Page 27 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication
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Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation 27
COVENANT OF MAYORS
local action: The EU Smart Cities
In addition to this, the Smart Cities and peer-to-peer learning and Contact Details:
Information System is pooling and cooperation. Launched in 2008
structuring the results and best by the EU Commission, its success David Donnerer
practices from these Lighthouse quickly went beyond expectations Communication Officer
projects and previous EU Smart and has mobilized and supported Tel: +32 2400 10 70
Cities (e.g. the Seventh Framework European cities in their local action Email: david.donnerer@eumayors.eu
Programme) projects in a practical and contributing to the achievement of Web: www.eumayors.eu
one-stop-shop website. The European climate and energy targets.
dissemination of the demonstrated
solutions to local authorities, project The solutions brought forth by the EU
developers, research institutions and Smart Cities initiatives and the strong
universities thereby facilitates their local political commitment driven by
further replication across Europe. the Covenant of Mayors act as ideal
partnership to support a cost-effective
Moreover, the EU Strategic Energy and inclusive energy transition at local
Technology Plan supports the level. Thanks to the complementarity
strategic roll-out of a cleaner and and coherence of these initiatives,
better integrated energy system for European Covenant of Mayors cities
all Europeans. It also features a Smart will benefit from new products and
Cities and Communities working services, new ideas and can draw from
group, which brings together EU an ever-increasing number of good
Member States, regions, cities and practices across Europe.
industry and aims to implement
Positive Energy Blocks and Districts Increasing the market opportunities
in European cities, to support them for new energy efficiency and
in their transition to a sustainable and renewable energy technologies and
well-integrated energy infrastructure new transport solutions, enabled and
that makes optimal use of the urban supported by ICT, will drive down costs
built environment. to the extent which will ultimately make
mass production and use possible.
The Smart City market has been
boosted by these integrated Local businesses, utilities, house
and interlinked EU Smart Cities owners, citizens associations,
initiatives and can provide much technology providers, financial or
needed innovative, replicable and research institutions – all of them will
cost-effective solutions for the over be able to contribute developing and
9 000 European cities committed implementing innovative energy and
to the Covenant of Mayors, as they transport solutions for EU Covenant
can support them effectively in cities. Their cooperation is key to
the implementation of their local facilitate the efficient and effective
action plans under the Covenant mass take-up of these solutions in
initiative. The Covenant of Mayors these cities, thereby improving quality
is the European urban initiative of life, the economic environment
that harnesses strong local political and urban infrastructure for European
engagement, bottom-up action citizens. l
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
