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BABLE Solutions are expert-curated blueprints for efficiently implementable Smart City projects. Each Smart City Solution contains detailed and relevant information, while also linking to relevant Use Cases and Innovative Products.
Solution
In order to reduce fossil energy consumption, electric mobility is a key component of creating sustainable transportation. Not only is the transport sector responsible for 30% of total EU CO2 emissions (72% of which are from road transport), but the rate of emission reductions has also slowed down. Other sectors, such as energy, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and housing, have significantly reduced their CO2 emissions since 1990, while the transport sector's CO2 emissions are higher today than in 1990 due to the ever-increasing role of mobility in our lives (European Parliament, 2019). One solution to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions is electric mobility. Due to their longer lifespan and lower operational costs, electric vehicles can be financially beneficial. Fleet solutions facilitate the diffusion of electric vehicles rapidly and successfully into the market. Additionally, facilities to charge the electric vehicles are mandatory (Proff, Fojcik 2016, p. 128). The main goal is to diffuse electric mobility for environmental reasons. The overall vehicle population can be reduced by building up electric fleets. Plus, using electric fleets provides opportunities for companies and cities to create an innovative image and to test new technologies. The limited range of electrically driven vehicles is often less of an issue for company- and city-operated vehicles, as shorter distances are primarily covered. Fleet applications offer excellent opportunities for fast and successful diffusion of electric vehicles into the market, particularly since e.g. around 60 % of annual new car registrations in Germany are accounted for by companies and the self-employed. After their first commercial use, the vehicles are usually transferred to the used car market after a few years. Electric fleets for companies are thus a catalyst for the wider potential market diffusion of electric vehicles.
Solution
District heating and cooling systems distribute thermal energy in the form of steam, hot water, or chilled liquids, from central or decentralised sources of production through a network to multiple buildings or sites, for the use of space or process heating or cooling. For a lower environmental impact, a combination of recycled and renewable heat is the focus for district heating systems. Following the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the EU target to cut emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, there has been an increased effort from member states to foster district heating and cooling using alternative fuel sources and carbon-neutral heat-producing technologies. This transition is challenging as district heating supplies only 12% of the EU´s heat supply, with most of the energy produced from CHP plants powered by natural gas and solid fuels such as lignite. Problems to be solved Carbon emissions Low-efficient heat supply Fossil fuel dependency GHG emissions
Solution
The current EU regulation on emissions for cars is the strictest worldwide. Along with further restrictions the thresholds cannot be met with conventional cars only anymore. One alternative technology, that reduces local emissions, is electric vehicles (EVs). For a successful market entry of EVs, a functioning infrastructure is necessary. Customers rank inadequate access to charging stations as the third most serious barrier to EV purchase, after price and driving range ( Mckinsey, 2018 ). Therefore, public charging systems for electric vehicles support the electrification of urban mobility systems. While price and driving range improve each year, chargers can be of different power ranges and charging technologies. In addition, they can be smartly integrated into the local grid and provide information about the system for customers, operators and other stakeholders. For the user experience, it is recommended to include a payment and authentication system, which facilitates access and enhances the transparency of the charging process. It is also an issue of access to charging stations, as charging is performed while the car is parked, and the possibility of booking parking spots (adjacent to the charging station) is legally challenging in many countries. Dedicated parking spots for EVs only do not solve the issue, as another (fully charged) EV can park for a long term on the spot for which one accounts for charging after arrival. Problems to be solved Growing charging demand for EVs Carbon Emissions Air pollution
Solution
Clear evidence of techniques used for rainwater harvesting dates back to nearly 4000 years ago. However, the concept of rainwater harvesting may date back almost 6000 years in Ancient China ( Che-Ani et al., 2009 ). It is evident that rainwater harvesting has been part of human history and identity. With modernization and massive urbanization, rainwater harvesting has now become part of the city’s identity. To increase efficiency, the concept of Smart Rainwater Harvesting is being introduced around leading cities. Smart Rainwater Harvesting is characterized by collecting real-time data via sensors in water sources, collection phases, storage phases, and application phases (Behdazian et al., 2018). The data is gathered in a centralized data collection unit where it is monitored and processed. The processed data is then used to make decisions and adapt to specific circumstances. Smart Rainwater Harvesting systems by automated methods can release stormwater prior to rainfall occurring to enlarge the water captivity levels ( Behdazian et al., 2018 ). The main goal of rainwater harvesting systems is to collect and store rainwater during precipitation events for usage in non-drinking water applications ( Pradhan & Sahoo, 2019 ). The smart part of this concept consists of the development of communicating assets integrated with the overall system ( Xu et al., 2020 ). The system makes use of low-cost sensors combined with innovative communication technologies. The technological focus enables several new possibilities for the management of urban water infrastructure in a smart city framework. The performance of the system is strongly dependent on and interconnected with the quality of the weather forecast. The amount of precipitation and patterns of rainfall are integrated into the control strategy to determine discharge volume and closing time respectively ( Pradhan & Sahoo, 2019 ). .
Solution
Most cars are idly parked 90-95% of the time. With an accelerated shift to using electric vehicles (EVs), the batteries of EVs offer enormous potential in terms of using their vast collective storage capacity as a flexible solution to support the grid, which can be taxed with an intermittent renewable energy supply. Bi-directional electric vehicle charging (V2X) refers to EV chargers that allow not only for charging the battery of the EV but also for taking energy from the car battery and pushing it back to the grid when needed. There are two primary receivers of power from an EV: the grid (V2G) and the electricity from a home or building (V2H). Bi-directional charging creates greater synergy between the clean transport sector and renewable energy sources, as the car batteries can store excess energy created by variable renewable sources, such as wind and solar, and then provide power to the grid or home when demand is high or energy production is low. This reduces curtailment, lowers the need for grid infrastructure investments and allows for higher renewable energy integration. In addition, V2H charging can act as an emergency power source during power outages, and V2G can provide vehicle owners with extra income through arbitrage of time-variable energy prices. Problems to be solved Grid congestion Growing energy consumption Fluctuating generation of renewables Uneven peaks in energy usage