Portugal plans for green city future

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Most European cities are associated with windy streets, cobbled lanes and areas pedestrianised simply because their centuries-old layouts are not sympathetic to vehicular traffic. There are many newly built cities, however, and many planners have been very progressive in their consideration for the environment, emerging technologies and the needs of the people having to live in them for generations to come. Portugal is now in the van with these developments in Europe.

Many older cities, too, have excellent future-driven infrastructure. Stockholm is a case in point: the city has become one of the leading ICT centres in the world, offering its citizens excellent services through a highly networked economy. Levels of household computer and Internet access are high, with Internet user penetration approaching 90%. The US-based Intelligent Community Forum cites Stockholm as one of the top intelligent communities based on broadband deployment, the sustainability of a knowledge-based workforce, digital inclusion and innovation. Stockholm was also named (2009) the first Green Capital of Europe by the EC, largely due to its combination of growth with sustainable development and to its target of becoming independent of fossil fuels by 2050. Stockholm also boasts its Kista Science City, an ICT-happy community of some 120,000 residents, almost 5,000 companies, 30,000 employees and 5,000 students in various research institutes.

Portugal is planning a similar venture, with Living PlanIT aiming to create an ecologically sound (with very low greenhouse gas emissions) and technologically advanced city (FttH as the norm) on a 17 sq km site in Paredes. The city may house up to 225,000 people, as well as support numerous businesses and the necessary ICT infrastructure. The multi-billion euro project will integrate a range of technologies, introducing intelligent buildings and smart grids with an emphasis on renewable energy to enable it to operate with a low carbon footprint.

If successful then the project can serve as an honourable example for similar schemes elsewhere in Europe, and globally too. Nevertheless, securing funding in these continuing troubled times will be one of the first obstacles to overcome. As for the technology side, Living PlanIT has already secured the backing from Cisco, which will be utilising proven systems to provide a smart power network, the bulk of its IT infrastructure and communication systems. The project is expected to near completion in 2015.

For more information of these developments, see:

Portugal - Broadband Market - Overview, Statistics & Forecasts

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Portugal - Key Statistics, Telecom Market & Regulatory Overviews

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Europe - Smart Grid Developments – 2010

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