POCITYF: Energy Optimization Initiative Launched in Évora

POCITYF is the new EU-funded project developed on the scope of the Horizon 2020 Programme, set to transform European historical and cultural cities into more efficient, healthy, sustainable living environments with the integration of Positive energy districts. Led by EDP, with the collaboration of Ubiwhere and Évora’s Municipality and 43 more partner companies from 13 countries, the project kicks off today, October 9, in Évora.

POCITYF, or Positive Energy CITY Transformation Framework, will focus on the integration of 10 innovative technological solutions covering energy storage, e-mobility and citizens engagement strategies. The main purpose will be to assist these cities with the distribution of these technologies whilst respecting their urban infrastructures, which often include listed buildings of cultural heritage.

João Maciel, from EDP LABELEC, responsible for the project’s coordination explains that this is a differentiating project, once it includes “a strong focus on heritage areas, tackling the untapped barriers that accrue from legal and regulatory restrictions against the installation of conventional solutions that historical and protected sites currently struggle with.”

Several actions for energy optimization will be implemented across both of the Lighthouse Cities, or leader cities, Évora (Portugal) and Alkmaar (The Nederlands), in order to be partially replicated by the historical partner cities: Granada (Spain), Bari (Italy), Celje (Slovenia), Ujpest (Hungary), Ioannina (Greece) and Hvidovre (Denmark). 

Alexandre Varela, Évora’s City Councillor, sees POCITYF, as “essential in the smart differentiation strategy that has made Évora a resilient, adaptive city, eager for new and vibrant challenges.”

This project will last for 60 months, from October of 2019, till September of 2024 and will receive funding of 20M € (included on an overall budget of 22,5M€).

Note: The information, references and quotes presented in this article were supplied by Fondazione ICONS.

This project has received funding from the EU´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 864400