Urban Potential
Around 80% of European citizens live in an urban environment. This means that most of the energy that is needed, is used in cities and towns. This also means that cities serve the highest potential to improve energy conservation, use energy more efficiently and use renewable energy sources as clean, sustainable solutions. Simply Positive aims to support the development of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and promote the transition to Climate Neutral Cities across Europe.
Four testing sites
The project focuses on four key areas: maximizing the use of solar energy via traditional solar PV panels or PVT panels (panels that generate both electrical and thermal energy, which has the potential to effectively provide heat for the built environment), integrating electric vehicles in mobility and as energy storage, improving energy usage patterns, and developing common climate and energy action plans. The project involves testing these strategies in four districts in various European countries —including Amsterdam— to demonstrate how urban areas can effectively undergo an energy transition. A crucial aspect of the project is the establishment of a common framework for defining PEDs in existing urban areas. This includes ensuring active stakeholder participation to motivate further cities to adopt similar approaches.
PV potential
In Amsterdam, the project will mainly focus on the optimal usage of rooftops for solar energy, creating a detailed multi-layer map to analyze PV(T) potential across the city. Research will consider various factors such as roof usage and will develop a prioritization strategy for installing PV systems, taking into account economic, energetic, architectural, and governance factors, with the goal of enhancing energy efficiency and promoting the wider adoption of sustainable practices in urban environments.