Bucharest

Bucharest Sector 6. Represented by Municipality of Bucharest Sector 6, the demo site is represented by the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood, an airy neighborhood with many block buildings as well as green areas, well covered by 2 shopping centers, shops, education amenities and public transport to which several other surrounding assets have been added. Bucharest Sector 6 Municipality, enters the KINETIC project on the background of its ambitions to increase energy efficiency and create positive energy areas in terms of energy, first in the neighbourhood selected in the project, and then in other areas of the sector. Among the main objectives of for the area, with the mention that some initial steps have already been taken, are: (i) Energy optimization of collective housing areas​; (ii) Integrated approaches for next-level public buildings NZEB (+energy buildings)​; Options for energy production given the dense urban fabric; (iii) Stakeholder engagement and energy education; (iv) Promotion of alternative/green transportation​ and (v) Investments in the waste collection & management system​.

Establishing Demo Sites Transformation Pathways

The energy transformation of Drumul Taberei neighbourhood

In the context of the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood’s energy transformation, a collaborative approach of local authorities, land/building owners, and the community is necessary. This involves adapting the built environment (collective housing buildings and integrating public institutions), utilising available land resources for installing high-capacity energy systems, and implementing measures for undeveloped spaces. 

The neighbourhood’s energy needs are very high, and it’s possible that using different types of renewable energy systems in the area might not be enough to meet this demand.

The first step in this direction consists of completely modernising existing buildings to meet high European Standards (like nZEB or nZEB+). Securing funds for rehabilitating residential buildings is not a priority for municipal investments. However, public authorities can offer support to housing associations that are focused on energy efficiency and incorporating renewable energy resources. Therefore, an optimal option would be a competitive selection process among property associations based on available budgets to initiate the first set of pilot projects in the neighbourhood. For the remaining buildings, local authorities can offer bureaucratic and administrative support. Transformation into a Positive Energy District (PED) is a gradual process that needs to be shared among all stakeholders.

Establishing an optimal framework is essential to encourage civic initiatives and private entities (energy communities or cooperatives). In this case, it is important to move from top-down to horizontal practices and solutions. 

Notable examples include rehabilitating public buildings, like schools, to generate surplus energy, and forming local energy communities. The municipality can play a role as a partner by offering essential services or infrastructure for a resilient energy system. This includes providing energy storage facilities, especially in unused areas, which can be made available to local communities dedicated to generating renewable energy and managing energy-efficient buildings.