Abstract
Cities will be the power plants of the future. More than 50% of the world’s population
lives in cities, about 65% of the resources are used in cities and 70% of the emissions are
caused by cities. And more and more people move to cities. It is obvious therefore that the
transition to sustainable energy systems has to start there.
So far, cities are supplied by energy from outside. Any kind of power plants and refineries
is situated far from the largest consumer. This system is expensive and volatile. If one
discusses the possibilities of energy transition in urban areas, the reduction of the energy
demand has to be considered first. It is not mainly technologies that have to be developed, but
systems. These systems require short distances, in order to minimize the energy
transportation. More than this, houses have to be energy effective (with a minimum of heating
and cooling).
As a second step, renewable energies have to be harvested onsite. Solar systems on roofs
and facades go hand in hand with integrated small scale wind turbines. The development of
smart energy grids for power and heat/cold including storage facilities will be one of the main
system related challenges.
lives in cities, about 65% of the resources are used in cities and 70% of the emissions are
caused by cities. And more and more people move to cities. It is obvious therefore that the
transition to sustainable energy systems has to start there.
So far, cities are supplied by energy from outside. Any kind of power plants and refineries
is situated far from the largest consumer. This system is expensive and volatile. If one
discusses the possibilities of energy transition in urban areas, the reduction of the energy
demand has to be considered first. It is not mainly technologies that have to be developed, but
systems. These systems require short distances, in order to minimize the energy
transportation. More than this, houses have to be energy effective (with a minimum of heating
and cooling).
As a second step, renewable energies have to be harvested onsite. Solar systems on roofs
and facades go hand in hand with integrated small scale wind turbines. The development of
smart energy grids for power and heat/cold including storage facilities will be one of the main
system related challenges.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Energy Security and Development - The Changing Global Context |
| Place of Publication | Mumbai |
| Publisher | Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2012 |
| Event | 8th Biennial International Workshop Advances in Energy Studies - Mumbai, India Duration: 25 Oct 2012 → 27 Oct 2012 |
Conference
| Conference | 8th Biennial International Workshop Advances in Energy Studies |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | India |
| City | Mumbai |
| Period | 25/10/12 → 27/10/12 |
Fields of Expertise
- Sustainable Systems
Treatment code (Nähere Zuordnung)
- Basic - Fundamental (Grundlagenforschung)
- Application
