GCC-SYNERGY

Digital Solutions for Urban Decarbonization in İzmir¶

Project Overview GCC-SYNERGY is a high-impact pilot initiative under the European Union’s NetZeroCities program, specifically designed to accelerate İzmir’s transition toward its 2030 climate-neutral goal. The project addresses electricity consumption in buildings, facilities, and infrastructure—which accounts for nearly one-third of the city’s carbon emissions—by leveraging real-time monitoring, digital twins, and multi-stakeholder engagement.

• Project Status: Ongoing (60% Completed)

• Timeline: 2024 – 2026

• Core Objectives:

  • Establishment of a Digital Twin for a pilot neighborhood to simulate and optimize local energy dynamics.

  • Development of an integrated digital platform for real-time monitoring and management of electricity consumption.

  • Fostering a collaborative ecosystem (Global Climate Community İzmir) connecting consumers, renewable energy producers, and decision-makers.

  • Creation of a policy and incentive framework to promote sustainable behavioral change through data-driven insights.

• Project Partners: İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (Lead Coordinator), Ege University, İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH), and various local energy stakeholders.

• Expected Outputs:

  • A comprehensive Decision Support System (DSS) platform for urban energy management.

  • Interactive solar energy potential maps for residential and public rooftops.

  • A citizen training portal focused on energy efficiency and climate literacy.

  • Policy recommendations and guidelines for scalable carbon footprint mitigation strategies.

• My Role & Contribution:

  • Leading the work packages for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) development.

  • Scientific Focus: Utilizing GIS and Remote Sensing technologies to estimate rooftop Solar PV potential at the neighborhood scale, providing the technical foundation for the project’s Digital Twin.

  • Managing spatial data integration, stakeholder mapping, and ensuring scientific accuracy in technical reporting and carbon modeling.