Energy Investment in Smart Cities Unlocking Financial Instruments in Europe

2015 ◽  
pp. 408-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Medda ◽  
Candace Partridge ◽  
Gianni Carbonaro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Development Outcomes

The intense pressures being brought to bear by the increasing diversity in European urban development patterns call for innovative funding mechanisms to promote smart sustainable urban development, most notably in the energy sector. Currently in Europe, various policy initiatives support sustainable urban development through financial engineering mechanisms operating at municipal and regional scales. The objective of this chapter is to review the main financial mechanisms focusing on energy, and in particular on urban investments committed to a highly energy-efficient, and low carbon, economy. Within this framework we assert that, in order to achieve the EU sustainable urban development outcomes, specific European financial instruments will need to be considered as viable key investment options. The structure and operational features of European Financial Instruments are explored here in the case of the Urban Development Fund implemented in London. We also discuss the importance of ESCOs and crowdfunding as essential funding sources for community energy projects, and suggest that European policy should recognise their importance.

Energy Investment in Smart Cities Unlocking Financial Instruments in Europe

2018 ◽  
pp. 818-842
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Medda ◽  
Candace Partridge ◽  
Gianni Carbonaro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Development Outcomes

The intense pressures being brought to bear by the increasing diversity in European urban development patterns call for innovative funding mechanisms to promote smart sustainable urban development, most notably in the energy sector. Currently in Europe, various policy initiatives support sustainable urban development through financial engineering mechanisms operating at municipal and regional scales. The objective of this chapter is to review the main financial mechanisms focusing on energy, and in particular on urban investments committed to a highly energy-efficient, and low carbon, economy. Within this framework we assert that, in order to achieve the EU sustainable urban development outcomes, specific European financial instruments will need to be considered as viable key investment options. The structure and operational features of European Financial Instruments are explored here in the case of the Urban Development Fund implemented in London. We also discuss the importance of ESCOs and crowdfunding as essential funding sources for community energy projects, and suggest that European policy should recognise their importance.

Energy Investment in Smart Cities Unlocking Financial Instruments in Europe

2019 ◽  
pp. 1120-1144
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Medda ◽  
Candace Partridge ◽  
Gianni Carbonaro
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Development Outcomes

The intense pressures being brought to bear by the increasing diversity in European urban development patterns call for innovative funding mechanisms to promote smart sustainable urban development, most notably in the energy sector. Currently in Europe, various policy initiatives support sustainable urban development through financial engineering mechanisms operating at municipal and regional scales. The objective of this chapter is to review the main financial mechanisms focusing on energy, and in particular on urban investments committed to a highly energy-efficient, and low carbon, economy. Within this framework we assert that, in order to achieve the EU sustainable urban development outcomes, specific European financial instruments will need to be considered as viable key investment options. The structure and operational features of European Financial Instruments are explored here in the case of the Urban Development Fund implemented in London. We also discuss the importance of ESCOs and crowdfunding as essential funding sources for community energy projects, and suggest that European policy should recognise their importance.

scholarly journals Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2020

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2351
Author(s):  
Paola Clerici Maestosi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

This Special Issue of Energies “Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2020” introduce contemporary research on Smart Cities and on Positive Energy Districts. The topic highlights the variety of research within this field: from the analysis of 61 Positive Energy Districts cases to papers illustrating the Positive Energy Districts dimension or Smart Energy Communities supporting low carbon energy transition as well as selected Smart Cities Experiences. The focus is thus given on how RD&I stakeholders and Municipalities are facing sustainable urban development challenges. An overview of Horizon Europe RD&I program on sustainable urban areas is provided.

Building Sustainable Cities in China: Experience, Challenges, and Prospects

2019 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 1940002
Author(s):  
Wenmei KANG ◽  
Mou WANG ◽  
Junyan LIU ◽  
Xianhong LV ◽  
Ying ZHANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
2030 Agenda

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the sustainable development goal 11 is to “make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. China has been making great effort in this respect. With the advancement in science and technology, the concepts of green development, environmental friendliness, and fair development are gradually moving from theories to practices, guiding the construction and development of sustainable cities in China. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the overall process of China’s construction of sustainable cities and development can be divided into three stages: the initial practice stage (1986–2000), the stage focusing on transformation (2001–2012), and the stage emphasizing coordinated development and social fairness (2012 to present). During the process, China has proposed and carried out a series of pilot demonstrations of sustainable cities, eco-cities, garden cities, low-carbon cities, livable cities, resilient cities, sanitary cities, sponge cities, and circular economy cities. It has achieved remarkable results with valuable experience; meanwhile, it still faces many challenges considering the current practices. With the integration of planning for the national economy and social development, rural and urban development, land use, and other aspects, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sustainable urban practices in China will receive more policy support and effective administrative support. As the largest developing country in the world, China’s practice in sustainable urban development undoubtedly has a broad demonstration effect and can contribute to global sustainable development.

PRIORITIES OF CANADA URBAN DEVELOPMENT: FROM SUSTAINABLE TO SMART CITIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-183
Author(s):  
Vladyslav Kolomechiuk
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Community Initiatives ◽  
Innovative System

The article deals with the priorities and dynamics of the Canada urban development and describes the sustainable cities evolution. The purpose of the work is to compare the main achievements in the implementation of sustainable cities in Canada and to outline the problems and prospects of the formation of smart cities. To date smart cities is also an innovative system, where technologies are used to improve the relationship between citizens and their governments and provide social innovation and improve quality of life. A sustainable and smart cities is a place where citizens work with local authorities to improve service delivery, develop community initiatives and create solutions to improve quality of life. In this context, it is important to analyze the current policy of sustainable urban development in Canada in order to identify problem points and formulate recommendations for further de-velopment.

Study on Green City Construction and Sustainable Development – Low Carbon City from Theory to Create

2014 ◽  
Vol 548-549 ◽  
pp. 1773-1777
Author(s):  
Qun Liu ◽  
Jiang Hua Zhuo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Saving Technology ◽  
City Construction ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
Low Carbon City ◽  
Economic Vitality

The trend of low-carbon in world and resource shortages, environmental carrying capacity of weak basic conditions, decided to go low-carbon path is an inevitable choice in China. The city’s ecological environment, cultural tastes, economic vitality, management systems, technological progress has become the focus of urban studies nowadays. Study on how to improve the energy-saving technology to create a low-carbon life is the fundamental way to achieve sustainable urban development. Therefore, the study of low-carbon urban development, is not only has theoretical values, but also owns practical significance. In this paper the reason for low-carbon city, the basic concept of sustainable development was discussed. The significance of the construction of green ecological city and the future direction of the green eco-city construction was presented.

scholarly journals Assessing Sustainable Urban Development Trends in a Dynamic Tourist Coastal Area Using 3D Spatial Indicators

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5044
Author(s):  
Teresa Santos ◽  
Raquel Deus ◽  
Jorge Rocha ◽  
José António Tenedório
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Urban Growth ◽  
Coastal Area ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
2D And 3D ◽  
The Impact

In coastal areas, the tourism sector contributes to the local economy, generating income, employment, investments and tax revenues but the rapid urban expansion creates great pressure on local resources and infrastructures, with negative repercussions on the residents’ quality of life, but also compromising the visitor’s experience. These areas face problems such as the formation of meteorological effects known as heat islands, due to the soil sealing, and increased energy demand in the peak season. To evaluate the impact of urban growth spatial pattern and change, three strategic sustainable challenges—urban form, urban energy, and urban outdoor comfort—were selected. The progress towards sustainability was measured and analyzed in a tourist city in the Algarve region, Portugal, for the period 2007–2018, using geographic information. A set of 2D and 3D indicators was derived for the building and block scales. Then, a change assessment based on cluster analysis was performed, and three different trends of sustainable development were identified and mapped. Results allow detecting the urban growth patterns that lead to more sustainable urban areas. The study revealed that a high sustainable development was observed in 12% of the changed blocks in the study area. All indicators suggest that the growth pattern of the coastal area is in line with the studied sustainability dimensions. However, most of the blocks that changed between 2007 and 2018 (82%) followed a low sustainable development. These blocks had the lowest variation in the built volume and density, and consequently the lowest variations in the roof areas with good solar exposition. The urban development also privileged more detached and less compact buildings. This analysis will support the integration of 2D and 3D information into the planning process, assisting smart cities to comply with the sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals Advances on Smart Cities and Smart Buildings

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 631
Author(s):  
Michele Roccotelli ◽  
Agostino Marcello Mangini
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Global City ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Smart Buildings ◽  
Modern Cities

Modern cities are facing the challenge of combining competitiveness on a global city scale and sustainable urban development to become smart cities [...]

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