IRIS Utrecht: Transforming into sustainable neighbourhoods
In the Utrecht district Kanaleneiland-Zuid we combine solar energy, affordable social housing and broad access to electric mobility.
These solutions are developed together with citizens and built on open data to accelerate change
Energy savings
2
Gwh/year
CO2 savings
600
ton/year
Renovated area
55000
m2
Smart storage capacity
845
kWh
Citizens engaged
700+
Featured Solutions
Creative Transformation
Creative transformation includes designers and their methods in the mix of specialists involved in the energy transition. This creates new methods and strategies to involve citizens. This is of key importance, especially in neighbourhoods where energy transition is not a priority yet. Daily struggles create other senses of urgency for these citizens.
Near zero building transformation
Housing corporation Bo-Ex is renovating apartment buildings in the city of Utrecht. Bo-Ex uses different techniques to realise either energy efficient buildings in the Lombok district, or near zero energy buildings in the Kanaleneiland-Zuid district and even positive energy buildings in the Overvecht district.
V2G EV charging network
The city of Utrecht is on track to feature the ‘Utrecht bidirectional ecosystem’: over 500 bi-directional ‘Vehicle to Grid’ (V2G) car charging points, in combination with 200 shared e-cars and the worlds first V2G-enabled production e-cars, the Hyundai IONIQ5. This scalable solution for AC vehicle to grid charging is a flagship policy in the energy transition and vision of healthy urban living of the city of Utrecht.
Grid flexibility with energy storage
Renovated buildings in the district Kanaleneiland are equipped with solar panels to produce electricity. Electricity that is not used directly, can be stored in a stationary storage battery, which is installed in a communal area. The battery will provide flexibility services to the electricity grid, and also to the expanding Utrecht Bidirectional Ecosystem with Vehicle to Grid (V2G) enabled charging points and e-cars.
Smart street lighting multi-sensor
The city of Utrecht has developed a smart pedestrian crossing that can light up when a car approaches at high speed or a pedestrian wants to cross the street. The crossing is sided by two smart poles with integrated sound and air quality sensors, PV panels and speed and motion detection. The project is developed in co-creation with citizens from the neighbourhood.
Teaching the future
How can you invest in a sustainable future? By teaching the importance of sustainability at a young age through education! In the district Kanaleneiland-Zuid, pupils and students are involved in the sustainable solutions from project IRIS. Examples of teaching programs are the Energy Detective program at both school and in the home and a Treasurehunt in the neighborhood.