Alba Iulia

Alba Iulia is advancing its smart energy management infrastructure as part of SP1 – Digital Infrastructure & ICT Tools, focusing on energy monitoring and optimization. A key initiative involves the Dorin Pavel Technological High School, where digital tools are being deployed in 2025-2026 to enhance energy efficiency.

Key Developments in Alba Iulia’s SP1 Solutions

• Data Governance Framework: A structured approach to data collection and management within the PCED, integrating census data, geospatial information, and energy consumption data.
• GIS-Based Digital Twin & Energy Scenarios: The city is developing energy balance models to simulate and compare different energy scenarios, guiding future investments in renewable energy and efficiency measures.
• Utility Collaboration & Technology Selection: Efforts are ongoing to engage public utility providers, and integrate geodatabases into energy planning models.

Next Steps:

• Finalizing data collection and integration into GIS platforms.
• Modeling energy supply and demand scenarios for optimized planning.
• Developing methodologies to assess biomass energy potential in the PCED area.

Lessons Learned & Collaboration Opportunities

Budapest is exploring innovative methodologies, such as biomass production mapping, and seeks best practices for large-scale building data collection and Digital Twin applications.

Through these efforts, Budapest is laying the groundwork for smarter, data-driven energy management, ensuring a resilient and sustainable urban future.

Deployment of Energy Communities & Prosumers

Alba Iulia is advancing its renewable energy initiatives through the Dorin Pavel Community, leveraging existing photovoltaic (PV) installations on municipal buildings to explore self-consumption benefits. The city aims to assess energy savings and the potential future valorisation of excess energy, despite the current lack of a legal framework for energy communities in Romania. Through this initiative, Alba Iulia is working to influence national legislation to enable energy-sharing models.

Ongoing efforts include monitoring energy consumption, evaluating additional municipal buildings for PV integration, and preparing policy updates to support local energy-sharing frameworks. Through this initiative, Alba Iulia is laying the groundwork for a decentralized, community-driven energy transition in Romania.

Key Developments in Alba Iulia’s SP2 Solutions

• Existing PV Installations – Three municipal buildings within the Dorin Pavel Community are equipped with PV systems:
  • Dorin Pavel Technical College HQ: 57.75 kWp
  • Sports Hall: 52.8 kWp
  • Central Heating Building: 23.3 kWp
• Energy Monitoring & Economic Analysis – The city is analysing the economic impact of energy savings from self-consumption and evaluating potential revenue models for future energy-sharing frameworks.
• Planned PV Expansion – The existing PV system will be evaluated in terms of maintenance while and additional 22 kWp of PV capacity will be installed on the workshop buildings of Dorin Pavel Technical College through the National Resilience and Recovery Plan, while another 20 kWp will be installed on the Heating Plant via the InterPed Project along with storage capacity.
• Regulatory Advocacy – Alba Iulia is among the first Romanian cities preparing a local policy to support energy communities, aiming to influence (if the opportunity arises) the national legal framework. In this regard, the municipality will update its SECAP in the sense of supporting the establishment of energy communities at local level.

Next Steps:

• Monitor energy consumption and production within the Dorin Pavel Community.
• Explore additional PV installations on other municipality-owned buildings.
• Continue advocating for national regulations that enable the creation of energy communities and peer-to-peer energy trading.
• Assess the feasibility of integrating additional buildings into an expanded energy-sharing model.

Lessons Learned & Collaboration Opportunities

Current legislation still restricts peer-to-peer energy sales, though national-level discussions suggest change is on the horizon. The municipality has taken a leading role in piloting local energy-sharing models, helping to demonstrate their viability. Meanwhile, the city is exploring ways to expand PV integration and prepare for future policy shifts. With these efforts, Alba Iulia is paving the way for a more decentralized, community-led energy future—offering a blueprint for other Romanian cities aiming to boost self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Within the PCED area, Alba Iulia is combining energy-efficient building renovations, next-generation public infrastructure, and education innovation to transform its urban landscape. From school retrofits with integrated self-consumption systems to Romania’s first net-zero campus and a fully upgraded public lighting network, the city is paving the way for decarbonisation at scale.

Key Developments in Alba Iulia’s Refurbishment Solutions in the PCED area

• Dorin Pavel Technological High School Complex Refurbishment – Energy-efficient renovation of six connected buildings, powered by rooftop PV systems (heat pumps, new condensing boilers, ventilation with recovery) and a smart Building Management System.
• CRESCENDO Campus Construction – Romania’s first near-zero dual-education campus under development, spanning over 25,000 sqm and designed to host more than 300 students and pupils.
• Smart LED Lighting System – A €14 million overhaul of the public lighting network in the PCED area, reducing energy consumption by 116 MWh/year and CO₂ emissions by 28 tons/year.
• Smart Connectivity & Digital Integration – All infrastructure upgrades will be connected to Alba Iulia’s growing digital systems to enable better monitoring and management.

Next Steps

• Finalize the rehabilitation and internal energy connectivity between the six Dorin Pavel buildings.
• Repair, replace and relaunch the PV and inverter system, and complete BMS installation at Dorin Pavel Technological High School.
• Complete public tender and begin construction of the CRESCENDO campus, including acquisition of equipment and definition of education programs.
• Continue system monitoring and testing for the LED lighting network.
• Operationalize all three projects, including final technical testing and integration with city digital platforms.

Lessons Learned

• Project Coordination is Key – Alignment between implementing departments and the original project teams is critical. Gaps in coordination can lead to delays and missed opportunities.
• Large-Scale Collaboration Requires Constant Dialogue – Building strong local consortia (as seen in CRESCENDO) depends on frequent informal&formal meetings to maintain engagement and align goals.
• Lifecycle Thinking Pays Off – Selecting solutions like smart LED lighting based on full lifecycle performance supports better value over time and simplifies integration with other smart systems.
• Resilience Through Redundancy – Temporary overlaps between new and existing infrastructure reduce public disruption and ensure seamless service continuity during upgrades.

Through an integrated portfolio of education, public services, and energy-efficiency projects, Alba Iulia is demonstrating how mid-sized cities can lead the way in urban sustainability. By focusing on energy-smart infrastructure and cross-sector partnerships, the city is building long-term resilience, lower emissions, and improved quality of life.

Alba Iulia’s Sustainable Mobility Push: Progress on SP4 – Decarbonisation of Mobility and Freight Logistics through Frugal and Scalable Solutions

Alba Iulia is advancing its urban decarbonisation efforts through two complementary initiatives: the expansion of protected cycling infrastructure within the PCED and the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city. These efforts support a modal shift from fossil-fuel-based transport to cleaner, low-emission alternatives, aligned with the city’s broader sustainable mobility goals.

Key Developments in Alba Iulia’s SP4 Solutions

1. Protected Bike Lane Network

• As part of a broader urban mobility strategy, the city implemented a 6 km network of protected bike lanes, with 3 km completed within the PCED.
• The lanes are constructed on the sidewalks of major avenues, ensuring visibility and safety for cyclists.
• The infrastructure works are 90% complete, with final reception underway. A deadline extension to December 2025 was granted to accommodate delays caused by project complexity. The bike lanes are already operational in parts of the district, contributing to early emissions reductions and public visibility.
• Only e-bike sharing system remains to become operational

Source: Municipality of Alba Iulia

2. Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

• The chargers feature dual-mode (AC/DC) for both fast and slow charging, helping meet diverse user needs.
• The city currently hosts 215 electric vehicles (2024 data) and over twice as many hybrids. It is estimated that current usage avoids approximately 9,000 kWh/month of energy and 110 kg of CO₂ emissions.
• Alba Iulia will install 15 new e-car charging stations through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, targeting both the general public and municipal fleet.
• Existing infrastructure includes 3 city-operated and 12 privately operated stations. The new stations will be installed by contractors selected through public procurement.
• The city uses third-party platforms (e.g. www.evconnect.ro) for station availability, management, and reporting.

Source: https://alba24.ro/harta-cu-punctele-de-incarcare-pentru-masini-electrice-lansata-de-ministerul-energiei-cate-sunt-in-alba-si-in-tara-1022872.html 

3. Electric busses:

• 13 Electric busses acquired and currently in function
• 27 other busses + micro-buses underway through the NRRP (21 buses and 6 minibuses)
• One EV bus depot currently under submission under the National Resilience and Recovery Plan (NRRP)

Source: https://proalba.ro/altfel-circulam-altfel-respiram-cu-13-autobuze-electrice-deja-pe-traseu-alba-iulia-isi-va-completa-flota-ce-asigura-transportul-public-local-cu-alte-27-de-autovehicule-nepoluante 

Business Model & Funding

• The e-charging infrastructure is funded via the Environment Fund Agency, ROP, and National Recovery and Resilience Plan, totaling around €600,000 and will be implemented until the beginning of 2027.
• While the electricity is sold at no margin by certified providers, the city does not generate direct revenue from the stations.
• Contractors are responsible for operations, maintenance, and customer service, selected through a public acquisition process.

Challenges and Risks

• Low adoption of cycling among older residents, often due to digital literacy barriers.
• System maintenance challenges and risk of infrastructure damage.
• Risk of delayed ERDF funding if final works are not completed by the 2025 deadline.
• Electricity grid connections and space constraints for EV chargers may limit technical rollout.
• Need for promotion and behavioral change to increase use of both systems.

Next Steps

• Finalize the bike lane infrastructure with complete official reception of e-bike sharing by end of 2025.
• Launch a communication campaign in 2025 to encourage active mobility and raise awareness.
• Begin deployment of the 15 e-car charging stations.
• Explore integration of PV systems and local energy storage for future infrastructure upgrades.
• Begin deployment of the next 21 buses and 6 microbuses.
• valorization of green energy produced within the municipality’s PV park on the belt road and also on the future PV park to be built in Oarda neighbourhood in the next period.

Lessons Learned

• Flexible timelines are necessary to manage complex infrastructure deployment and regulatory procedures.
• Public engagement is crucial to ensuring uptake, especially among less tech-savvy users.
• Digital inclusion should be integrated into planning to increase access.
• EV infrastructure is highly scalable, but success relies on strong coordination with grid operators and trusted contractors.
• Opportunities exist for further innovation in user apps, billing systems, and integration with local prosumer energy models.

Through these parallel efforts, Alba Iulia is actively decarbonising its transport systems and laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more resilient urban mobility landscape within its PCED area and at wider city level area.

Alba Iulia is deepening its commitment to participatory climate action through two interlinked initiatives: the implementation of Local Green Deals (LGDs) under the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) and the organisation of a youth-led Climathon. These actions aim to empower citizens, foster local partnerships, and support the co-creation of solutions aligned with the city’s PCED ambitions.

Key Developments in Alba Iulia’s SP5 Solutions

1. Local Green Deals via the Intelligent Cities Challenge

As part of its role as a Core City, and starting 2024 as an Advanced City, in the European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenge, Alba Iulia has been working with local and international experts to develop a set of LGDs in three strategic domains: energy, mobility, and tourism. These deals will guide future investments and collaborations, with a focus on the PCED area.

• All the six LGDs were submitted and approved by the program. Their implementation is ongoing.
• A team of three international experts, appointed by the ICC, has worked closely with the Lead expert and the city representatives through all the processes of defining the ideas and build the LGDs in order to be signed by relevant active stakeholders.
• The process has already resulted in new partnerships with SMEs and civil society organisations committed to local sustainability.

2. Climathon 2025

The city is preparing its second Climathon, a one-day hackathon-style event designed to generate fresh ideas on energy efficiency and climate resilience within the PCED. Co-organised with the „1 Decembrie 1918” University, the event will bring together students, mentors, and city representatives.

• Planning is 70% complete, with the event scheduled for Autumn 2025.
• Potential new locations include the university campus or a municipal building in a district affected by energy poverty.
• All participants will receive certificates of participation, and the city is exploring ways to integrate the best ideas into future community projects.

Business Model & Funding

The SP5 activities follow a collaborative governance model rather than a commercial one. LGDs rely on voluntary stakeholders participation and alignment with existing city strategies (e.g. SUMP, SEAP, Smart City Strategy). The Climathon is supported through in-kind contributions from the municipality and local university partners, ensuring a cost-efficient, community-focused event.

Challenges and Risks

• Stakeholder engagement: encouraging voluntary, long-term commitment from local actors requires ongoing dialogue and trust-building.
• Complex coordination: harmonising diverse priorities across sectors (energy, tourism, mobility) is resource-intensive.
• Event planning delays: the Climathon was postponed from 2024 to 2025 due to scheduling and location planning constraints.

Next Steps

• Continue the implementation of the solutions specified in the LGDs, starting Q4 of 2025.
• Launch calls for project proposals aligned with LGD objectives in 2025.
• Finalise the Climathon format and select the venue by Oct. 2025.
• Identify follow-up citizen engagement activities and introduce energy community concepts through the event.

Lessons Learned

• Direct, personal invitations and one-on-one meetings are more effective than mass outreach when engaging key local actors.
• Providing non-competitive recognition (e.g. certificates for all participants) ensures inclusivity and motivation in citizen events.
• Experienced mentors are essential to keeping students engaged and ensuring high-quality outputs during Climathon-style initiatives.

By combining long-term strategic planning with creative civic engagement, Alba Iulia is setting a strong example of how cities can co-create climate solutions with their communities and build lasting ownership for their PCED journey.