What’s land recycling? Read about this German example
The city of Flensburg got a grant from the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein so that it would avoid building on new land
These urban spaces will serve as the central nodes for the establishment of self-sufficient energy communities
The City of Zaragoza is one of the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, chosen as the torchbearers of transition by the European Commission. In that light, the local authorities have wasted no time in tackling the energy crisis and thinking of solutions.
On 29 September, the City Council approved the creation of shared self-sufficient communities with renewable electricity. The node of these communities will be panel canopies located on parking lots and serving to both provide share to the vehicles and capture the solar energy.
The communities will consist of homes and businesses located within a 500-metre radius of power-generating parking lots. It is estimated that, in total, more than 18,000 households could benefit from this initiative.
For the Councilor of Public Services and Mobility, Natalia Chueca, "at a time of energy crisis like the current one, we are going to reduce the electricity bill by at least 30% for 18,000 families and 200 businesses in Actur and El Rabal, without this It will also entail a cost for the City Council. We are facing a pioneering and creative idea that will help our neighbours obtain benefits from public space".
These canopies will be located in existing parking areas and will be installed, maintained, operated and managed by concessionaires over a period of 25 years. The final objective is to take advantage of the space available in the public domain that is used as parking to install Photovoltaic Production Plants that, in addition, will generate shaded parking for vehicles.
The concessionaires will create communities of shared consumption of renewable electricity, aimed both at private homes and businesses located within a maximum radius of 500 meters and at the City Hall itself. Thus, it will be possible to generate electricity without emissions with minimum reductions in the electricity bill of 30% during the concession, a reduction that will increase once the investment is amortized. The specifications approved also include specific clauses to favour the most vulnerable families.
The Public Services and Mobility Area will tender this first project in two parking lots. The total installed power will be 3.4 MW and an annual production of 6,500,000 KWh is previewed. The area of cover with photovoltaic panels necessary for this production will be about 17,000 square meters.
Once the lots have been awarded, the maximum term for the installation of the photovoltaic plants will be 10 months, and for the creation of the energy communities, 12 months. These terms could be reduced by two months, respectively, depending on the offers submitted by the bidders.
Parking in these spaces will be free of charge - unless it coincides with a regulated parking zone - and the canopies will have enough height to accommodate cars and vans underneath them.
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
His name is Adrian-Dragoș Benea from Romania
Find out her vision for the next five years and what’s in store for the European Union
Gotland wants to be at the forefront of this emerging mobility technology
It’s all about preventing the habit of slowing down just for the radar
Landkreis Heilbronn will also enlist the help of sensors to identify incorrectly filled organic trash bins
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
The Old Continent gets ready for the largest festival of sports
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital