901

Abstract

The positive energy district (PED) is a rather recent concept that aims to contribute to the main objectives of the Energy Union strategy. It is based on an integrated multi-sectoral approach in response to Europe’s most complex challenges. But to what extent have its development and implementation been supported by research and innovation programs? And what is the state of the art of its implementation and effective penetration into the current energy systems of European cities, according to the evidence provided by the scientific literature? This study aims to investigate these issues, providing a critical overview of the PED situation by means of a systematic literature review based on the use of open-access bibliometric software supplemented with content analysis. The results show that less than half of the documents analyzed refer to actual case studies, 80% of which were funded as part of research projects. This seems to lead to the conclusion that although PEDs have been strongly encouraged by the scientific community and policy initiatives at the European level, their implementation in cities is still limited. Moreover, an uneven distribution among countries can be observed. To overcome the existing barriers to PED diffusion and implementation, it would be useful to provide more ad hoc funding and, above all, facilitate its accessibility also by municipalities not yet well integrated into European projects, initiatives, and networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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22 pages, 1659 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematicity Review on Residential Electricity Load-Shifting at the Appliance Level

by Pinrolinvic D. K. Manembu, Angreine Kewo, Rasmus Bramstoft and Per Sieverts Nielsen

Energies 2023, 16(23), 7828; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16237828 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1524

Abstract

Load-shifting is a demand-side management (DSM) strategy to support the efficiency of the electricity grid during hours of peak demand. Load-shifting at the appliance level is an interesting topic to review, since appliance usage is one of the main inputs of the load-profile analysis. More literature reviews on load-shifting at the appliance level are required, as this is a specific issue in the body of literature on load-profile research, though only a limited number of studies are available at this time. It is also essential to focus on appliance usage patterns to improve our understanding of the impacts and characteristics of different appliances. Existing studies on load-shifting have used commonly structured literature reviews; our work addresses the transparency of each stage and substage in the selection of the final list of studies. The findings show that efficiency has been achieved in installed-capacity reductions; costs, including those of emission reductions; and peak consumption reductions. The most frequently used method in load-shifting at the appliance level is to develop load-shifting optimization algorithms. This work contributes by providing a transparent process of drawing up a systematicity literature review as a source of knowledge and grounded theory. It also contributes to specific research on load-shifting at the appliance level by highlighting and discussing the key findings for the reader. In particular, it contributes to improving energy efficiency by describing load-shifting methods at the appliance level and identifying both controllable and uncontrollable appliances. This detailed literature review at the appliance level can make valuable contributions in support of decision- and policymaking by illuminating new dynamic systems specifically in load-shifting and in demand-side management in general for energy efficiency purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023)

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