New Energy Policies for Smart Cities - a Comparison among Smart Cities in the European Union

Abstract

Given the current challenges of climate change our society is dealing with at a global level, the European Union develops a new energy policy based on clean energy. The package “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, which has been adopted by the European Commission in 2016, contains measures for a new energy policy at the level of the European Union, based on promoting an Energy Union by following a harmonized framework and common objectives. Considering this European policy debate an interesting topic, the present paper deals with the research question what will be the reaction of the business environment to the energy policy measures proposed by the European Commission in terms of innovation. Indeed, it focuses on innovative solutions based on clean energy, that will arise for achieving the three dimensions of social, economic and environmental sustainability, such as smart cities. The initiative of helping the development of smart cities is currently supported by the European Commission in the project “European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities”. Innovative measures are related to new financing schemes for the new projects, as new investments are needed for implementing innovative solutions. Case studies from different Member States of the European Union, e.g. Italy, Austria and Romania, will illustrate the concept of smart cities and their development in the European Union allowing for an in depth analysis and comparison among the different business models implemented. The present work presents a mixed method approach based on the combination of both qualitative research methods, such as multiple-case studies and quantitative methods, represented by the analysis and triangulation of data and indicators provided by European institutions. Furthermore, this study presents a multidisciplinary perspective, considering aspects of European policy, European law, business and economics.

Smart city: A critical assessment of the concept and its implementation in Romanian urban strategies

“…After 2016, the first papers dealing with the results of smart projects developed in Romanian cities are published, most of them analyzing their impact (Kadar, 2016), the smart learning domain (Dascalu et al, 2017), and the transfer of smart practices in the periurban area (Profiroiu & Radulescu, 2019;Tirziu, 2017). More technical approaches materialized as well, highlighting the opportunities related to the role of 5G mobile network's operator in developing smart projects (Oproiu et al, 2017) or systemic approaches evaluating energy infrastructure and the role of renewable energies in smart initiatives (D'Ascenzo et al, 2019;Petrica & Birova, 2018;Savastano, Suciu, Gorelova, & Stativa, 2020;Tantau & Santa, 2021;Teremranova and Mutule, 2019). It is worth mentioning, however, that most of these studies are not focused exclusively on Romanian territory, but represent rather comparative approaches of smart cities in EU or South-Eastern Europe.…”

Romanians’ Perceptions Regarding the Drivers of Social Venture. Evidence Based on AGER Data

“…This can ensure a healthy environment and thus a good life quality for the inhabitants of the Smart City. Second, there is the component of using IT&C solutions based on advanced algorithm and control techniques, Computational Intelligence and machine learning for improving the life quality in smart cities (D'Ascenzo et al 2019).…”

“…In order to achieve this status, the city focuses on the reduction of pollution and noise, on efficient parking support by technology and on a good public transportation system supported by technology to give accurate information to the users. The city aims to be a clean city, with less pollution and therefore it has as a goal public transportation by means of electric buses (D'Ascenzo et al 2019).…”