Solar Integrated sustainable solutions
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Since 2003, SIARQ is pioneering the development of high design and energy efficiency sustainable urban furniture. Nowadays the trademark SIARQ is an international reference in the integration of new environmental standards in urban spaces.The Smart City represents the natural market evolution for SIARQ, being their photovoltaic hubs/streetlights the perfect urban infrastructure to enable a compact and sustainable IoT deployment in the urban environment.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Other Funds
First Grant of 200K€ from EC-FP7 form the project SOLAR DESIGN in 2013
Second Grant of 200K€ from the European Kic-Innoenergy for the project FASCOM in 2015
Granted 50K€ from SME Instrument H2020 Phase I for the project SOLAR HUB in 2018
Description of the project
Summary
Environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources are incentives to develop renewable energy generation. Since 2003, Solar urban solutions developed by SIARQ aim to integrate clean, renewable energy generation to functional architectural designs at the same time that, for example, we incorporate systems that allow us to monitor air pollutants.
With our project we wish to contribute to a new concept in urban development, centered on participative civic values, respect for cultural diversity and protection of the environment. Our idea of architecture and urbanism is not limited to the investigation of innovating shapes and structures. Rather, we focus on the functions that our projects serve and the needs they fulfill.
We also wish to contribute to a city in which public spaces are at the heart of economic, cultural and artistic activities and help convey humanistic values and respect for the environment. Thanks to this, we not only achieve a strong positive impact on society but also provide environmental data to different sectors so that they can carry out the necessary actions and strategies to increase the well-being of citizens and the environment.
To achieve this goal, SIARQ depends on a multidisciplinary, multicultural team. This network helps us to analyze architectural and urbanistic projects from different and complementary perspectives such as engineers, architects, designers, environmentalists, computer scientists...
Key objectives for sustainability
In SIARQ.com, our main objective is to work for zero-emissions cities through sustainable solutions. We are aware of the seriousness of the environmental problem we face today and firmly believe in the implementation of solar infraestructures integrated into the urban environment and also add other integrated systems that increase the chances of improving air quality and fight against all those actions that produce impacts on the environment.
To achieve this goal, a new generation of solar urban infrastructures have been designed to allow the generation of clean energy thanks to their photovoltaic panels. This energy powers the environmental sensor system, communication and lighting (the excess of energy is delivered to the grid) and allows the collection of environmental data to offer a personalized service of analysis, control and prediction of air quality. Helping the different sectors to have a clearer vision of the actions and strategies needed to achieve short and long term goals and thus increase the well-being and health of the population.
Our solution strives to reduce emissions in cities and improve air quality while addressing climate change and being part of the energy transition that is so necessary nowadays
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Being the solar panel as an architectural and esthetic element of the design has been since the beginning at the core of SIARQ’s work. The first solution that we designed and installed in Barcelona in 2003 is a PV generator plant, considered by the municipality as a monument to the environment. It was the first time in the world that a PV panel solution was conceived as a landscape element. This PV structure was called DINOSAUR. Starting from that moment, we designed many other solar lighting solutions like BAMBÚ, CURVA, HOM, and more recently SOLAR HUB, with a specific paraboloid solar module. Our project has always sought to be an adaptable and integrated solution to all environments, both urban and rural. We have achieved that our solution is part of the environment being fully integrated into it and at the same time be the key to increase the welfare of citizens. Our projects present harmonious infrastructures that can blend perfectly with natural elements, creating organic infrastructures integrated into the different sectors. Also, the fact that it includes photovoltaic panels and does not require a specific orientation facilitates its deployment and integration.
Using forms inspired by nature with a great aesthetic value, SIARQ products are integrated with the urban environment as emblematic elements, giving a new identity and functionality to these areas where they are installed, offering: lighting, clean energy, promoting sustainability and a clean environment that municipalities and cities are looking for.
The quality of the experience comes from the interaction with Urban Briain, when the user accesses the application, it is enriched with environmental information that can now be controlled and managed. Also, the interaction with the infrastructure itself creates a positive impact in social cohesion and awareness.
Key objectives for inclusion
SIARQ contributes to a new concept of solar urban infrastructure centered on the participation of different ecosystems to co-create Smart Cities. To develop the Smart City and to grow solid opportunities, we need to work as a collaborative ecosystem and empower entrepreneurship in this new industry.
One of our objectives is to contribute with solutions to create Resilient Cities, which represent an enormous opportunity for business, administrations and citizens to take advantage of urban infrastructures and technology to achieve a better place to live. Together we are re-thinking the urban space and co-create a new generation of urban infrastructure.
We also work for the integration of the end user in the design process of the service and build around their needs. This way, municipalities better manage the city & improve their services and on the other hand, citizens are empowered and feel city ownership.
SIARQ has a team of international profiles and very different competences: architects, industrial designers, engineers, disruptive marketing, business developers. All of them contribute their gaze to develop solar urban infrastructures to deliver powerful projects.
Results in relation to category
Our solution shows us that the built environment can contribute both to the protection of nature and biodiversity and to the protection of people's health and well-being.
Integral smart infrastructure to give support to all sectors of cities in terms of sustainability and to give support to IOT deployment in urban environments and to boost the creation of new services companies and economical activities.
We firmly believe in the importance of knowing the air we are breathing in order to provide safety to the population and to start changing those activities that generate polluting emissions. Because the first step to improve is to measure! Since then we have been able to observe the implementation of initiatives and strategies for the reduction of emissions in those sectors where we have implemented our solutions.
Another key result is the positive impact on society in terms of both cohesion and social awareness. An example are the urban infrastructures as tools for environmental education.
How Citizens benefit
Society faces a new era of saturation in all the senses. The great challenge is to seek a better quality of life for this society. SIARQ contributes to this mission providing clean energy through their designs in addition to undertaking projects and creative solutions to have green, pleasant and smart cities.
The effort to create more sustainable, intelligent and pollution-free cities is clear. This infrastructure deploys new services and apps generating new opportunities for citizens, telecom companies and the ecosystem.
The fact that citizens can have control of their cities makes them participants and responsible for the activities they carry out. Moreover, it provides them with security in terms of public health. Not only because of the integration of sustainable infrastructures but also because of the incorporation of environmental sensors that allow a control of the emissions. Social and economical generation of Urbanpreneur and collaborative initiative
Innovative character
SIARQ solutions has an innovative character thanks to a well-balanced integration between Solar, Internet of Things, Architecture and Engineering. SIARQ projects combine functionality and design and mix renewable energy with new constructive tendencies, always considering the respect of the environment, energy saving and use of natural means.
SIARQ solutions has also a strategic innovative character with our latest products where we have grown our capabilities in strategic and service design. Our application of the design thinking process has seven stages: define, research, ideate, prototype, choose, implement, and learn. Within these seven steps, problems can be framed, the right questions can be asked, more ideas can be created, and the best solutions can be selected.
SIARQ designs ecosystemic social innovation programs to foster the deployment of a SMART SOLAR infrastructure that is more inclusive, co-designing new models and platforms that facilitate business opportunities between the public sector, municipalities, private companies and communities. The goal is to solve issues related to security, mobility and environment in order to increase the standard of living and quality of life of all citizens.
