Funded Projects 2014-2020

Project SMARCTIC

Project Acronym	SMARCTIC
Project Title	Smart energy management in remote Northern, Peripheral and Arctic regions
Project subsite	SMARCTIC

Summary

Affordable, reliable and efficient supply and usage of energy is a major challenge for NPA communities.

The approach of the SMARCTIC project to this challenge is to focus, not on individual buildings or public infrastructure, but on the entire stock of buildings and public infrastructure within the community and to minimise overall energy usage within the geographic boundary of that community.

The main output, implementing the above approach, will be an ICT-based solution, a “Smart Energy Management Model” adaptable for deployment in a typical NPA community. This solution will be adapted from existing smart city models and use ICT technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). It will facilitate innovative energy pilots with companies and researchers; enable communication between energy stakeholders (e.g., consumers, public infrastructure owners) to build awareness, trial new solutions and change energy behaviour; collect and share energy data from multiple sources (buildings and houses, public lighting, road traffic, local weather). This will drive achievement of the project’s main result, i.e., “5 NPA regions with enhanced capacity to deliver high-quality and integrated energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in their communities”. This will contribute to achievement of the NPAs programme result for Priority Axis 3.

Transnational cooperation is key to achieve the above result due to the need to: bring the range of ICT and energy specialisms from different parts of the NPA; transfer and integrate pilots, models and user requirements to achieve a robust transboundary solution and; achieve economies of scale.

Objectives

Provide a Smart Energy Management model suitable for NPA communities

Provide a technological framework for decreasing total energy usage in NPA communities by deploying an ICT-based Smart Energy Management Model.

Test the effectiveness of new smart energy solutions

Test the effectiveness of the model to improve awareness of energy efficiency and renewable solutions in housing and public infrastructures in the project regions.

Increase NPA's communities innovation capacity to deliver energy solutions

Provide an ecosystem to increase the capacity of NPA communities to work together to deliver innovative energy solutions.

Impacts

Tangible

Reduced energy consumption:	The project explored various digital and smart solutions that Arctic and sub-Arctic communities can implement to use energy more efficiently. Throughout its 6 pilots, the project showed to communities, public authorities and general public how sensors, IoT and a “whole-of-community” approach can help them for example to re-use excess heat from an ice hockey stadium, optimise energy usage in schools and in community buildings such as museums or theatres. An indoor air controller combined with air-to-air heat exchanger was installed in a school in Iceland. The data showed that in one month of use, this technology saved approximately 20 litres of oil that would otherwise be needed to heat the rooms if fresh air was to come through open windows.
Improved access to services:	The Finnish partner, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, developed two calculators, that enable viewers to calculate the waste heat coming from buildings, and to calculate the annual yield of solar energy. The project established an NPA Smart Energy Advisory Service, a website that gathers all the learnings from the project and continuous to raise awareness about the project and its activities. Additionally, anyone is welcome to join the SMARCTIC network and get more insight into implementing the energy pilots or accessing the SMART Energy Management Model.

Reduced energy consumption:

The project explored various digital and smart solutions that Arctic and sub-Arctic communities can implement to use energy more efficiently. Throughout its 6 pilots, the project showed to communities, public authorities and general public how sensors, IoT and a “whole-of-community” approach can help them for example to re-use excess heat from an ice hockey stadium, optimise energy usage in schools and in community buildings such as museums or theatres. An indoor air controller combined with air-to-air heat exchanger was installed in a school in Iceland. The data showed that in one month of use, this technology saved approximately 20 litres of oil that would otherwise be needed to heat the rooms if fresh air was to come through open windows.

Improved access to services:

The Finnish partner, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, developed two calculators, that enable viewers to calculate the waste heat coming from buildings, and to calculate the annual yield of solar energy. The project established an NPA Smart Energy Advisory Service, a website that gathers all the learnings from the project and continuous to raise awareness about the project and its activities. Additionally, anyone is welcome to join the SMARCTIC network and get more insight into implementing the energy pilots or accessing the SMART Energy Management Model.

Intangible

Changing attitude and behaviour:	Throughout its pilot in County Donegal, the project engaged with 5 public buildings managers and showed them that individuals can make a difference in energy consumption if participating in a community-based approach. Prior to the project, the managers were paying the energy bills without being fully aware of the consumption patterns. Now, they have real-time energy consumption data and thanks to the network of local building managers, they can compare these data and discuss the issues or gain advice. Similarly, the energy use visualization and opening the discussion about saving energy helped 2 schools in Västernorrland educate and encourage their students to change their behavior and switch off the lights or equipment when not in use.

Changing attitude and behaviour:

Throughout its pilot in County Donegal, the project engaged with 5 public buildings managers and showed them that individuals can make a difference in energy consumption if participating in a community-based approach. Prior to the project, the managers were paying the energy bills without being fully aware of the consumption patterns. Now, they have real-time energy consumption data and thanks to the network of local building managers, they can compare these data and discuss the issues or gain advice. Similarly, the energy use visualization and opening the discussion about saving energy helped 2 schools in Västernorrland educate and encourage their students to change their behavior and switch off the lights or equipment when not in use.

Lead Partner

European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology (ERNACT)
Ireland
Caitriona Strain
phone +353 74 916 8212
e-mail: caitriona.strain@ernact.eu

Partners

Association of Local Authorities in Västernorrland
Sweden
Derry City Council
Northern Ireland
Donegal County Council
Ireland
Heat Research and Development
Iceland
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Finland

Project Info

Theme
Renewable energy, eco products

Priority
3 Renewables and Energy Efficiency

Objective
3 Increased use of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions

Project duration
30-06-19 to 29-06-22

Total budget
1 404 191 EUR

NPA co-financing
879 396 EUR

Target groups
local public authority
regional public authority
sectoral agency
infrastructure and (public) service provider
higher education and research
General public
enterprise, including SME
EEIG, EGTC

Joint Secretariat Desk Officer
Kirsti Mijnhijmer