oPENLAB

oPEN Lab project
 

The oPEN Lab project aims to identify replicable, commercially viable solution packages. In doing so, it enables the achievement of positive energy neighbourhoods within existing urban contexts that are seamlessly integrated into the local energy system. Thus, creating an active micro-energy hub. The project aims to test these technologies and packages as an integrated solution at the neighbourhood scale.

Three open innovation living labs in the cities of Genk (BE), Pamplona (ES) and Tartu (EE) will test combinations of different close-to-market ready technologies and services and study their performance as a unique operating system.

Specific objectives:

• Substantial improvement of energy efficiency through industrialised retrofit solutions, reducing energy demand (reduction in cost and time, high energy efficiency, contributing to the Renovation Wave).
• Local renewable energy generation, integrated PV, and conventional overlay PV.
• Energy linking between buildings (physical or virtual) enabling the exploitation of complementarities in production-consumption patterns.
• Electrical and thermal storage, recharging of Electric Vehicles and demand flexibility.

Project duration 

The project started on 1 October 2021 and will run until 31 March 2026. 

Partners

oPEN Lab has 33 partners seven European countries. The project’s implementation sights are in Pamplona (ES), Genk (BE), and Tartu (EE).To carry out this project in Pamplona, the City Council will work with Alonso Hernández & Asociados Arquitectura S.L, which will coordinate the local project, Obras Especiales Edificación e Infrasestructuras OBENASA, the National Renewable Energy Centre CENER and the University of the Basque Country UPV.
 

Budget

The project's budget is about 21 million euros, of which almost 5 million euros are distributed to Spanish project partners and will be allocated to actions in Pamplona. 

Specifically, the actions to be carried out by Pamplona City Council will cost around 1,200,000 euros.

Project activities in Pamplona

Pamplona will host a series of actions within the framework of the oPEN Lab project: 

• Innovative energy rehabilitation actions in 12 rented social housing units in the San Pedro housing group: 

•    Photovoltaic panels will be installed to generate renewable energy, changing the roof of the building, as well as the interior insulation, new air conditioning installations and energy storage devices will be installed.
•    Innovative tracking and monitoring techniques will be implemented, both in terms of the energy balance of the dwellings and to identify and mitigate disruption to occupants and neighbours (noise, etc.).
•    Charging points for electric vehicles will be installed in the vicinity of the refurbished buildings.

• Physical or virtual connection of the participating buildings with the IWER complex to form the germ of the Positive Green Energy District, enabling energy exchanges and grid balancing.
• Active participation of end-users in the adoption of the solutions developed, specifically through workshops organised by Pamplona City Council.
• Creation of a district energy office to stimulate the creation of an Energy Community.
• Awareness-raising actions for citizens and neighbourhood associations to achieve their active participation and adherence to the energy transition process.