Rexel International Regulation Review August 2011
Transcript of Rexel International Regulation Review August 2011
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Smart Cities and Communities Initiative
August 2011
Topic
The European Commission launched on 21 June 2011 the Smart Cities and Communities Initiative as
part of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). The initiative is designed to make Europeancities drivers of innovation in the field of energy technologies and to support them in their efforts
towards the reduction of their greenhouse gases emissions.
Challenges
→Make European Cities drivers of innovation in the field of energy
The Smart Cities and Communities Initiative is designed to address the challenges faced by cities in
the field of energy and sustainable development. It aims at supporting European cities in their efforts
towards the implementation of innovative measures to accelerate the deployment of low carbon
technologies on their territory.
→ Bringing together stakeholders
The initiative is designed to bring together all stakeholders (European institutions, the industry,
municipalities, banks, etc.) and to involve them in the monitoring of the progress of the initiative. A
Smart Cities Stakeholders Platform should be launched by the European Commission in the next
months to facilitate the dialogue and the exchange of knowledge between stakeholders, and
between stakeholders and the European Commission.
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→ Supporting the development of projects with high replication potential
The Smart Cities and Communities Initiative aims at supporting European Cities faced with commonchallenges and similar ambitions in the development of innovative solutions with a high replication
potential in a ten-years perspective. The objective of the Commission is to set up an initiative with a
strong EU-wide impact, and enabling the creation of industrial markets. The stakeholders platform
should in particular aim at identifying barriers and obstacles to the large-scale market deployment
of low carbon technologies in order to reach a critical mass.
The main features of the projects
The call for proposals specifically dedicated to Smart Cities and Communities was published on 20
July 2011 by the European Commission, in the frame of the Energy Theme of the 7th Framework
Programme for Research and Development (FP7). It aims at supporting projects developed by
European municipalities in this field through EU funding. 40 million euro will be available in the frame
of this call.
→ Encouraging a horizontal and holistic approach
Projects funded under the FP7 should involve a broad range of private and public actors: the
industry will play a leading role, while municipalities will give orientations and provide assistance in
the implementation of projects on their territory. Projects should answer to common challenges and
be embedded in comprehensive urban planning. Banks should also be involved in the process.
→Making energy efficiency a priority
Projects should give prority to energy efficiency. Further aspects linked to energy should also be
addressed, like energy networks, renewable energy production as well as other urban issues in the
area of electricity, heating and cooling, transport, efficient waste collection, treatment, recycling and
energy use; however, these projects should not take place at the expense of energy efficiency.
→ Putting urban planning and heating and cooling in the foreground
The FP7 call for proposals identifies two actions that could lead to a project, and that could be
adressed on their own or in combination with each other:
- The development of a strategic sustainable planning covering the whole city districts and
communities and addressing energy efficiency in all sectors ; this includes renovation of the
building stock, efficient transportation and mobility systems, energy systems, electricity
smart grids, efficient water networks and use, efficient waste collection, treatment, recycling
and energy use, promotion of efficient vehicles ;
- The development of large-scale systems for urban area heating and/or cooling supply.
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Next steps
The FP7 call for proposals dedicated to Smart Cities & Communities will close on 1 December 2011;
the evaluation of call proposals should take place in January/February 2012, leading to the start of
projects in Summer 2012.
In parallel to the FP7 call, the Commission will launch by the end of 2011 the Smart Cities
Stakeholders Platform.
Useful Links
Website of Directorate-General for Energy (European Commission)http://ec.europa.eu/energy/technology/initiatives/smart_cities_en.htm
Website of Directorate-General for Research & Innovation (European Commission)
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-ENERGY-
SMARTCITIES-2012
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