Cities play a crucial role in the implementation of climate and energy policies. Many have demonstrated a remarkable commitment and progress towards net zero carbon emissions. But reaching that energy’s holy grail is easier said than done as cities grapple with implementation challenges that hamper decarbonisation at scale. The new EU-funded initiative BIPED will help Aarhus and other cities to manage energy transition by developing and scaling positive energy districts, a key building block in achieving city-wide climate neutrality.
Urban activities are a major source of greenhouse gases, with cities accounting for more than two-thirds of global energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Transitioning towards carbon neutrality is not possible without cities and regions, the beating heart of our economies, leading the way on climate action.
In Europe, many local administrations are already at the forefront of energy transition. However, managing this complex task is challenging, as numerous moving parts and simultaneous interventions need coordination across multiple domains and levels.
DTU is the coordinator of the new Horizon Europe project BIPED, which will assist cities in this transformation by providing intelligent solutions for building and scaling up positive energy districts, or PEDs.
PEDs are urban areas that produce more energy than they consume during the year. To achieve a positive energy balance, PEDs minimize their energy needs with energy efficiency measures and cover the remaining energy consumption with locally sourced renewables. PEDs rely on smart planning and control measures to optimize how energy is produced, consumed, stored, and transferred within district boundaries and beyond.
“Our technical solution boasts an advanced digital twin technology complete with AI-driven optimization tools for better urban planning,” said BIPED coordinator Martin Brynskov at a project kick-off in Aarhus, Denmark.
The district of Brabrand as a pilot
The city will provide a testbed for BIPED innovation in the western district of Brabrand. There, the PED community will take shape as a district living lab with innovative collaboration and empowerment of all stakeholders.
The purpose is to innovate PED development, democratize technology, create awareness and digital literacy, and support evidence-based action in regards to cleaner and more efficient energy planning and consumption.
After the initial deployment in Aarhus, BIPED tools and results will be offered to interested adopters across Europe, with a special focus on urban actors in the climate-neutral cities network. The use of standards, and in particular MIMs (Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms), will be a key enabler of cross-border integration, as well as between domains and systems, including energy, buildings, public spaces, mobility, natural environment, ICTs, and socioeconomic activities.
“We hope that our outcomes will encourage more cities to fast-track climate neutrality through an ambitious district transformation,” said Martin Brynskov.
“Ultimately, we want to set a leading international example that will encourage other countries to follow suit as they set out to build resilient energy systems and sustainable economies fit for the energy transition that is green, digital, and just.”