Amsterdam to become EU's first 'intelligent city'

Amsterdam aims to become the European Union’s first “intelligent city” with a coordinated programme aimed at reducing its energy consumption and carbon footprint.

City officials have enlisted the help of global management consultant Accenture to help them implement their “Amsterdam Smart City” programme.

The programme seeks to use a smart electric grid, smart meters, smart-building technologies and electric vehicles to reduce energy consumption in housing, commercial properties, public buildings and areas, and transportation. The City of Amsterdam is the first city in the EU to deploy intelligent technology, such as smart grids, in its electricity distribution system.

Smart grids are electricity distribution networks that combine traditional and new technology to manage the flow of energy more effectively and efficiently than previously possible.

Accenture will work with the Amsterdam Innovation Motor, a city-affiliated agency that establishes public and private-sector cooperation, to develop, implement, manage and assess each of the phases and projects of the Amsterdam Smart City programme.

“Amsterdam Smart City is closely linked to the Amsterdam Climate Programme, which states clear climate goals for the City of Amsterdam to reduce carbon emissions and encourage change in the energy consumption of our citizens,” said Joke van Antwerpen, director of Amsterdam Innovation Motor. “We chose Accenture for its innovative thinking in helping city authorities and utilities come together in responding to climate change challenges, as well as its expertise in smart-grid and smart-metering technologies.”

The first phase of the Amsterdam Smart City’s low-carbon projects, launched on June 3, includes:

• A ship-to-the-grid project, by which commercial vessels and river cruisers will be connected to electric grid when docked;
• The implementation of smart meters and in-home feedback displays to provide homeowners with information to help manage their energy consumption;
• A smart building at Accenture’s Amsterdam office at the ITO Tower, where intelligent technology will collect, monitor and analyse the building’s programming and utility data to identify energy consumption efficiencies and lower the building’s carbon footprint;
• A “Climate Street” at Utrechtsestraat, Amsterdam’s popular shopping and restaurant street, will have sustainable waste collection, tram stops, and street and façade lighting. Smart meters and energy usage feedback tools will help municipal authorities and shop and restaurant owners manage energy consumption.

“Because cities are the world’s major source of carbon emissions, they must play a leadership role in energy management and electricity consumption by uniting the private and public sectors,” said Maikel van Verseveld, Accenture’s European lead for smart grids. Accenture’s role is to facilitate this integration and to build and manage the intelligent infrastructure that will transform the urban environment.”

The City of Amsterdam is a member of Accenture’s Intelligent City Network. The network brings together city authorities and utilities around the world committed to deploying smart electric grids.  Members of the network exchange knowledge and practical experience on the planning, challenges and advantages of smart-grid technology.