Smart Energy for a Smart City: A Review of Polish Urban Development Plans

Abstract

Smart Energy is a key element of a Smart City concept and understanding the current state and prospective developments of Smart Energy approaches is essential for the effective and efficient energy supply for the needs of the exponentially growing energy demands of contemporary cities. This review analyzes the inclusion of the Smart Energy agenda in Polish Smart City development plans applying content analysis methodology. The stakeholders’ involvement, spatial dimensions, Smart Energy conceptions, and Smart Energy key sectors were identified as the most commonly referenced Smart Energy agenda components. Stakeholders’ involvement in Smart Energy agendas covers all the crucial key actors—universities, local businesses, and public governance institutions. The spatial dimension components of the Smart Energy agenda comprise the individual, city, regional (sub-regional), country, and international (EU) levels, with the natural dominance of the city’s level. The Smart Energy conceptions component shows a profound disparity in the referencing frequency of the four “core” Smart Energy conceptions (renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy-saving technologies, and energy security) and “peripheral” Smart Energy conceptions. Buildings, transportation, lighting, and manufacturing sectors were found to be the only sectors referenced in reviewed urban development plans with regard to the Smart Energy agenda. The research results contribute to the better understanding of the Polish Smart Energy and Smart City planning landscapes and can be helpful in improving the cities’ spatial planning strategies.