Energy

Varaždin Solar City

Revolutinize Energy Mix in Your City

Use accessible surfaces and free sun power, Varaždin is able to meet most of the city's energy needs. With this opportunity, we aim to expand our awareness of how we can boost solar city possibilities while taking care of the environment, community, culture and local authorities.

Challenge description

Energy transition concept is linked to decentralized energy systems, energy efficiency, and renewable energy to enhance local ownership and management in the energy sector.In addition to energy transition, the concept that grows is energy democracy that combines political, economic, cultural aspects with citizen participation to accelerate the transition of technological energy while strengthening fairness, participation and democracy.Consumers are igniting the energy transition as new technologies such as energy-efficient materials and technology, smart grids and sustainable power-producing technologies such as solar panels allow citizens to become an important and active part of the energy market.Due to the economic status of people, availability of equipment, installers, actor awareness, low financial subsidies and patronage of interested actors, private investment of individual housing, industrial and business sectors in the energy transition does not gain the right traction.

This challenge focuses on finding new business and financial models using the idea of key platforms (informatics tools), improving the energy mix of solar power plants on public and private buildings and urban area surfaces.

Challenge vision

To motivate building/free surface owners to effectively expand „Solar areas“, it is necessary to create clear and economically reasonable mechanism for funding and setting up renewable energy and energy-efficient projects. To tackle the challenge and find a solution following issues and questions should be answered: 

  • How to expand public surfaces for solar energy systems in the city in a way that citizens, private or commercial sector will invest? How to encourage citizens to invest and save through solar power or energy efficiency? 
  • How to address green energy initiatives with public support from residents and the private sector? How to establish a stable cooperative citizen investments? Witch surfaces in the city should be solar and how to connect investors in equipment needed?
  • How to include citizens and local stakeholders in the energy transition – develop applications to direct investments of citizens in green technologies on a local level; with subgrants; loans or alternative financial models (such as crowdfunding)?

 

Solutions should focus on: 

  • Digital Solutions (Financing, communication, connectivity)
  • Group financing models (for the increase of solar power plants on the roofs of private / public buildings)
  • Different methods of connecting through platforms that facilitate investment, retrieval
  • the right technology, installers, and anything else that can make investment easier to
    households or business owners
  • (Interactive) tools for financing and connecting major players
  • Raising awareness in the field of energy democracy, renewable energy sources
    and climate protection

The focus is therefore primarily on the integrated process from planning, fundraising, instalation and maintenance of solar systems in households.


Climathon participants are invited to reflect on the technical, social and economic mechanisms, tools and services that will increase the share of solar roofs in the city of Varaždin

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Here are ideas for your solutions, you are welcome to read even more!

Together we can make Varaždin and the world a better place to live

The City of Varaždin has the Solar Revolution vision! Join the 2019 Climathon and solve the City of Varaždin's climate challenge of increasing solar energy potential. With our mentors, we will give you many opportunities for shared creativity, innovation and learning processes.

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Other challenges from this city

Revolutinize Energy Mix in Your City

Varaždin

Use accessible surfaces and free sun power, Varaždin is able to meet most of the city's energy needs. With this opportunity, we aim to expand our awareness of how we can boost solar city possibilities while taking care of the environment, community, culture and local authorities.

Read more
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