The RESPONSE Project announces the 7th RESPONSE Webinar focused on Heat and Electric Storage Sustainable Solutions in Dijon and Turku. The webinar will take place on 23rd January 2025 from 11:00 to 12:00 CET.

This session will highlight the integrated solutions adopted by the RESPONSE project in its energy transition strategy. The webinar will focus on grid flexibility strategies and novel storage systems designed to optimize energy flows, maximize self-consumption, and reduce grid stress.

Key Speakers:

• Djawad Hamache and Van Hoa Nguyen from EDF
• William Edrich from Sunamp
• Moderated by Ana Fernandes from SPI

The session will provide participants with insights into the sustainable storage solutions implemented in the cities of Dijon and Turku as part of the RESPONSE project.

Event Details:

• Date: 23rd January 2025
• Time: 11:00 to 12:00 CET
• Registration: Register Here

Webinar Agenda:

1. Welcome to Participants | Ana Fernandes (SPI) (2’)
2. Introduction to Sustainable Energy Storage (IS3) in RESPONSE | Djawad Hamache (EDF) (13’)
3. Electricity Storage Solutions in Dijon | Djawad Hamache (EDF) & Van Hoa Nguyen (EDF) (20’)
4. Heat Storage Solutions in Turku | William Edrich (Sunamp) (20’)
5. Q&A | Ana Fernandes (SPI) (5’)

This webinar offers a valuable opportunity for professionals a This webinar offers a valuable opportunity for professionals and stakeholders to explore how innovative storage technologies can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

As we welcome 2025, the H2020 RESPONSE project is delighted to present the 8th edition of its Newsletter, offering a retrospective of the key milestones and achievements from the second half of 2024.

In this edition, we revisit the progress made across our Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), innovative energy solutions, and the collective efforts of our partners, all contributing to the vision of creating smarter, greener, and more sustainable cities in Europe.

Key Highlights from the Second Half of 2024

1. Turku PED Heat Pump Recognized as “Heat Pump City of the Year”
   The innovative heat pump solution developed in Turku’s Student Village PED was awarded first place by the European Heat Pump Association in September 2024. This system, which combines circular economy principles with high efficiency, exemplifies collaboration between research, business, and city leadership.

2. Solarisation of Social Housing in Dijon
   New photovoltaic (PV) pergolas were installed on the roofs of two social housing blocks in Dijon as part of a collective self-consumption initiative. Set to launch in Spring 2025, this effort promises reduced energy costs and a positive financial impact for tenants.

3. Introduction of LEV Chargers in Turku
   Two Light Electric Vehicle chargers were installed in the Turku PED, offering free charging for e-bikes and other light electric vehicles. Strategically located along cycling routes, these chargers provide fast and efficient solutions for sustainable transportation.

4. Active Participation in Global and Local Events

   • Smart Cities Expo World Congress (Barcelona): RESPONSE shared its vision of sustainable urban development through sessions, workshops, and panel discussions, highlighting strategies for scaling Positive Energy Districts.
   • Ecological and Digital Transition Festival (Dijon): RESPONSE engaged with students and professionals, presenting career opportunities and fostering a new generation of sustainability experts.

5. Collaborative Webinar on PV Installations and Self-Consumption
   Together with NEUTRALPATH, RESPONSE hosted a webinar exploring the integration of photovoltaic energy in Positive Energy Districts, showcasing successful models from Zaragoza, Dijon, and Turku.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2025, RESPONSE remains committed to its mission of accelerating sustainable urban transformations. The project will continue to share insights, innovations, and success stories to inspire replication and scale across Europe.

📖 Dive into the full Newsletter to learn more about these exciting developments and upcoming events: Newsletter 8.

The fourth edition of the Ecological and Digital Transition Festival provided students with insights into Dijon’s transition goals through the RESPONSE project, highlighting future career opportunities in sustainable innovation.

The fourth edition of the Ecological and Digital Transition Festival took place from 4 November to 8 December 2024. It featured 90 events in a variety of formats, which aimed to understand the challenges of the ecological and digital transition, and to help people discover the trainings and careers that contribute to it in Burgundy-Franche-Comté thanks to a tailor-made programme around these challenges: exhibitions, conferences, hackathons, and visits of companies or laboratories. 

The festival is particularly aimed at “learners” (secondary school students, university students and apprentices), including people undergoing career change and job seekers, teachers and employees. 

This was the context in which the Green City – Campus des Métiers organised the second ‘” Your Job of Tomorrow, a sustainable, low-carbon city ‘’ forum in Dijon from 2 to 4 December.   

This forum is an experience during which visitors are given a mission that will lead them to work together to identify and mobilise key skills for a project that contributes to decarbonisation. 

EDF and Dijon Métropole presented the RESPONSE model and the city’s civic services demonstrated the “Draw your Positive Energy District” board game developed as part of the project, to introduce students to the context of the city’s decarbonisation. 

Using the example of RESPONSE in Dijon, the students learned not only about the objectives of the city’s transition, but also about the career opportunities, it offers. Encouraged by this introduction, they then discovered the jobs of the future in several workshops run by schools and companies. 

In November, Finnish Lighthouse project cities gathered in Vantaa to exchange practices. During the two-day event, cities shared updates and experiences in developing positive energy districts (PEDs) and delved into pressing challenges of urban energy transitions.

The focus of November’s Lighthouse City network meeting was on replication and carbon neutrality in urban planning. The meeting gathered participants from Tampere (STARDUST), Oulu (MAKINGCITY), Espoo (SPARCS), Vantaa (NEUTRALPATH), and Turku (RESPONSE).

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to exchange on replication in Turku and Vantaa, and the ongoing work for energy transition in those cities that have already concluded their respective Lighthouse project. The second day of the meeting focused on energy planning and carbon footprints as integral components of urban planning. In addition, a workshop on the concept of “Nordic PEDs” was organised, focusing on what solutions “PED thinking” can provide to the energy transition in Nordic cities.

Examining the city through a PED lens can enable us to harness the full energy potential of the built environment, e.g. through capture of waste heat and increase of RES production. However, a critical challenge for scaling PEDs at city level lies in fostering and sustaining the kind of multistakeholder collaboration that are needed for successful implementation. New kinds of business and contractual models, which allow stakeholders to share benefits equitably, are needed to ensure broadscale adoption of PED practices. Finally, a key factor for scaling is related to the underlying structure of the city. In cities that are still expanding, the role of urban planning in new districts is highlighted.

Although some of the Lighthouse Projects have already ended, there is still much to share and learn between the project cities. Indeed, the fact that the projects are at different stages provides an excellent opportunity to compare various solutions.

The Finnish Lighthouse City network meets a few times a year to discuss ongoing work and relevant topics. November’s meeting was organised by the City of Vantaa and NEUTRALPATH project.

The Finnish Lighthouse City Network allows cities operating within the same legislative framework, faced with similar challenges and opportunities, to connect and foster mutual support. Ultimately, this advances development and strengthens the overall success of all the projects involved. November’s meeting was organised by the City of Vantaa and NEUTRALPATH project.

Key strengths identified included the need to address energy efficiency, waste heat utilization, renewable energy, and system flexibility from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Regional systems require collaborative solutions to harness the energy potential of the built environment, supported by business and contractual models that distribute benefits equitably. Energy efficiency must also translate into predictable and competitive pricing for end users.

The RESPONSE team once more took part in the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the premier global event for cities and urban innovation, which took place this year from 5-7 November 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. 

The RESPONSE team once more took part in the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the premier global event for cities and urban innovation, which took place this year from 5-7 November 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. 

An evening filled with scientific demonstrations, interactive workshops, and cutting-edge innovations that captivated students, researchers, and the public.

The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) recently hosted its annual Researcher’s Night on 27th September 2024, from 17:00 to 22:00, at the university’s central campus. Organized by the Thermal Engineering Section of the School of Mechanical Engineering, the event brought together members of the scientific community, students, and the general public for an engaging half-day of science and innovation.

The program featured:

• Science Experiment Demonstrations: Hands-on experiments that brought scientific concepts to life.
• Interactive Workshops: Engaging sessions where participants experienced cutting-edge technological and scientific processes.
• Discussions and Speeches by Leading Scientists: Prominent experts shared their insights into the latest research trends in thermal engineering and other fields.
• Technological Innovations and Presentations: Attendees discovered breakthroughs and technologies shaping the future of engineering and science.

This event provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn, network, and immerse themselves in the world of science and innovation. It was a great success, showcasing the dynamic research happening at NTUA.

For more information, contact ntuaren@central.ntua.gr.

The heat pump solution developed and implemented in Turku Student Village PED area was awarded by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) in Brussels on 25th of September 2024. Tyyssija’s heat pump solution won 1st place in the category “Heat Pump City of the Year”, which recognizes heat pump projects implemented at the local level with the support of the city. The solution was co-developed by RESPONSE partners VTT, Oilon, Högfors GST, and Turku Energy.  

The award-winning heat pump solution is a key element of Turku Student Village PED area and located in Tyyssija building. The solution applies circular economy principles to district cooling and heating by using return heat from district cooling as its energy source. In effect, the heat pump is recovering waste heat from other buildings and repurposing it for energy production in Tyyssija. The thermal energy can then be distributed not only to Tyyssija, but also other buildings connected to the district heating and cooling networks. Additionally, as the solution can produce district heating and cooling simultaneously, its efficiency is also higher than that of a pump producing only heating or cooling.

“Tyyssija’s energy solution is a concrete example of how the principles of circular economy in district cooling and heating can be applied to urban energy management. This research demonstrates that energy-positive housing is not only possible but also highly beneficial for a low-emission future. On this journey of smart city innovation, we have successfully solved many technical challenges together with the companies. I am pleased that the award came to Turku,” says Jari Shemeikka, the research team leader from VTT, who was involved in the development of the heat pump innovation.

RESPONSE partners Turku, Turku Energia, VTT, Oilon, Högfors GST, and TYS were delighted to receive the award from the European Heat Pump Association. The awarded solution is a result of collaboration between research and business, with the city of Turku and TYS as important enablers for innovation through RESPONSE project.

“It is an honor to receive this award from the European Heat Pump Association, recognizing the innovative energy solutions we have developed in RESPONSE project. This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our team and partners. The city of Turku’s goal of being carbon-neutral by 2029, and climate-positive thereafter, drives us forward. As cities across Europe work toward their own climate goals, we hope Turku’s progress inspires others to adopt energy-positive solutions and accelerate the global transition to sustainability,” says Risto Veivo, Climate Director for the City of Turku.

The Heat Pump Awards is an annual competition organized by the European Heat Pump Association. The Heat Pump City of the Year award recognizes innovative, local projects supported by cities.

More information on European Heat Pump Awards and the winners of 2024: https://www.ehpa.org/news-and-resources/press-releases/meet-the-winners-of-the-2024-heat-pump-award/

Two Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) chargers were installed in Turku Student Village PED in September. With the LEV chargers, residents and passers-by can charge their electric bikes or other light electric vehicles. Charging is free, and the stations are equipped with the most common e-bike charging cables (Shimano, Yamaha, and Bosch) as well as a socket for personal chargers.

The LEV chargers are strategically placed along year-round cycling routes and enable fast charging—adding up to 20 km of range in just 30 minutes. With the ability to charge two bikes simultaneously, they offer a practical solution for both students and residents of the area.

The chargers were developed by the New Energy Research Group at Turku University of Applied Sciences as part of the RESPONSE project.