ReSET Energy

Objective and expected benefits: The energy system shall be managed more flexibly to better match the consumption and production profiles, boost the renewable energy sources penetration and integrate the increasing number of electric vehicles. In this way, it is possible to more easily reach the renewables penetration and CO₂ emission reduction targets established at European and national levels.

How to reach the objectives:

• Redesign and efficiency improvement of hydroelectric networks and storage systems to increase resilience against drought
• Analyse the integration of battery electricity storage systems and hydrogen storage systems to store renewable energy and better match the electricity demand
• Renovate the existing electricity grid and readapt it to a massive renewable energy penetration and increase the electricity demand (e.g., Hypergrid project)
• Ease the bureaucracy process behind the installation of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, which is currently one of the biggest obstacles to the penetration of renewables

Objective and expected benefits: As a consequence of climate change, rainfalls and snowfalls are decreasing significantly in the last few years, directly undermining the hydropower production and moving away the targets of renewables penetration, CO₂ emissions reduction, as well as self-sufficiency. To avoid this, the renewables used for electricity production shall be diversified, aiming to reach the carbon neutrality of the energy system while increasing its resilience against the impacts of climate change.

How to reach the objectives:

• Promotion of agri-ecological farms model by removing the administrative barriers to the adoption of agrovoltaics solutions that allows to increase the renewable energy production while protecting the agricultural crops from the effects of drought and other extreme weather events (hail and windstorm). Moreover, dual usage of soil for food and energy production is possible and improves the resilience of farmers income from the consequence of climate change on crop production
• Promotion of Building Integrated and Infrastructure Integrated Photovoltaics for a greener and decentralized energy production and sharing best practices, guidelines and examples
• Boost the investment in floating photovoltaics for a better exploitation of local renewable energy sources, avoiding additional land use, preventing the water loss by evaporation of water basins and increasing the overall production capacity of an hydropower plants

Objective and expected benefits: The urban and regional systems shall be redesigned to reduce the overall energy consumption and use the energy more efficiently, reducing the costs for the whole society and increasing the liveability and well-being of people. Moreover, buildings retrofit reduce the risk of energy poverty for the most vulnerable population.

How to reach the objectives:

• Analyse urban and regional systems from an energy saving perspective by redesigning those systems that cause induced energy consumption
• Make use of the CasaClima certification guidelines to ensure the achievement of energy efficiency during building retrofits
• Organize awareness campaigns about energy efficiency in buildings focusing the attention on innovative solutions
• Improve the accessibility of buildings renovation for the most vulnerable population

Objective and expected benefits: As a consequence of climate change, rainfalls and snowfalls significantly decrease in the last few years, directly undermining the hydropower production and moving away the targets of renewables penetration, CO₂ emissions reduction as well as self-sufficiency. To avoid this, the renewables used for electricity production shall be diversified aiming to reach the carbon neutrality of the energy system while increasing its resilience against the impacts of climate change.

How to reach the objectives:

• Adoption of new agri-ecological farms model and agrovoltaics solution to cover the energy consumption with self-produced renewable energy while protecting the agricultural crops from the effects of drought and other extreme weather events (hail and windstorm) as well as diversifying the farm’s incomes
• Investment in Building Integrated and Infrastructure Integrated Photovoltaics for a greener and decentralized energy production and following best practices, guidelines and examples
• Investment in floating photovoltaics to increase renewable energy production, avoid additional land use, and increase the overall production capacity of hydropower plants

Objective and expected benefits: The energy system shall become more flexible to better match the consumption and production profiles, improving the renewable energy sources usage as well as increasing the self-sufficiency and self-consumption.

How to reach the objectives:

• Invest in industrial photovoltaic systems by taking advantages of Regional specific fundings, suitable both for citizens and companies
• Joining a local energy community is important not only for citizens, but also for companies who wants to achieve cost and energy savings
• Invest in energy storage systems to better match the demand and renewable energy production

Objective and expected benefits: Building retrofit is the first step to improve the efficient use of energy and reduce the overall consumption, which consequently allows to significantly reduce the associated bills. When the efficiency concept is adopted in the daily tasks and industrial processes, the economic and environmental benefits rise further.

How to reach the objectives:

• Industries and companies should invest in energy management activities and environmental audits, by following existing European Directives on the topic, to ensure a sustainable use of energy and avoid wasting, both in infrastructures and in industrial processes
• Integrate ad hoc Industry 4.0 data analysis tools, including IoT, Blockchain and Cloud Computing, to dynamically monitor and optimize the energy consumption of the company
• Specific funding programs (e.g. Nuova Sabatini found) are available for Small and Medium Enterprises, to renovate machinery and buildings and achieve the desired energy efficiency targets

Objective and expected benefits: The renewable energy sources share in the heat and electricity production shall be increased, giving priority to the use of local renewables. This is beneficial for both the environment, strongly reducing the CO₂ emissions and the use of fossil fuels, and the achievement of a significant bills’ reduction.

How to reach the objectives:

• Install solar thermal solutions for hot water production and heating: their efficiency outstands the performance of gas-based solutions.
• Invest in other thermal renewable energy suitable for both Small and Medium Enterprises and industries.

Objective and expected benefits: The electrification of consumption, in parallel with an increase of the use of renewable energy sources, allows to reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus the CO₂ emissions. Moreover, avoiding the use of methane for heating purposes increases the safety of buildings, reducing the risk of accidents.

How to reach the objectives:

• Replace the gas cookers with electric stove or induction plates: they are far more efficient and safer.
• Replace the oldest gas boilers with heat pumps both for air heating and water heating
• Smart appliances lead to a greater optimization in the usage of electricity (e.g. constant consumption monitoring and/or remote control)

Objective and expected benefits: Buildings retrofit is the first step to improve the efficient use of energy and reduce the overall consumption, which consequently allows to significantly reduce the associated bills. Moreover, the property value rises and the living comfort of occupants is improved. Finally, the energy system shall be managed more flexibly to better match the consumption and production profiles, boost the renewable energy sources penetration and integrate the increasing number of electric vehicles.

How to reach the objectives:

• Invest in house refurbishment, by exploiting available fundings
• Invest in home automation to increase the efficient use of energy and avoid energy waste
• Citizens should consider joining energy communities to locally produce and share renewable energy
• Get involved with local initiatives and learning opportunities

Objective and expected benefits: The electrification of consumption in parallel with an increase of the use of renewable energy sources allows to reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus the CO₂ emissions. Moreover, avoiding the use of methane for heating purposes increases the safety of buildings, reducing the risk of domestic accidents.

How to reach the objectives:

• Replace the oldest gas boilers and stoves with electric appliances as they are safer and they emit no local CO₂  emission.
• Smart appliances lead to a greater optimization in the usage of electricity (e.g. the heat system adapt itself to our lifestyle or it can be turned off remotely or the overall consumption can be constantly monitored)
• Invest in battery energy storage systems

Objective and expected benefits: The renewable energy sources share in the heat and electricity production shall be increased, giving priority to the use of local renewables. It is beneficial for the environment, strongly reducing the CO2 emissions and the use of fossil fuels, and the achievement of a significant bills reduction.

How to reach the objectives:

• Install solar thermal solutions for domestic hot water production and heating: their efficiency outstands the performance of gas-based solutions.
• Installation of photovoltaic plants on roofs and other eligible surfaces to increase self-sufficiency, minimizing the environmental impacts and the energy bills
• Consider other thermal renewable energy for your home
• Join the district heating network as it becomes available for your home/apartment
• Join the local energy community, if it exists, or contribute to create one

• The Smart City Wien Framework Strategy aims to improve its economic and social performance while reducing its ecological footprint. In accordance with it, many projects and initiatives are taken by citizens and companies regarding sustainable mobility, renewable energy, efficient and socially equitable use of resources and circular economy.
• The Decarb City Pipes 2050 is a European project aimed at defining transition roadmaps to decarbonize heating and cooling systems in buildings with time horizon 2050.
• The ProDeSa project assists the Hellenic municipalities in renovating their building stock adopting best practices in energy efficiency and renewable integration while finding new financial schemes with better distribution and balanced risk.
• The C-Track50 European-funded project support local and regional public authorities to elaborate, finance and apply sustainable energy and climate policies to reach climate resilience and carbon neutrality with time horizon 2050.
• The MULTIPLY project is aimed to make local authorities use integrated urban planning measures by involving them in specific peer-to-peer learning program.
• The Feldheim town in Brandeburg (Germany) is the first self-sufficient German village.
• The EUCalc is an EU-funded online tool that highlights the role that each of us can play in tackling climate change.

• The Smart City Wien Framework Strategy has the aim of improving its economic and social performance while reducing its ecological footprint. In accordance with it, many projects and initiatives are taken by citizens and companies regarding sustainable mobility, renewable energy, efficient and socially equitable use of resources and circular economy.
• The Feldheim town in Brandeburg (Germany) is the first self-sufficient German village.
• Start-ups could be pioneers for new ways of integrating renewables in different contexts and applications, as in the case of Switzerland.
• The REINVENT European project studies how to decarbonize high energy-intensive industries.
• The EUCalc is an EU-funded online tool that highlights the role that each of us can play in tackling climate change.
• The DRIMPAC project helps consumers to become an active part of the energy market.
• In the COMPILE project, many tools are provided for energy communities management and citizens’ involvement and awareness.
• The edgeFLEX project provides tools for virtual power plants as well as aggregator management.

• The Smart City Wien Framework Strategy has the aim of improving its economic and social performance while reducing its ecological footprint. In accordance with it, many projects and initiatives are taken by citizens and companies regarding sustainable mobility, renewable energy, efficient and socially equitable use of resources and circular economy.
• The Feldheim town in Brandeburg (Germany) is the first self-sufficient German village.
• The EUCalc is an EU-funded online tool that highlights the role that each of us can play to tackle climate change.
• The DRIMPAC project helps consumers to become an active part of the energy market.
• In the COMPILE project, many tools are provided for energy communities management and citizens involvement and awareness.