London to trial latest smart city technologies

London is joining forces with cities across Europe after being chosen to join the €25-million Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse programme that will demonstrate innovative uses of technology to improve the lives of city residents.

The ‘Sharing Cities’ Lighthouse programme will see London’s Royal Borough of Greenwich used as a testing ground for new technology. These include using the River Thames to heat homes, testing electric bikes and trialling the latest smart parking bays.

“London is growing at a record rate and to support the city’s future growth, we need to harness our incredible technical prowess and look to what new approaches and technological innovation can bring,” said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. “By leading this international project we will be able to share ideas with our European counterparts as we work to create a city that is fit for the future and an even greater place to live, work and visit.”

The project, part of the Horizon 2020 European Programme, will see London work alongside organisations including Siemens, Future Cities Catapult, and Imperial College London. It will develop a new model of sharing data across other chosen cities–Milan, Lisbon, Bordeaux, Burgas and Warsaw–to deliver a common data-sharing platform that can be used by all the programme cities, supported by EUROCITIES–the network that brings together over 130 of Europe’s largest cities–and beyond.

“We believe that by investing in technology, with a focus on renewable and electrification, London has the potential to be a global beacon for smart technology and sustainability,” said Paul Brodrick, Head of Connected Communities, Siemens Energy Management.

“This programme will help make that possibility a reality. What is really exciting is the long term potential of this project. The data sharing between European cities and opportunities to develop a cities focused R&D pipeline in London could help keep the UK be at the cutting edge of future city technologies.”