POCACITO - Portugal

Intelligent Waste Management System

clf — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:38:52 +0000

The smart waste management system implemented in the municipality of Cascais combines the use of underground waste containers with a technology of remote fill-level sensors. While underground waste containers reduce visual impacts and maximize the use of urban space, remote fill-level sensors installed in these containers enable to trigger and manage a smart collection when these are nearly full. The sensors read the level of waste in each bin and transmit the data to a central management platform, which then allows to determine when and how the collection vehicles should start their route. This management platform can be accessed remotely in any web browser. Installing underground waste containers and equipping them with remote fill-level sensors resulted in cost reductions for municipal waste services of Cascais, while simultaneouly improving the services.

MOBI.E - E-Mobility Network

clf — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:25:19 +0000

Driven by the growing dependence on oil for energy and by the huge environmental impact of the use of fossil fuels, Portugal is investing in new sustainable energy models for mobility that aim to improve quality of life in cities. This has led to the creation of the Electric Mobility Network, an integrated network linking various charging stations in Portugal, which enables electric vehicles to recharge, using a specific charging card.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to a more sustainable mobility model, thus among others also increasing the consumption of electric power produced from renewable energy sources by the electric mobility network. MOBI.E was implemented on a national scale through 25 municipalities that constituted a living lab (called “RENER”) and works as a pilot network supporting the introduction of electric vehicles in Portugal.

Inovgrid - Èvora Inovcity smart energy grid

clf — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:34:11 +0000

Inovgrid is an innovative pilot smart-grids project that was implemented in the city of Évora (Inovcity). The initiative provides smart meters to the electricity consumers’ resident in Évora, free of cost. These smart meters collect data about individual consumption profiles and collective grid demands. After a few years of data collection this project enables and optimizes the smooth integration of decentralized energy generation, and electric vehicles (charging infrastructure) into the grid. The project also promotes automated grid management, the improvement of the quality of energy services, the reduction of grid operating costs, and the promotion of energy efficiency and sustainability while simultaneously reducing national energy dependence.The project was implemented in 2010 by EDP - Energias de Portugal, a power company, and included the installation of 30,000 energy boxes plus 40,000 distribution transformer controllers and the respective integration with the company’s systems. In parallel, with the installation of this hardware, the project has proceeded with the definition of working groups dedicated to the analysis and quantification of the potential benefits of the installed technologies.The project comprises several features such as smart metering, public lighting, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, energy efficiency and client interaction interfaces.

"Agostinhas" - Urban Bicycle

clf — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 14:36:13 +0000

In European urban areas cars are the major source of air pollutants and greenhouses gas emissions. They are also the main cause of noise and occupy a significant share of the public space. With the objective to reduce the number of cars in the city, Torres Vedras launched a new mobility solution – an integrated public bike-sharing system called "Agostinhas". This system includes 30 electric and 260 conventional bicycles made available through 14 bike stations which are connected through a network of bike lanes covering an area of 8 km² (which includes the entire city plus some of the suburban areas). The main objectives of the project are: (1) demonstrating the advantages of using a bicycle and; (2) offering an option for urban transportation with numerous environmental, social and economic benefits.