EXPRESS, an Interreg Europe funded project, with co-funding from the European Union, held its fifth Project Partner Meeting and Study Visit from 1st to 2nd October 2024, in the city of Alba Iulia, west-central part of Romania. The Study Visit themed, ‘Building Tomorrow’s Cities: Smart City Solutions for Energy, Buildings, Planning and Mobility’, was attended by partners from Finland, Ireland, France, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Croatia.
The first day featured thematic workshops and presentations from the attendees. Representing Ireland, Dr. Dewi Dimyati-Vliexs, Senior Policy Officer, SEEA, spoke on Smart City Initiatives in South-east Ireland with a focus on Smart City Infrastructures, remote energy monitoring, and smart good practices. In her presentation, she highlighted ‘Kilkenny City Smart Streetlighting Upgrade’, a smart public street lighting project in County Kilkenny, with an energy efficiency IoT core, stressing the benefits such as reduction in the number and severity of nighttime road accidents, increased evening activity and promotion of economy, reduction in carbon emissions which contributes to Kilkenny’s Covenant of Mayors SEAP targets. In the end, it was seen that the benefits far outweighed the challenges.
Dr. Vliexs also spotlighted the Waterford North Quays, an integrated & sustainable multi-modal transport hub with IoT controlled solar PV systems for buildings/public infrastructure including smart waste management with sensors & IoT tech.
She concluded her presentation by sharing some good practices, notably, the Dublin Portal, launched 8th May 2024 to promote SMART Tourism. It garnered about 300,000 visitors, linking Dublin to New York City, before its closure. Another good practice shared was Cork City Trees, a high-tech ‘City Trees’ to tackle air pollution using IoT and moss culture to remove harmful pollutants from the air.
The second day focused on visits to the biogas cogeneration plant at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Alba Iulia, and Delphi Electric, the first nearly zero energy and private building in Alba Iulia.
The integration of Smart City solutions for energy, buildings, planning, and mobility is no longer a futuristic ideal but an urgent necessity. As urban populations grow and resources become increasingly strained, leveraging technology and innovation can transform cities into sustainable, efficient, and liveable environments. From reducing energy consumption and enhancing building efficiency to fostering sustainable transportation and data-driven urban planning, smart solutions offer a roadmap to tackle contemporary challenges. Ultimately, the commitment to smart city initiatives is a commitment to a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive future for generations to come.
EXPRESS Project is focused on European regions promoting renewable energy self-sufficiency.
