SolutionBundles - City Panel

NetZeroCities Solution Bundles

Authors: Net Zero Cities Consortium, "Solution Bundles", 2023. Design: Andrea Gabaldón, Rosalía Simón, Ana Belén Gómez and Carolina PastorThis project has received funding from the innovation programe under grant agreement nº101036519

NetZeroCities Solution Bundles

To address complex urban problems, cities require a multi-lever approach that goes beyond any single solution. This means that several solutions across levers (bundling policies, social innovations, financing instruments, etc.) can more effectively tackle complex issues that require a range of (technical) interventions. Bundles of solutions can reinforce interconnections and underpin synergies, creating a more comprehensive and effective approach. Finally, bundles of solutions can lead to greater stakeholder engagement and participation in problem-solving, as by involving different actors in the process, more inclusive and effective solutions can be addressed.

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Carbon capture, storage & removal

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

E-mobility & Electrification

Hereafter you can find the four main solution bundles. Press bottom to know more about each of them. When you are ready, select one (by clicking to the boxes) to visualize how the bundling of solutions could look like.

NetZeroCities Solution Bundles

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

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Empty template

Complete template

Reduction of energy & resources needs

NetZeroCities Solution BundlesWorkshop Templates

NetZeroCities Solution BundlesHow to USE

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Press bottom to know more about each of the solutions.
Press check boxes to filter part of the solutions that are not interesting for you.

The check boxes are available on the top left corner of each bundle.

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This tool offers dynamic and interactive visualizations of city systems, providing stakeholders with a clear and engaging overview of complex concepts (such as, ways of achieving electrification or carbon capture).
Harness the power of collaborative learning by using our tool and engage with stakeholders in Workshops.
Through shared visualizations, we can collectively deepen our understanding of city challenges and brainstorm innovative solutions.

NetZeroCities Solution BundlesHow to USE

Share with your team!

Press bottom to know more about each of the solutions.
Press check boxes to filter part of the solutions that are not interesting for you.

The check boxes are available on the top left corner of each bundle.

Back

Handbook

This tool offers dynamic and interactive visualizations of city systems, providing stakeholders with a clear and engaging overview of complex concepts (such as, ways of achieving electrification or carbon capture).
Harness the power of collaborative learning by using our tool and engage with stakeholders in Workshops.
Through shared visualizations, we can collectively deepen our understanding of city challenges and brainstorm innovative solutions.

NetZeroCities Solution BundlesHandbook Video

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Circular Economy

Behaviour change

Efficient design

WS

Help

WORK IN PROGRESS

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Circular Economy

Behaviour change

Efficient design

Help

Reduction of energy & resources needs

WORK IN PROGRESS

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Digital Solutions

Green energy

Stationary energy

E-mobility & Electrification

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Capabilities

Waterfront

Sustainable agriculture

Pollinators

Green urban areas

Wetlands

Carbon Sequestration

Sustainable pavements

Soil Filter

Urban water grid

Industry carbon emissions

Building carbon emissions

Vertical Green Infrastructure

Policy & governance

Passive house

Water course measures

Water optimisation

Shading measures

Heat Island reduction

CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Help

Reduction of emissions

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Carbon capture

Nature-based Solutions

E-mobility & Electrification

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Capabilities

Sustainable agriculture

Green urban areas

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Soil Filter

Industry carbon emissions

Building carbon emissions

Vertical Green Infrastructure

Passive house

Shading measures

Policy & governance

CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Help

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of emissions

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature based Solutions

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Wetlands

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Waterfront

Capabilities

Pollinators

Sustainable pavements

Urban water grid

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Industry carbon emissions

Building carbon emissions

Passive house

Water course measures

Water optimisation

Heat Island reduction

Help

Policy & governance

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of emissions

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature based Solutions

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Wetlands

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Capabilities

Waterfront

Sustainable agriculture

Pollinators

Green urban areas

Carbon Sequestration

Sustainable pavements

Soil Filter

Urban water grid

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Help

Vertical Green Infrastructure

Water course measures

Water optimisation

Shading measures

Heat Island reduction

CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Policy & governance

Reduction of emissions

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature-based Solutions

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Wetlands

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Waterfront

Pollinators

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Capabilities

Sustainable pavements

Urban water grid

Water course measures

Water optimisation

Heat Island reduction

Help

Policy & governance

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of emissions

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature based Solutions

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Sustainable agriculture

Green urban areas

Carbon Sequestration

Capabilities

Soil Filter

Vertical Green Infrastructure

Help

Shading measures

CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Policy & governance

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of emissions

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature based Solutions

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Help

Industry carbon emissions

Building carbon emissions

Passive house

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of emissions

E-mobility & Electrification

Carbon capture

Nature based Solutions

E-mobility & Electrification

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Finance and Business Models

Help

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Culture, social innovation & participation

District Heating

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Energy

Mobility and transport

Reduction of energy & resources needs

District Heating

Help

E-mobility & Electrification

Finance and Business Models

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Energy

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Culture, social innovation & participation

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Help

District Heating

Energy

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Mobility and transport

Culture, social innovation & participation

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Finance and Business Models

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Finance and Business Models

Help

District Heating

Energy

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Mobility and transport

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Culture, social innovation & participation

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Reduction of energy & resources needs

District Heating

E-mobility & Electrification

Help

Finance and Business Models

Energy

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Mobility and transport

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Culture, social innovation & participation

Capabilities

Policy & governance

Bioretention Areas

Green filter area

Green Filter area. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Soil Filter

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: www.mysmartlife.eu

Energy - Smart street lighting

Smart street lighting is characterised by the fact that the individual light point not only fulfills the function of the lighting, but also offers additional services for citizens such as environmental monitoring (noise and air quality), or public Wi-Fi improvement among others. Furthermore, it can integrate photovoltaic panels, reducing electricity consumption.

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Green noise barriers

Vertical mobile gardens

Green walls and green façades

Green fences

Green living walls. Source: https://citygreen.com

Zagreb, Croatia. ProGIreg. Source: https://progireg.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Building envelope solutions

Carbon capture - Vertical Green Infrastructure

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Storm water channels

Retention pond. Source: http://winnipeg.ca

Storm water retenetion. Source: https://www.terraforce.com

Nature based Solutions - Urban water grid

Water interventions

Definition of data driven agroforestry. Source: Ramil, Elisa & Holland, John & Anagnostou, Dimitris & Brown, Keith & Desmulliez, M.P.Y.. (2022). A review of agroforestry, precision agriculture, and precision livestock farming—The case for a data-driven agroforestry strategy. Frontiers in Sensors. 3.

Urban farming

Community composting

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Agroforestry

Carbon capture - Sustainable agriculture

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Improvement of energy efficiency by active and passive solutions in buildings

Joinery for low-energy houses or passive houses

Passive building solutions

Passive house solutions. Source: https://www.zestarchitecture.com

Building envelope solutions

Reduction of emissions - Passive house

Sensible thermal energy storage

Thermochemical thermal energy storage

Thermal energy storage used in district heating and cooling effectively decouples demand from supply, allowing energy to be stored on a seasonal basis. District heating already incorporates sensible heat technologies such as tanks and underground storage (boreholes). The latter ones, are known as seasonal heat storage technologies and seasonal heat storage allow heat delivery to residential areas by thermal heat networks to make much better use of regional sustainable heat sources, thereby reducing the need for fossil fuels for peak demand.Thermal energy storage can store heat through a causing a chemical reaction, which usually takes place in a reversible process (thermochemical energy storage); or by changing the temperature of a material without undergoing a phase change (Sensible thermal energy storage). Even Sensible thermal energy storage is more commonly used, thermochemical energy storage can generally store more energy and for longer time periods.

Energy loop - Thermal energy storage (TES)

Decarbonisation Plans for Industry

CASOH pilot at ArcelorMittal's plant. Source: https://c4u-project.eu

C4U project

SEWGS image. Source: https://www.stepwise.eu

STEPWISE project

HeidelbergCement's Hanover cement plant. Source: https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com

LEILAC 2 project

Planning instruments

Reduction of emissions - Industry carbon emissions

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Business model ensure project´s economy viability, long term effectiveness, scalability and replicability by attracting investments, securing funding and generating revenues streams. Moreover, considering diverse stakeholders facilitates alignment with the local economy.

Finance and Business Models

Low-carbon sustainable concrete

Reducing embedded emissions of buildings

Sensorized-panel. Source: http://www.endurcrete.eu

Technology Roadmap. Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry (IEA). Source: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net

Low-carbon and sustainable building materials

Reduction of emissions - Building carbon emissions

Pollinator and verges spaces

Pollinator. Source: https://www.life4pollinators.eu

Pollinators contribute to urban biodiversity, with bees, wasps, beetles, beeflies, hoverflies, butterflies, and moths being the most common. Enhancing their presence in urban areas can be achieved by planting species with the nestar and pollen needed to attract the desired insect pollinators in the city´s green spaces.

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Nature based Solutions - Pollinators

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Heat Recovery & Valorisation from process heating (of industries) or data centers can be recovered, upgraded (i.e. increase temperature to the desired one with a heat pump), and used to descarbonise district heating networks.

Industrial Heat Pump technologies or High Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHP) have been identified for applications in the supply temperature range of 100 - 150°C in the food, paper, and chemical/pharma industries, in particular in drying processes, as well as in pasteurizing, sterilizing, evaporation, and distillation. The application of heat pump technologies opens additional new options for sector coupling of electricity, heating, and cooling and provides flexibility, e.g. through heat storage in industrial plants.

Energy - Waste heat

Chester assessment tool. Source: www.chester.datuma.aiguasol.coop

Sewage heat recovery via pump systems extract thermal energy from wastewater (12-15°C) using heat exchangers and pumps. These systems can pre-heat tap water for domestic hot water and space heating in individual buildings or supply low-heat to a district heating network (DHN) in larger sewer plants and channels. Heat pumps can be integrated to raise the temperature for consumption. This solution could be implementes in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, offering a reduction in hot water demand up to 20% by raising its temperature by 10 degrees

Semtive Energy turbine. Source: https://singularityhub.com

The main issue with wind turbines are the high noise levels (which leads to a low social acceptance) and the lack of space in cities. In Finland, small wind power plants are relatively frequent: Considering operational wind farms as of 2021, 17% of wind power capacity was in plants of size < 20MW (average size 2.12MW), and 8% in plants of size less than 10MW (average size 1.86MW). Smaller wind power plants with a small footprint are more easily integrated near cities or suburban areas

Energy - Wind power production

Typical diagram of wind-turbine system. Source: Syahputra, Ramadoni & Soesanti, Indah. (2019). Performance Improvement for Small-Scale Wind Turbine System Based on Maximum Power Point Tracking Control. Energies.

Photovoltaic panels on green roof were found to be, on average, 3.63% more efficient on any given day from the fact the green roof remained far cooler than the traditional concrete, meaning the panels did not overheat and therefore underperform.

PV panels on the roof. Source: pv magazine International

Green roof improves solar panel efficiency by 3.6% on average The comparison of two solar cladded roofs in Sydney, Australia, one bare beneath its panels and the other adorned with native grasses and plants, has...

Energy - Photovoltaic panels (PV)

Method energy communities

Case study of Valencia

Energy communities can be understood as a way to organize collective energy actions around open, democratic participation and governance, and the provision of benefits for the members or the local community. Energy communities can support the adoption of electrification (through implementation of PVs, heat pumps, batteries, etc.)

User engagement Changes at home, neighborhood, and environment are necessary in order to achieve goals related to energy conservation and the generation of sustainable energy. The extent to which residents are involved in the process of making sustainable decisions has an important impact on the speed and outcome of such projects. Informative sessions and social media campaigns, climate-related action offices for local support (such as the ones in Valencia), will be needed.

Citizen Participation Platforms allow citizens to take on an active part in city governmental decisions. In this platforms citizens can access and provide useful data, and local governments receives feedback making cities more democratic and dynamic.

For engaging stakeholders, the following actions can be considered:

Citizen Participation Platforms

Depending on the configurations and available resources, geothermal water can be used directly if at sufficiently high temperatures, using heat exchangers. Alternatively, water from rivers or sea can be pumped to the users (known as 5G District heating networks) and at the substations, a heat pump can be used to increase the temperature.

Energy loop - From 3G to 5G District Heating and Cooling networks

Integrating Evacuated Tube Collectors (ETC) into photovoltaic installations enhances efficiency by optimizing radiation absortion and minimizing heat transfer losses. This results in an improvement performance ratio, eneabling heat production even during winter with low-light conditions and cold temperatures.

Solar Farm. Source: 'https://www.rescoop.eu

June success story: Ten years harvesting the sun's energy in Oxfordshire - REScoopStories Homepage news-and-events stories June success story: Ten years harvesting the sun's energy in Oxfordshire Community energy is key to action...Rescoop

Large solar-photovoltaic systems (or solar parks) can provide carbon-free electricity to cities. The main issue encountered in cities is the lack of space and the "not in my backyard" phenomenon. There are many options to finance it, but great examples can be found such as the Westmill Solar Co-operative, which counts over 20,000 polycrystalline PV panels and generates around 5GWhr per year in Oxfordshire.

Energy - Large scale solar production

Green shading structures

Green covering shelters

Shelters in Valladolid (Spain), Source: URBAN GreenUP project

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Shading measures

Promote PV

Best practice: Save – Upgrade Plan in Cyprus.. Source: https://www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/

System level circular economy approaches

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Parking policies, management and fees, smart parking

Enabling instruments provide the legal framework and guidelines necessary for integrating NbS and carbon capture measures into urban and environmental planning.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)

Policy & governance

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: Compiled from data in Hawkins et al., 2013; Mathieux et al., 2017; EC, 2018a; 2018b.

Easy access to public charging for EVs (including taxis, city utility vehicles, private cars, etc.) is a necessity in transition toward zero-emission electric transport. The charging infrastructures can be provided in various locations & forms, i.e. on-street charging infrastructure for residents & (fast) charging hubs.

Mobility and transport - Public charging system for EVs

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Walking tour in Hiedanranta. Source: https://unalab.eu/

Green corridors for active and cooler mobility

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Regreen topics. Source: https://www.regreen-project.eu

Carbon capture - Green urban areas

Green resting areas, parks and urban forests, parklets

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Improvement of energy efficiency by active and passive solutions in buildings

Joinery for low-energy houses or passive houses

Passive building solutions

Passive house solutions. Source: https://www.zestarchitecture.com

Building envelope solutions

Reduction of emissions - Passive house

As part of the Hydro4U project, a shaft power plant will be built as a demonstration plant at an already defined location in Kyrgyzstan. Source:https://hydro.zek.at

Holsvirkjun Installation. Source: https://www.global-hydro.eu

Micro-hydropower plants can be installed for generating "green electricity" from pressure (water head) or kinetic energy (water flow) available in existing urban water networks.

Energy - Hydropower

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: www.mysmartlife.eu

Energy - Smart street lighting

Decarbonisation Plans for Industry

CASOH pilot at ArcelorMittal's plant. Source: https://c4u-project.eu

C4U project

SEWGS image. Source: https://www.stepwise.eu

STEPWISE project

HeidelbergCement's Hanover cement plant. Source: https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com

LEILAC 2 project

Planning instruments

Reduction of emissions - Industry carbon emissions

Energy - Waste heat

Chester assessment tool. Source: www.chester.datuma.aiguasol.coop

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Green shading structures

Green covering shelters

Shelters in Valladolid (Spain), Source: URBAN GreenUP project

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Shading measures

Technical requirements for e-scooters. Source: https://micromobilityforeurope.eu/

In recent years, electrification of vehicles has led to new shared micromobility services (e.g. shared e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-mopeds) enabling users to have short-term access to an active or low-speed motorized transportation mode on an as-needed basis.

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.ituran.com

Mobility and transport - Shared micromobility

Method energy communities

Case study of Valencia

Energy communities can be understood as a way to organize collective energy actions around open, democratic participation and governance, and the provision of benefits for the members or the local community. Energy communities can support the adoption of electrification (through implementation of PVs, heat pumps, batteries, etc.)

User engagement Changes at home, neighborhood, and environment are necessary in order to achieve goals related to energy conservation and the generation of sustainable energy. The extent to which residents are involved in the process of making sustainable decisions has an important impact on the speed and outcome of such projects. Informative sessions and social media campaigns, climate-related action offices for local support (such as the ones in Valencia), will be needed.

Citizen Participation Platforms allow citizens to take on an active part in city governmental decisions. In this platforms citizens can access and provide useful data, and local governments receives feedback making cities more democratic and dynamic.

For engaging stakeholders, the following actions can be considered:

Citizen Participation Platforms

Sensible thermal energy storage

Thermochemical thermal energy storage

Energy loop - Thermal energy storage (TES)

Amsterdam

Bundesverband CarSharing e.V. (bcs), 2022. Source: https://carsharing.de2

Munich

Valencia

Case estudies:

Car sharing models present a reliable, flexible, and cost-efficient alternative to car ownership (especially when using electric or sustainable vehicles) supplements the sustainable modes of walking, cycling and public transport.Car-sharing systems can be station-based, or free-floating.

Mobility and transport - Car sharing

Best practice: Loans for Energy Efficiency (EE).Source: https://energy-cities.eu

Participatory budgeting

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – Shared savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Related payments

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Staggered savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

Green Loan

Blended finance for Energy Efficiency (EE)

Finance and Business Models

Decarbonisation Plans for Industry

CASOH pilot at ArcelorMittal's plant. Source: https://c4u-project.eu

C4U project

SEWGS image. Source: https://www.stepwise.eu

STEPWISE project

HeidelbergCement's Hanover cement plant. Source: https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com

LEILAC 2 project

Planning instruments

Reduction of emissions - Industry carbon emissions

Energy Management Systems

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.bable-smartcities.el

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)

Energy Management System (EMS) comprises an optimal integration of Distributed Energy Resources (generation, storage an consumption with special relevance of renewable energy), active participation of new energy profiles (active consumers, prosumers, aggregators...), hybridation of energy vectors and artificial intelligence.

Energy - Automation and Control Systems (BACS)/Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

Energy Management Systems

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.bable-smartcities.el

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)

Energy - Automation and Control Systems (BACS)/Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

Salt Marshes

River floodplains

Sandy shores

Mangrove forests

Mangrove forest. Photo by Akarawut Lohachavoenvanich/iStock. Source: https://thecityfix.com

Water interventions Solutions for Coastal Climate adaptation

Nature based Solutions - Waterfront

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Walking tour in Hiedanranta. Source: https://unalab.eu/

Green corridors for active and cooler mobility

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Regreen topics. Source: https://www.regreen-project.eu

Carbon capture - Green urban areas

Green resting areas, parks and urban forests, parklets

Buying more efficient appliances is a commitment not only to reduce consumption and make savings, it is also a commitment to the more sustainable use of energy, to achieving better results, reducing our workload and improving our daily lives.

Efficeint domestic appliances. Source: Endesa

Is it worthwhile buying more efficient domestic appliances?Even though they tend to be more expensive, in the long run it is worth buying more efficient domestic appliances. In addition to saving energy and...

Energy - Efficient appliances

Urban garden bio-filter

Urban carbon sink

Global carbon stores and fluxes. Source: Maslin, Mark. (2019). Climate change: essential knowledge for developing holistic solutions to our climate crisis. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. 3.

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Low-carbon sustainable concrete

Reducing embedded emissions of buildings

Sensorized-panel. Source: http://www.endurcrete.eu

Technology Roadmap. Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry (IEA). Source: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net

Low-carbon and sustainable building materials

Reduction of emissions - Building carbon emissions

Restore water-courses

River and stream renaturalization

Water interventions

Initial state
The initial phase of the project should involve removing the bank fixation to restore the natural structure of the watercourse
Upon the restoration of the watercourse, natural water flow and sediment transport will facilitate the reintroduction of native flora and fauna
Restoring watercourses requires time and land to achieve an ecological balance.

Steps of river restoration. Source: Binder, Walter & Göttle, Albert & Shuhuai, Duan. (2015). Ecological restoration of small water Courses, Experiences from Germany and from Projects in Beijing. International Soil and Water Conservation Research.

Nature based Solutions - Water course measures

Smart communities with microgrids

Smart Heating and Cooling sustainable manufacturing

Smart EV charging

Demand response is a method for matching the demand for energy to the available supply of energy (ISO/IEC 15067-3:2012), increasing the grid reliability, reducing the need to build new capacity and reducing the use of fossil-based peak electric generation.It could be implicit demand response with time-varying electricity prices; or explicit demand response, where (mainly large consumers) can sell their flexibility to the electricity markets or aggregators.Examples of demand response are Smart EV charging, Smart Heating and Cooling (building -level intelligence) sustainable manufacturing, and smart communities with microgrids.

Energy - Demand management “as Demand response”

At building level, geothermal/aerothermal heat pumps can be used to descarbonise the heating and cooling production. Generally speaking, geothermal will reach hi gher efficiency levels than aerothermal, and will be invisible to the user, but requires higher investment costs (due to the drilling), and environmental permits (country dependent). Heat pumps can be coupled with solar, in several ways (check here), and batteries for optimising the energy management.

PVT coupled with HPs and other systems, and PVT coupled with a reversible heat pump and a tank to produce space heating and domestic hot water needs. Source: https://netzerocities.app/s

Optimization energy

Batteries

Heatpump

Geotermia

Sistemas híbridos (PVT, PV+HP, ...)

Energy - geothermal/aerothermal heat pumps

Smart communities with microgrids

Smart Heating and Cooling sustainable manufacturing

Smart EV charging

Energy - Demand management “as Demand response”

Decarbonisation Plans for Industry

CASOH pilot at ArcelorMittal's plant. Source: https://c4u-project.eu

C4U project

SEWGS image. Source: https://www.stepwise.eu

STEPWISE project

HeidelbergCement's Hanover cement plant. Source: https://www.heidelbergmaterials.com

LEILAC 2 project

Planning instruments

Reduction of emissions - Industry carbon emissions

Green noise barriers

Vertical mobile gardens

Green walls and green façades

Green fences

Green living walls. Source: https://citygreen.com

Zagreb, Croatia. ProGIreg. Source: https://progireg.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Building envelope solutions

Carbon capture - Vertical Green Infrastructure

Natural inland wetlands

Constructed wetland

Constructed wetland scheme. Source: https://www.archdaily.com

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Wetlands

Carbon capture - Carbon Sequestration

Soil carbon sequestration

Smart-soils and phytoremediation

Conceptualization of C sequestration potentials in arable land. Source: Amelung, W., Bossio, D., de Vries, W. et al. Towards a global-scale soil climate mitigation strategy. Nat Commun 11, 5427 (2020).

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Amsterdam

Bundesverband CarSharing e.V. (bcs), 2022. Source: https://carsharing.de2

Munich

Valencia

Case estudies:

Mobility and transport - Car sharing

Amsterdam

Bundesverband CarSharing e.V. (bcs), 2022. Source: https://carsharing.de2

Munich

Valencia

Case estudies:

Mobility and transport - Car sharing

Urban farming

Community composting

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Agroforestry

Carbon capture - Sustainable agriculture

Floating gardens

Rain garden

Floodable park

Rain garden. Source: https://www.courtenay.ca

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Water optimization

Floodable park. Source: https://urbantoronto.ca

Cooling trees

Urban heat island effect mitigation (Evaporative cooling)

Outdoor Misting Systems. Source: outdoor misting systems for cooling - Bing images

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Heat Island reduction

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Technical requirements for e-scooters. Source: https://micromobilityforeurope.eu/

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.ituran.com

Mobility and transport - Shared micromobility

Mobility as a Service?. Source: https://maas-alliance.eu/homepage/what-is-maas/

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Parking policies, management and fees, smart parking

Enabling instruments provide the legal framework and guidelines necessary for integrating NbS and carbon capture measures into urban and environmental planning.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)

Policy & governance

Floating gardens

Rain garden

Floodable park

Rain garden. Source: https://www.courtenay.ca

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Water optimization

Floodable park. Source: https://urbantoronto.ca

As part of the Hydro4U project, a shaft power plant will be built as a demonstration plant at an already defined location in Kyrgyzstan. Source:https://hydro.zek.at

Holsvirkjun Installation. Source: https://www.global-hydro.eu

Micro-hydropower plants can be installed for generating "green electricity" from pressure (water head) or kinetic energy (water flow) available in existing urban water networks.

Energy - Hydropower

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Storm water channels

Retention pond. Source: http://winnipeg.ca

Storm water retenetion. Source: https://www.terraforce.com

Nature based Solutions - Urban water grid

Water interventions

Best practice: Loans for Energy Efficiency (EE).Source: https://energy-cities.eu

Participatory budgeting

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – Shared savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Related payments

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Staggered savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

Green Loan

Blended finance for Energy Efficiency (EE)

Finance and Business Models

Mobility hubs include the deployment of e-charging stations across different levels sharing public infrastructure, and utilizing parking lots, canopies, and benches also as multifunctional points of charge.They are a means to seamlessly link various modes of transport in order to enable inter-modal trip chains as an alternative to the private car and allow easy access to new forms of sustainable mobility or shared transport (from rail, to buses, shared cars, shared bikes) with mutli-modal supportive infrastructure and different sort of facilities such as delivery or pick-up points. Mobility hubs can be distributed throughout urban, suburban and rural areas to enable access to sustainable transport options and should be planned with public tr ansport as backbone.

Mobility and transport - Mobility hubs

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

Digital Twin

Analytics modelling solutions

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Educational activities suring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Educational, Capacity Building instruments

Capabilities

Digitaler Zwilling München. Source: Technical University of Munich

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Semtive Energy turbine. Source: https://singularityhub.com

Energy - Wind power production

Green Charge demo pilot Oslo. Source: https://www.greencharge2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Green-Charge-Demo-Card-OSL.D2-Charge-point-operation-demo.pdf

Zero emission electric cars

Fleet decarbonisation

Mobility and transport - E-mobility

An Electric Vehicle (EV) uses electric power instead of an internal combustion engine powered by other fuel types like diesel fuel or gasoline. It has been increasingly recognized that EV may provide an opportunity to reduce global GHG emissions (UN Habitat, 2014) and increase air quality, if powered by renewable energy sources. The use of second life batteries and improved battery performance may in the future further reduce the need of raw materials and the related environmental impact.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle. Source: https://afdc.energy.gov

Mobility and transport - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) in urban transport

In the urban transport, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are complementary to Full Electric Vehicles (BEV), allowing a transition to zero emission vehicles (when hydrogen production uses renewable energy sources) today for applications that remain hard to decarbonise due to their operational needs (e.g. garbage trucks and taxi fleets).

Carbon capture - Carbon Sequestration

Soil carbon sequestration

Smart-soils and phytoremediation

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Salt Marshes

River floodplains

Sandy shores

Mangrove forests

Mangrove forest. Photo by Akarawut Lohachavoenvanich/iStock. Source: https://thecityfix.com

Water interventions Solutions for Coastal Climate adaptation

Nature based Solutions - Waterfront

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

PV panels on the roof. Source: pv magazine International

Energy - Photovoltaic panels (PV)

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

Bioretention Areas

Green filter area

Green Filter area. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Soil Filter

Method energy communities

Case study of Valencia

For engaging stakeholders, the following actions can be considered:

Citizen Participation Platforms

Green shading structures

Green covering shelters

Shelters in Valladolid (Spain), Source: URBAN GreenUP project

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Shading measures

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: Compiled from data in Hawkins et al., 2013; Mathieux et al., 2017; EC, 2018a; 2018b.

Mobility and transport - Public charging system for EVs

Green pavements: hard drainage pavements; green parking pavements

Hard drainage-flood prevention

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Lamb Drove, Residential SuDS, Cambourne, Cambridge. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Wallands Primary School Rainscape SUDs case study. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Sustainable pavements

Solar thermal technologies convert sunlight directly into heat. The generated heat is used for domestic hot water heating, space heating, or process heating, and the solar systems are designed to provide the right temperature needed for the application.

Solar Thermal panel. Source: https://www.isover-technical-insulation.com

Energy loop - Solar thermal technologies

Natural inland wetlands

Constructed wetland

Constructed wetland scheme. Source: https://www.archdaily.com

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Wetlands

PVT coupled with HPs and other systems, and PVT coupled with a reversible heat pump and a tank to produce space heating and domestic hot water needs. Source: https://netzerocities.app/s

Optimization energy

Batteries

Heatpump

Geotermia

Sistemas híbridos (PVT, PV+HP, ...)

Energy - geothermal/aerothermal heat pumps

Parts of the DH system in Ferrara. Source: Final Project Report (upgrade DH)

Example of a DH network with a primary, secondary and tertiary grid which is separated by substations (Sub.) and which supplies heat to different types of consumers (Source: D. Rutz)

The first step towards the renovation of the district heating system is to refurbish the buildings. Once all buildings are refurbished, the district heating can be adapted by reducing the supply temperature to 60°C, which allows the inclusion of renewable energy sources (solar thermal, waste heat) and heat pumps as energy sources in the grid.If not all buildings are refurbished, another possibility is to reduce the supply temperature of a part of the district heating system and use the return heat from the traditional part to supply the part of the grid with a lower temperature (cascade use of heat).

Energy loop - Renovación de DH&CN (1G y 2G)

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle. Source: https://afdc.energy.gov

Mobility and transport - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) in urban transport

Green pavements: hard drainage pavements; green parking pavements

Hard drainage-flood prevention

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Lamb Drove, Residential SuDS, Cambourne, Cambridge. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Wallands Primary School Rainscape SUDs case study. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Sustainable pavements

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Energy efficiency, wind, and solar provide around half of emissions savings to 2030 in the IEA scenarios. It is important that, before implementing greener solutions in the systems, the energy and resources needs are reduced at the lowest possible by:

Increasing the number of zero or nearly zero energy buildings in the city, and/or reducing the need for heating and cooling by improving the building envelopes. Either by policy incentives, one-stop shops, or/and an increase in the capacitation of the technical staff (in the city level and of the stakeholders).
Increasing the use of efficient appliances in the building sector. Furthermore, to some extent, increase the amount of open data available (e.g., through the connection of IoT to data platforms) for underpinning new services to citizens and stakeholders.

Furthermore, behavioral changes by citizens and businesses avoid 1.7 Gt CO2 emissions in 2030, curb energy demand growth, and facilitate clean energy transitions.Besides that, the three circular-economy strategies consort to cut emissions from materials and products:

Material recirculation — reducing emission intensity per tonne of material.
Product material efficiency — using fewer materials per product.
New circular business models — fewer products to achieve the same useful service.

PV panels on the roof. Source: pv magazine International

Energy - Photovoltaic panels (PV)

According to the IEA, the direct use of low‐emissions electricity in place of fossil fuels is one of the most important drivers of emissions reductions in the Net‐Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, accounting for around 20% of the total reduction achieved by 2050. It can tackle the following areas if the electricity generation sector becomes cleaner:

Underpin the massive reduction in transport emissions through, e-vehicles, e-micro mobility, e-chargers, or fuel cells vehicles
Electrification in the building sector will allow achieving emission reduction faster: electrifying cooking, and especially the production of heating and cooling, as 40% of residential buildings could be fitted with heat pumps. If electrification is applied, the demand for electricity will increase and therefore, the production of electricity must be from low-carbon sources (solar photovoltaics, wind, hydropower, etc., and when it is not possible, apply CCS)
Electrify hydrogen production through electrolysers, and therefore, its use in industry for heat production and chemicals and its use in transport. Hydrogen would be green if, again, low-carbon sources are used (Certification schemes might be needed). Another way of producing hydrogen is found in RES Generation: Sector Coupling.
Electrify heat process generation (in the heavy and light industries) through the use of high-temperature heat pumps. Other ways are found in RES Generation: Sector Coupling, like solar concentration.
Electrify district heating and cooling networks by means of distributed generation (heat pumps at substation levels, such as booster heat pumps) or through large-scale heat pumps (in the main heating or cooling plants). Waste heat is integrated through the use of heat pumps too, and industrial-urban symbiosis (integration of waste heat from data centers, supermarkets, industry, etc.).

If electrification is performed, energy security in the electricity sector will be even more central than it is today. To ensure that, energy system flexibility (through batteries, demand response, flexible power plants, digital networks are necessary), data access (through all levels of the urban energy systems) data security (in grids to avoid cyberattacks, etc.), and digitalization (of buildings for behind-the-meter energy flexibility, of distribution and transmission networks, etc.) in general will become key issues.

Regulatoy framework for energy communities

Comparative analysis of the regulatory framework in Sun4All pilot cities

Facillitating framework for energy communities with PV

Best practice: Save – Upgrade Plan in Cyprus.. Source: https://www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/

Promote PV

System level circular economy approaches

Enabling instruments provide the legal framework and guidelines necessary for integrating NbS and carbon capture measures into urban and environmental planning.

Policy & governance

Green noise barriers

Vertical mobile gardens

Green walls and green façades

Green fences

Green living walls. Source: https://citygreen.com

Zagreb, Croatia. ProGIreg. Source: https://progireg.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Building envelope solutions

Carbon capture - Vertical Green Infrastructure

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Improvement of energy efficiency by active and passive solutions in buildings

Joinery for low-energy houses or passive houses

Passive building solutions

Passive house solutions. Source: https://www.zestarchitecture.com

Building envelope solutions

Reduction of emissions - Passive house

Carbon capture - Carbon Sequestration

Soil carbon sequestration

Smart-soils and phytoremediation

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Green Charge demo pilot Oslo. Source: https://www.greencharge2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Green-Charge-Demo-Card-OSL.D2-Charge-point-operation-demo.pdf

Zero emission electric cars

Fleet decarbonisation

Mobility and transport - E-mobility

Urban farming

Community composting

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Agroforestry

Carbon capture - Sustainable agriculture

Solar Farm. Source: 'https://www.rescoop.eu

Energy - Large scale solar production

Smart communities with microgrids

Smart Heating and Cooling sustainable manufacturing

Smart EV charging

Energy - Demand management “as Demand response”

Restore water-courses

River and stream renaturalization

Water interventions

Initial state
The initial phase of the project should involve removing the bank fixation to restore the natural structure of the watercourse
Upon the restoration of the watercourse, natural water flow and sediment transport will facilitate the reintroduction of native flora and fauna
Restoring watercourses requires time and land to achieve an ecological balance.

Nature based Solutions - Water course measures

Restore water-courses

River and stream renaturalization

Water interventions

Initial state
The initial phase of the project should involve removing the bank fixation to restore the natural structure of the watercourse
Upon the restoration of the watercourse, natural water flow and sediment transport will facilitate the reintroduction of native flora and fauna
Restoring watercourses requires time and land to achieve an ecological balance.

Nature based Solutions - Water course measures

Energy - Waste heat

Chester assessment tool. Source: www.chester.datuma.aiguasol.coop

Walking tour in Hiedanranta. Source: https://unalab.eu/

Green corridors for active and cooler mobility

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Regreen topics. Source: https://www.regreen-project.eu

Carbon capture - Green urban areas

Green resting areas, parks and urban forests, parklets

Cooling trees

Urban heat island effect mitigation (Evaporative cooling)

Outdoor Misting Systems. Source: outdoor misting systems for cooling - Bing images

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Heat Island reduction

Floating gardens

Rain garden

Floodable park

Rain garden. Source: https://www.courtenay.ca

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Water optimization

Floodable park. Source: https://urbantoronto.ca

Method energy communities

Case study of Valencia

Energy communities can be understood as a way to organize collective energy actions around open, democratic participation and governance, and the provision of benefits for the members or the local community. Energy communities can support the adoption of electrification (through implementation of PVs, heat pumps, batteries, etc.)

User engagement Changes at home, neighborhood, and environment are necessary in order to achieve goals related to energy conservation and the generation of sustainable energy. The extent to which residents are involved in the process of making sustainable decisions has an important impact on the speed and outcome of such projects. Informative sessions and social media campaigns, climate-related action offices for local support (such as the ones in Valencia), will be needed.

Citizen Participation Platforms allow citizens to take on an active part in city governmental decisions. In this platforms citizens can access and provide useful data, and local governments receives feedback making cities more democratic and dynamic.

For engaging stakeholders, the following actions can be considered:

Citizen Participation Platforms

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

Digital Twin

Analytics modelling solutions

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Educational activities suring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Educational, Capacity Building instruments

Capabilities

Digitaler Zwilling München. Source: Technical University of Munich

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Natural inland wetlands

Constructed wetland

Constructed wetland scheme. Source: https://www.archdaily.com

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Wetlands

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

Digital Twin

Analytics modelling solutions

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Educational activities suring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Educational, Capacity Building instruments

Capabilities

Digitaler Zwilling München. Source: Technical University of Munich

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Technical requirements for e-scooters. Source: https://micromobilityforeurope.eu/

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.ituran.com

Mobility and transport - Shared micromobility

Best practice: Loans for Energy Efficiency (EE).Source: https://energy-cities.eu

Participatory budgeting

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – Shared savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Related payments

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Staggered savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

Green Loan

Blended finance for Energy Efficiency (EE)

Finance and Business Models

Urban farming

Community composting

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Agroforestry

Carbon capture - Sustainable agriculture

Green shading structures

Green covering shelters

Shelters in Valladolid (Spain), Source: URBAN GreenUP project

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Shading measures

Best practices for SMEs in implementing. DEESME’s Final Project. Source: https://deesme.eu/

7. Energy efficiency is a long-term procedure

6. Wide participation in the project management team

5. Training personnel and managerial staff

4. Quantification of energy related problems

3. Communicate success to internal stakeholders and external stakeholders

2. Top management commitment. sets their commitment on sustainability and energy efficiency for all employees.

1. Complete & accurate data. Complete and accurate data comes from an energy audit, which provides a complete data set for taking decisions on energy issues.

Measurement: Collection of information on energy consumption
Monitor: Metering sensors that track energy consumption
Control: Control system that provide instruction to the EMS interface and actual control debice

Energy - Energy Management System (EMS)

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Salt Marshes

River floodplains

Sandy shores

Mangrove forests

Mangrove forest. Photo by Akarawut Lohachavoenvanich/iStock. Source: https://thecityfix.com

Water interventions Solutions for Coastal Climate adaptation

Nature based Solutions - Waterfront

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Efficeint domestic appliances. Source: Endesa

Energy - Efficient appliances

Cases of ZEZ-Fs in Planning and Implementation: Rotterdam

Phases of city logistics: from outside the city to last-mile delivery. Source: https://www.mecalux.com

Mobility and transport - Last mile delivery

Electrified urban freight delivery and other sustainable options for last mile delivery can be promising climate and energy solutions to reduce emissions coming from logistics, in the effort to contribute to low-emission zones as these are now envisaged in a number of cities.

Best practice: Loans for Energy Efficiency (EE).Source: https://energy-cities.eu

Participatory budgeting

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – Shared savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Related payments

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Staggered savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

Green Loan

Blended finance for Energy Efficiency (EE)

Finance and Business Models

Semtive Energy turbine. Source: https://singularityhub.com

Energy - Wind power production

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Improvement of energy efficiency by active and passive solutions in buildings

Joinery for low-energy houses or passive houses

Passive building solutions

Passive house solutions. Source: https://www.zestarchitecture.com

Building envelope solutions

Reduction of emissions - Passive house

Pollinator and verges spaces

Pollinator. Source: https://www.life4pollinators.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Nature based Solutions - Pollinators

Urban garden bio-filter

Urban carbon sink

Global carbon stores and fluxes. Source: Maslin, Mark. (2019). Climate change: essential knowledge for developing holistic solutions to our climate crisis. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. 3.

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

[2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/gie_-_position_paper_-_sector_coupling_p2g.pdf

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/news/urban-symbiosis-recommendations-cities-re-use-resources_en

“'Urban symbiosis' aims to break linear relationships between consumption and waste by returning outputs as inputs, e.g. recycling wastewater or water from industrial processes [1]”. The current bundle aims to decarbonize via sector coupling: using heating and cooling, electricity or fuels (like hydrogen) or carbon dioxide to make the link between sectors, from the metropolitan to the district level.Sector coupling could be defined as the “interconnection of the energy-consuming sectors with power-producing sectors at large […]”[2} such as X-to-Power and Power-to-X elements, where “X” can be green hydrogen (or other fuels) or heat.It can tackle the following areas if the electricity generation sector becomes cleaner:

Underpin the massive reduction in transport emissions through, not only electrification but also through fuel cells vehicles (especially in heavy transport like trucks; hydrogen trains, hydrogen boats, etc.) and green hydrogen generation.
Hydrogen valleys will become important for that matter. Not only for the production of green hydrogen but also to create an industry hub that connects industry for hydrogen generation (electrolysers), infrastructure (h2 local networks), transport (trucks, etc.), and hydrogen use as raw material (for steel, for ammonia, chemical industry, etc.)
Gas infrastructures to transport and store green gases could also provide flexibility to the power system through the use of fuel cells.
But it is not the only way, also electricity storage via batteries (as explained in RES Generation: Low carbon electrification) could also be an option.
Electrify heat process generation (in heavy and light industry) through the use of high temperature heat pumps, and the integration of waste heat from multiple sources and temperature levels (data centers, pulp/food/chemical industries, etc.), creating the necessary framework and contracts to make that happen.
Also, waste can be shared: such as pulp waste that can be used for the production of biogas (which later on, can be an input for a co-generation plant connected to a DHN).

Flexible sources (heat pumps, batteries, supercapacitors, IoT, smart elements across the city, etc.) will be very valuable to ensure that, when RES generation increases, the power network does not face congestion challenges (due to the mismatch of generation and supply).Digital tools will enable the sharing of outputs (waste heat, waste, secondary materials, etc.) and data, to provide also to grids energy flexibility.

Bioretention Areas

Green filter area

Green Filter area. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Soil Filter

As part of the Hydro4U project, a shaft power plant will be built as a demonstration plant at an already defined location in Kyrgyzstan. Source:https://hydro.zek.at

Holsvirkjun Installation. Source: https://www.global-hydro.eu

Micro-hydropower plants can be installed for generating "green electricity" from pressure (water head) or kinetic energy (water flow) available in existing urban water networks.

Energy - Hydropower

Urban garden bio-filter

Urban carbon sink

Global carbon stores and fluxes. Source: Maslin, Mark. (2019). Climate change: essential knowledge for developing holistic solutions to our climate crisis. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. 3.

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

Digital Twin

Analytics modelling solutions

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Educational activities suring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Educational, Capacity Building instruments

Capabilities

Digitaler Zwilling München. Source: Technical University of Munich

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Best practice: Loans for Energy Efficiency (EE).Source: https://energy-cities.eu

Participatory budgeting

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – Shared savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Related payments

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Staggered savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) - Guaranteed savings

Energy Performance Contract (EPC)

Green Loan

Blended finance for Energy Efficiency (EE)

Finance and Business Models

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Storm water channels

Retention pond. Source: http://winnipeg.ca

Storm water retenetion. Source: https://www.terraforce.com

Nature based Solutions - Urban water grid

Water interventions

Pollinator and verges spaces

Pollinator. Source: https://www.life4pollinators.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Nature based Solutions - Pollinators

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Semtive Energy turbine. Source: https://singularityhub.com

Energy - Wind power production

Energy Management Systems

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.bable-smartcities.el

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)

Energy - Automation and Control Systems (BACS)/Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

Best practices for SMEs in implementing. DEESME’s Final Project. Source: https://deesme.eu/

7. Energy efficiency is a long-term procedure

6. Wide participation in the project management team

5. Training personnel and managerial staff

4. Quantification of energy related problems

3. Communicate success to internal stakeholders and external stakeholders

2. Top management commitment. sets their commitment on sustainability and energy efficiency for all employees.

1. Complete & accurate data. Complete and accurate data comes from an energy audit, which provides a complete data set for taking decisions on energy issues.

Measurement: Collection of information on energy consumption
Monitor: Metering sensors that track energy consumption
Control: Control system that provide instruction to the EMS interface and actual control debice

Energy - Energy Management System (EMS)

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

As part of the Hydro4U project, a shaft power plant will be built as a demonstration plant at an already defined location in Kyrgyzstan. Source:https://hydro.zek.at

Holsvirkjun Installation. Source: https://www.global-hydro.eu

Micro-hydropower plants can be installed for generating "green electricity" from pressure (water head) or kinetic energy (water flow) available in existing urban water networks.

Energy - Hydropower

Cooling trees

Urban heat island effect mitigation (Evaporative cooling)

Outdoor Misting Systems. Source: outdoor misting systems for cooling - Bing images

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Heat Island reduction

Solar Farm. Source: 'https://www.rescoop.eu

Energy - Large scale solar production

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

Efficeint domestic appliances. Source: Endesa

Energy - Efficient appliances

Amstelland Meerlanden‘s electric bus fleet. Source: https://www.sustainable-bus.com/

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: https://code.europa.eu

Bus fleet electrification combined with the use of renewable energy is an opportunity for cities to make public transport greener and healthier. It has the potential of a significantly higher impact than the electrification of cars since buses have more operating hours per day and a higher annual fuel consumption.

Mobility and transport - Bus fleet electrfication

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Storm water channels

Retention pond. Source: http://winnipeg.ca

Storm water retenetion. Source: https://www.terraforce.com

Nature based Solutions - Urban water grid

Water interventions

Method energy communities

Case study of Valencia

For engaging stakeholders, the following actions can be considered:

Citizen Participation Platforms

Solar Thermal panel. Source: https://www.isover-technical-insulation.com

Energy loop - Solar thermal technologies

Regulatoy framework for energy communities

Comparative analysis of the regulatory framework in Sun4All pilot cities

Facillitating framework for energy communities with PV

Best practice: Save – Upgrade Plan in Cyprus.. Source: https://www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/

Promote PV

System level circular economy approaches

Enabling instruments provide the legal framework and guidelines necessary for integrating NbS and carbon capture measures into urban and environmental planning.

Policy & governance

Parts of the DH system in Ferrara. Source: Final Project Report (upgrade DH)

Example of a DH network with a primary, secondary and tertiary grid which is separated by substations (Sub.) and which supplies heat to different types of consumers (Source: D. Rutz)

Energy loop - Renovación de DH&CN (1G y 2G)

Efficeint domestic appliances. Source: Endesa

Energy - Efficient appliances

Energy - Waste heat

Chester assessment tool. Source: www.chester.datuma.aiguasol.coop

Natural inland wetlands

Constructed wetland

Constructed wetland scheme. Source: https://www.archdaily.com

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Wetlands

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Solar Thermal panel. Source: https://www.isover-technical-insulation.com

Energy loop - Solar thermal technologies

Floating gardens

Rain garden

Floodable park

Rain garden. Source: https://www.courtenay.ca

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Water optimization

Floodable park. Source: https://urbantoronto.ca

Amstelland Meerlanden‘s electric bus fleet. Source: https://www.sustainable-bus.com/

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: https://code.europa.eu

Mobility and transport - Bus fleet electrfication

Low-carbon sustainable concrete

Reducing embedded emissions of buildings

Sensorized-panel. Source: http://www.endurcrete.eu

Technology Roadmap. Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry (IEA). Source: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net

Low-carbon and sustainable building materials

Reduction of emissions - Building carbon emissions

Bioretention Areas

Green filter area

Green Filter area. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - Soil Filter

Green noise barriers

Vertical mobile gardens

Green walls and green façades

Green fences

Green living walls. Source: https://citygreen.com

Zagreb, Croatia. ProGIreg. Source: https://progireg.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Building envelope solutions

Carbon capture - Vertical Green Infrastructure

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Relevant agencies

NBS and Green Infrastructure regulation and ordinances

NBS and Green Infrastructure plans and strategy design and governance

Challenges for NbS and IG. Source: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Regulatory instruments

Policy & governance

Low-carbon sustainable concrete

Reducing embedded emissions of buildings

Sensorized-panel. Source: http://www.endurcrete.eu

Technology Roadmap. Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry (IEA). Source: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net

Low-carbon and sustainable building materials

Reduction of emissions - Building carbon emissions

Cases of ZEZ-Fs in Planning and Implementation: Rotterdam

Phases of city logistics: from outside the city to last-mile delivery. Source: https://www.mecalux.com

Mobility and transport - Last mile delivery

Cases of ZEZ-Fs in Planning and Implementation: Rotterdam

Phases of city logistics: from outside the city to last-mile delivery. Source: https://www.mecalux.com

Mobility and transport - Last mile delivery

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: www.mysmartlife.eu

Energy - Smart street lighting

Salt Marshes

River floodplains

Sandy shores

Mangrove forests

Mangrove forest. Photo by Akarawut Lohachavoenvanich/iStock. Source: https://thecityfix.com

Water interventions Solutions for Coastal Climate adaptation

Nature based Solutions - Waterfront

Grassed swales and water retention pounds

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle. Source: https://afdc.energy.gov

Mobility and transport - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) in urban transport

Green Charge demo pilot Oslo. Source: https://www.greencharge2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Green-Charge-Demo-Card-OSL.D2-Charge-point-operation-demo.pdf

Zero emission electric cars

Fleet decarbonisation

Mobility and transport - E-mobility

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

PVT coupled with HPs and other systems, and PVT coupled with a reversible heat pump and a tank to produce space heating and domestic hot water needs. Source: https://netzerocities.app/s

Optimization energy

Batteries

Heatpump

Geotermia

Sistemas híbridos (PVT, PV+HP, ...)

Energy - geothermal/aerothermal heat pumps

Energy Management Systems

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: https://www.bable-smartcities.el

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)

Energy - Automation and Control Systems (BACS)/Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

Mobility and transport - Mobility hubs

Solar Thermal panel. Source: https://www.isover-technical-insulation.com

Energy loop - Solar thermal technologies

Schematic representation of a complex imHLA. Source: www.mysmartlife.eu

Energy - Smart street lighting

Solar Farm. Source: 'https://www.rescoop.eu

Energy - Large scale solar production

Walking tour in Hiedanranta. Source: https://unalab.eu/

Green corridors for active and cooler mobility

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Regreen topics. Source: https://www.regreen-project.eu

Carbon capture - Green urban areas

Green resting areas, parks and urban forests, parklets

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

Restore water-courses

River and stream renaturalization

Water interventions

Initial state
The initial phase of the project should involve removing the bank fixation to restore the natural structure of the watercourse
Upon the restoration of the watercourse, natural water flow and sediment transport will facilitate the reintroduction of native flora and fauna
Restoring watercourses requires time and land to achieve an ecological balance.

Nature based Solutions - Water course measures

PV panels on the roof. Source: pv magazine International

Energy - Photovoltaic panels (PV)

PVT coupled with HPs and other systems, and PVT coupled with a reversible heat pump and a tank to produce space heating and domestic hot water needs. Source: https://netzerocities.app/s

Optimization energy

Batteries

Heatpump

Geotermia

Sistemas híbridos (PVT, PV+HP, ...)

Energy - geothermal/aerothermal heat pumps

Urban garden bio-filter

Urban carbon sink

Global carbon stores and fluxes. Source: Maslin, Mark. (2019). Climate change: essential knowledge for developing holistic solutions to our climate crisis. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. 3.

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Carbon capture - CO2 atmospheric emissions reduction

PV panels on the roof. Source: pv magazine International

Energy - Photovoltaic panels (PV)

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

Digital Twin

Analytics modelling solutions

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Educational activities suring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Educational, Capacity Building instruments

Capabilities

Digitaler Zwilling München. Source: Technical University of Munich

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

Best practices for SMEs in implementing. DEESME’s Final Project. Source: https://deesme.eu/

7. Energy efficiency is a long-term procedure

6. Wide participation in the project management team

5. Training personnel and managerial staff

4. Quantification of energy related problems

3. Communicate success to internal stakeholders and external stakeholders

2. Top management commitment. sets their commitment on sustainability and energy efficiency for all employees.

1. Complete & accurate data. Complete and accurate data comes from an energy audit, which provides a complete data set for taking decisions on energy issues.

Measurement: Collection of information on energy consumption
Monitor: Metering sensors that track energy consumption
Control: Control system that provide instruction to the EMS interface and actual control debice

Energy - Energy Management System (EMS)

Green pavements: hard drainage pavements; green parking pavements

Hard drainage-flood prevention

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Lamb Drove, Residential SuDS, Cambourne, Cambridge. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Wallands Primary School Rainscape SUDs case study. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Sustainable pavements

Amstelland Meerlanden‘s electric bus fleet. Source: https://www.sustainable-bus.com/

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: https://code.europa.eu

Mobility and transport - Bus fleet electrfication

Carbon capture - Carbon Sequestration

Soil carbon sequestration

Smart-soils and phytoremediation

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Promote PV

Best practice: Save – Upgrade Plan in Cyprus.. Source: https://www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/

System level circular economy approaches

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Parking policies, management and fees, smart parking

Enabling instruments provide the legal framework and guidelines necessary for integrating NbS and carbon capture measures into urban and environmental planning.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)

Policy & governance

Pollinator and verges spaces

Pollinator. Source: https://www.life4pollinators.eu

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Nature based Solutions - Pollinators

Cooling trees

Urban heat island effect mitigation (Evaporative cooling)

Outdoor Misting Systems. Source: outdoor misting systems for cooling - Bing images

Urban carbon storage and sequestration, and singular green infrastructure

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Heat Island reduction

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Digital solutions enable real-time monitoring optimizing NbS effectiveness and precision in carbon capture measures.

CO2 Emission Trading Platforms

Urban Digital Platforms

Measuring & Monitoring (green & digital transition)

Digital Public Goods

Capabilities - Digital Solutions

Visualized KPIs. Source: https://netzerocities.app

Five trading platform developed by startus. Source: https://www.startus-insights.com

Mobility and transport - Mobility hubs

Smart communities with microgrids

Smart Heating and Cooling sustainable manufacturing

Smart EV charging

Energy - Demand management “as Demand response”

Major raw materials commonly used in battery electric vehicles. Source: Compiled from data in Hawkins et al., 2013; Mathieux et al., 2017; EC, 2018a; 2018b.

Mobility and transport - Public charging system for EVs

Connecting Nature

NZC

proGIreg

Finance and Business Models

[1] https://netzerocities.app/resource-2644

A carbon sink absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The ocean, soil, and forests are the world's largest carbon sinks. [1]Carbon capture can be sequestered through the biological process (i.e., indirect capture of CO2 through carbon sinks) or technology applications (direct CO2 capture). CO2 can be stored to be removed later through its use as a feedstock to produce fuels or products or stored permanently in geological formations.Carbon sinks will be mainly linked with other solutions via water (as natural sinks will consume it), energy (for those sinks that need some energy to maintain them or for CCS), and materials.

Green pavements: hard drainage pavements; green parking pavements

Hard drainage-flood prevention

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Lamb Drove, Residential SuDS, Cambourne, Cambridge. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Wallands Primary School Rainscape SUDs case study. Source:https://www.susdrain.org

Water interventions

Nature based Solutions - Sustainable pavements

ValuES

iTree

SESAME tool. CEREMA (in French)

Evaluating the impact of NbS

EPESUS city (Ekodenge)

GeoIKP

Nature4CITIES

NBS Scenarios Generation Tool

Online Tools

NBS selection tool

SolutionBundles - City Panel

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TOM DOLAN

BASIL RESTAURANT PRESENTATION

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ALL THE THINGS

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WWII TIMELINE WITH REVIEW

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Carbon capture, storage & removal

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Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Circular Economy

Behaviour change

Efficient design

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Reduction of energy & resources needs

E-mobility & Electrification

Circular Economy

Behaviour change

Efficient design

Help

Reduction of energy & resources needs

WORK IN PROGRESS

Low-carbon energy via sector coupling

Carbon capture, storage & removal

Digital Solutions

Green energy

Stationary energy

E-mobility & Electrification

Reduction of energy & resources needs

Finance and Business Models

Tools

Capabilities

Waterfront

Sustainable agriculture

Pollinators

Green urban areas

Wetlands

Carbon Sequestration

Sustainable pavements

Soil Filter

Urban water grid

Industry carbon emissions

Building carbon emissions