A city operating entirely on clean energy? In theory, it’s possible. But in real life? How to integrate new solutions in existing buildings, systems and people’s lives? What are the technical, economic or social barriers? And how to overcome these? That is what the EU-funded City-zen project is learning-by-doing in 20 innovative projects in Grenoble and Amsterdam. City-zen develops and demonstrates energy efficient cities all the while building a methodology and tools for cities, industries and citizens. Expected impacts are:

• 22 innovations in Grenoble and Amsterdam
• 59,000 tonnes per year CO₂ savings
• 90,000 m² renovated residential buildings
• 10,000 connected dwellings with a Smart Grid

Through a collaborative approach, parties work to implement innovative solutions for cities where only clean energy is used: solar power, geothermal energy and biomass. Using games, demonstrations and research, the projects show how to implement innovations in the city and in which way they really contribute to a sustainable future. This special approach suits Amsterdam Smart City’s and Grenoble Eco-Cité’s ambitions. Together, the two cities form one of the biggest Smart Energy laboratories of Europe with activities focused on building retrofitting, smart grids, heating and cooling, methodology, monitoring and integrated societal issues. Amsterdam and Grenoble also worked on their Energy Transition Roadmap, as the route to achieve the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Started in 2014, City-zen is currently moving into its final phase. To share and exchange project results as well as to look for deployment opportunities, the consortium organizes a closing event in Brussels on 14-15 November 2019. More information on the event follow soon, stay tuned here!

Examples of innovative solutions can be found in the attached files below. For further details about City-zen and its 20 pilot programmes, please visit the official webpage.