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.

In this edition, discover updates and innovations from our participating cities! RESPONSE supports lighthouse cities Dijon (FR) and Turku (FI), along with Fellow cities Brussels (BE), Zaragoza (ES), Botosani (RO), Ptolemaida (GR), Gabrovo (BU), and Severodonetsk (UA). Stay updated with the latest news and developments from the RESPONSE project.

Find the newsletter here: https://h2020response.eu/newsletter/7/

The hackathons challenged participants to create innovative solutions.

As part of the RESPONSE project, Turku has hosted its 3rd and 4th hackathons focused on energy transition. The 3rd hackathon challenged participants to create solutions for minimizing PV energy curtailment at the residential level, while the 4th invited ideas for engaging people in energy issues through an interactive, gamified approach. Both events were successfully concluded, showcasing innovative solutions with significant societal impact.

This year’s Turkus technical hackathon topic was “Residential PV Curtailment Mitigation and Energy Optimization”. Throughout the application process, 6 teams presented their solutions and methodologies for evaluation. The jury selected 3 teams and accordingly awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes. The team who secured the 1st place had advanced their idea using AI algorithms.

1st Prize Winning Team

1st Prize Winning Team is developing an AI-powered energy management system for residential PV curtailment and energy optimization. Located in Sri Lanka, they will be implementing their idea from their home place. 

2nd Prize Winning Team

The 2nd Prize Winning Team´s project involved backend development with a machine-learning-based prediction module for residential PV curtailment and energy optimization. 

3rd Prize Winning Team

The 3rd Prize Winning Team worked on leveraging deep neural networks to make smart decisions about energy production and consumption for residential PV curtailment and energy optimization.

RESPONSE project partners met for a Consortium meeting in Zaragoza, Spain. The event took place on May 28-29, 2024.

The first day of the meeting started with welcome speeches by Miguel Angel Garcia Muro, Deputy of Digital Transformation of Zaragoza City (Area of Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency), and David Rodríguez Ochoa, Head of the Funding and Transfer Unit at CIRCE. It was followed by the Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting where each of the Work Packages and its development status was presented. The second part of the day was dedicated to the Workshops that were held in parallel.

The highlight of the second day of the Consortium meeting was the Site Visit and exploration of Zaragoza where participants could visit the Replication area of the city.

In the concluding part, Daniel Sarasa (ZARAGOZA) Ignacio López and Eduardo Manchado (Zaragoza University) hold a discussion Towards Bold City Vision 2050 for FCs and LHCs.

Overall, the meeting was a great opportunity to reflect on the project’s progress and discuss the further steps toward all of the project components. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to significantly influence future project development and ensure its successful
conclusion and exploitation of its results.

The RESPONSE project supports two Lighthouse Cities and six Fellow Cities across Europe, aiming to achieve significant energy savings and emissions reductions while fostering innovation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

RESPONSE Workshops

During the two-day event, several workshops were held focusing on different topics relevant to the final phase of the RESPONSE implementation. These workshops were organized and conducted by the project partners, specifically those responsible for the various Work Packages, as detailed below:

This workshop aimed to maximize the replication potential of the solutions embedded in RESPONSE by analyzing the barriers, pros and cons, and bottlenecks encountered throughout the project, with a particular focus on Work Package 5 (WP5), which is dedicated to business modeling. The challenges and investment hurdles faced during the implementation of Innovation Elements (IEs) were presented to the audience.

2. RESPONSE final event preparation – by Monjur Murshed, Amélie Grelaud (EIFER), Lise Brusseaux (DM), Helmi Anderson (Turku)

The main objectives of this workshop are to answer open questions and get prepared for the RESPONSE final events to successfully celebrate the achievement of the RESPONSE project.

3. Replication update from FCs and LHCs- identification of open questions and issues – by Lea Kleinenkuhnen (BRUSSELS)

The objectives were to verify where FCs and LHCs are in their replication planning as well as check and share what they still need in terms of information and support and identify how this can be provided. The workshop also intended to define will all partners involved the needed next steps to finalise the replication roadmaps by spring 2025.

4. Detailed Exploitation planning – by Douglas Thompson and Ana Fernandes (SPI)

The objective of this session was to discuss ideas on the next steps and actions needed regarding communication of the Key Exploitation Results (KERs) and collect inputs from partners to develop the final exploration plan, such as the identification of RESPONSE KERs and other activities for exploitation of the project results and identification of main target group.

5. Working sessions to support replication/troubleshooting – by Lea Kleinenkuhnen (BRUSSELS)

The idea for this session was to organise targeted replication-related discussions in smaller groups of concerned partners to answer questions and help solve problems identified by the cities regarding their replication efforts.

6. Follow up of RESPONSE project – by Lise Brusseaux (DM)

This workshop aimed to discuss the continuation of the cooperation dynamic after RESPONSE ends by promoting matchmaking for future projects between RESPONSE consortium members and to duplicate and massify the solutions tested as part of RESPONSE.

7. Towards Bold City Vision 2050 for FCs and LHCs – by Daniel Sarasa (ZARAGOZA), Ignacio López and Eduardo Manchado (Zaragoza University)

The intention is to develop an interactive session in which the FCs can create a “Bold City Vision Canvas (BCV)”. Explore how the LHCs have raised their Bold City Vision and generate an active discussion among the cities, putting forward ideas, and questions to the LHCs and reflecting on common issues (methodological, practical, etc) to be addressed by all cities in the implementation of a roadmap towards their BCV.