On 6 September 2022, anyone working towards a clean urban energy transition is invited to attend the final RUGGEDISED Smart Cities and Communities event. This final showcase of RUGGEDISED related work will be followed by the Recharge Earth Energy Transition Conference on 7 - 8 September, 2022, which will also feature RUGGEDISED best practices.
Taking place in Rotterdam, the event combines the lessons from the RUGGEDISED project, where the cities of Rotterdam, Glasgow, Umeå, Parma, Brno and Gdansk have worked with researchers and private industry on pushing urban transition through Smart City developments and methods, with the Recharge Earth Conference. Recharge Earth is the event for professionals involved in the energy transition, investigating how a cleaner energy supply involves complex issues that cannot be solved by any one actor.
The entire event takes place in the RUGGEDISED demonstration area, Heart of South, at the Rotterdam Ahoy Conference Centre, with the first day being dedicated to the lessons drawn in the RUGGEDISED Project. The project, consisting of more than 40 partners, supported by almost €18 million from the Horizon European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, was led by the City of Rotterdam, and is hosting participants on 6 September. On the following days, 7-8 September, the Recharge Earth Conference will share both RUGGEDISED lessons and knowledge from other areas of the energy transition.
The first day of the final event is dedicated to learning, discussing and exchanging views based on the work done in RUGGEDISED. In sessions that will require engagement and openness from all participants, the RUGGEDISED invites on a journey to shape how we will create buildings, districts and entire cities in support of climate neutrality. The programme will include:
The first day is free of charge and you can register here.
The Heart of South area in Rotterdam is the demonstration are for RUGGEDISED project in which it will implement the cities smart solutions.
The area has been dominated by a car-oriented infrastructure where citizens and visitors sometimes feel estranged. Through RUGGEDISED the Heart of South district is undergoing a serious transition consisting of the renovation of the public transport hub, intensive efforts with Rotterdam Ahoy and multiple individual solutions connecting to a greater whole. With this project the city of Rotterdam is preparing the district for the future with the aim to achieve maximum energy efficiency and CO2 reduction while simultaneously looking to have a major social economic impact in terms of job creation, levels of participation of citizens and quality of life.
In RUGGEDISED, Umeå focused on an Innovation District that is situated immediately to the east of Umeå city centre, the University city area, which includes a mix of residential, academic and research facilities from two universities, a regional hospital, and community, recreational and commercial buildings. The neighbourhood is characterised by its young, student-influenced, population with 40, 000 daily visitors. As such, the neighbourhood is one of the least car-dependent neighbourhoods in Umeå. Amongst the smart solutions implemented, the RUGGEDISED project worked with peak load variation management, shared use of energy and a smart, open- data city decision platform. www.greenumea.se/ruggedised
RUGGEDISED in Glasgow focuses on the demonstration area and its Smart Street. The street is located in the city centre along a section of George Street and Duke Street, in an area of mixed residential, academic, community, retail, and industrial buildings. It will seek to address the challenges Glasgow faces from ageing infrastructure, fuel poverty and air pollution; by integrating planned regeneration and development with smart city capabilities.
The Smart Street will include: district heating, an innovative roof mounted solar PV canopy, ducted wind turbines, energy arbitrage, power storage, EV charging, and smart grid controls.
The Fellow Cities of RUGGEDISED have all achieved great things while being a part of RUGGEDISED.
Brno has focused on the transformation of their Smart City District Špitálka.
Gdansk has focused on smart energy in buildings and smart tools in public transportation.
Parma has transformed their stakeholder work and was chosen as one of the EU Mission Cities to become Climate Neutral by 2030.
Recharge Earth is the platform for professionals involved in the energy transition. A cleaner energy supply involves complex issues that cannot be solved individually. That is why Recharge Earth will bring together key stakeholders during its second edition on September 7 and 8. To inspire each other, share knowledge and jointly explore a new energy future.
The conference will include high-level political speakers and enaging plenary session. Important themes will be discussed in an international programme with RUGGEDISED partners putting special focus on how digitalisation and a social perspective can help support the energy transition throughout Europe.
The conference includes two tracks, one on 'Ports & Industries' and another on 'Cities & Communities' in which RUGGEDISED the RUGGEDISED partners are supporting.
For any questions related to RUGGEDISED's final event, please contact info@ruggedised.eu
