The project Regeneration Model for Accelerating the Smart Urban Transformation (REMOURBAN), funded by the European Union (EU), will demonstrate strategies that European cities can use to reduce energy consumption, improve transport sustainability, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to improve the quality of life in urban areas through cooperative efforts on green energy and transport solutions.
The project’s approach encourages individuals and communities across Europe to work together on implementing sustainable, green solutions to meet energy and transport needs. The approach is in line with the EU’s plan to develop smart cities that integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) with sustainable energy and transport solutions.
REMOURBAN is implementing and testing a range of green energy and transport strategies in three partner cities: Valladolid (Spain), Nottingham (UK), and Tepebaşi/Eskişehir (Turkey). The project will work closely with city administrations and residents to develop these strategies, based on local needs in selected districts.
The project is targeting energy savings of 50–53% and emission reductions of 26–80%, involving between 5700 and 8100 residents depending on the participating city district. The project’s work includes:
■ retrofitting buildings and improving lighting and equipment to achieve energy savings;
■ installing domestic and district-wide heating systems that use renewable sources integrated with smart energy monitoring and control technologies;
■ deploying electric and hybrid vehicles and buses in place of conventional fuel-powered ones, along with associated charging stations and management technologies; and
■ developing information and communication technologies and platforms to manage city infrastructure, smart energy grids, and traffic.
The approaches will be shared across the three test cities, and with two other project partners—Seraing (Belgium) and Miskolc (Hungary)—as a means of developing generic solutions that can be applied elsewhere across Europe.
REMOURBAN will also identify the main barriers to achieving urban sustainability goals and propose regulation adjustments that will encourage cities to switch to green energy and transport solutions, and to improve public procurement procedures.
