Amsterdam has begun an ambitious program to become the first “intelligent city” in Europe.  Accenture has been selected to help the city realize that vision.

The goal of the project is to develop and implement sustainable and cost-effective programs that will help Amsterdam reduce its carbon footprint while meeting the carbon reduction targets put forward by the EU’s 2020 emissions and energy reduction targets.

The Amsterdam Smart City will bring together smart meters, a smart electric grid, electric vehicles, and smart building design to promote energy efficiency in the residential, commercial, public, and transportation economic sectors.  Amsterdam is already the first city in Europe to deploy smart grid technology within its electrical distribution system.

The Amsterdam Innovation Motor, a city agency that promotes cooperation between the public and private sectors, will work with Accenture on all phases of the Amsterdam Smart City Project.  The accounting and consulting firm will develop, implement, manage and assess each phase as the project progresses.  

Accenture will deploy the smart grid in the city and provide support for a range of solutions that will reduce the level of carbon emissions produced.  It will also manage the integration process and analyse the data generated at various points of the new system.

“Amsterdam Smart City is closely linked to the Amsterdam Climate Program, 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 the 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 of the city’s smart grid measures was launched on June 3.  Smart meter installations were included within this first phase plus a method for river boats to be connected to the power grid when docked, Accenture’s control centre for the entire program, and a so-called “Climate Street” within the shopping district.

Climate Street, within the popular Utrechtsestraat shopping and dining area, features sustainable waste collection, plenty of tram stops, and efficient streetlights.  City managers are able to monitor energy consumption on Climate Street through the use of smart meters and share their findings with business owners.

Reducing carbon emissions in cities could have a major impact on climate change worldwide.  More people now live in urban centres than in rural areas.  Cities are responsible for producing nearly two-thirds of the world’s carbon emissions when energy usage along with car exhaust is figured in.

“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, European lead for smart grids at Accenture.  “Accenture’s role is to facilitate this integration and to build and manage the intelligent infrastructure that will transform the urban environment.”

As a member of Accenture’s Intelligent City Network, Amsterdam is able to share best practices with other like-minded municipalities around the world.  Accenture previously launched the first smart city project in Boulder, Colorado last year.

Accenture
Canon's Court 22 Victoria Street
Hamilton, HM 12
Bermuda
http://www.accenture.com

Amsterdam Innovation Motor
P.O. Box 2852
1000 CW Amsterdam
http://www.aimsterdam.nl
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