Overview on ensuring a sustainable future for renewable energies in cities [articol]

Abstract

Saving energy is a key point and is the first basic component for achieving a sustainable energy supply. Saving energy contributes to environmental objectives, reduces the energy bill, improves the competitiveness of Dutch businesses, and boosts employment.There are numerous opportunities for achieving significant energy savings in the built environment. The basic principle is that individuals and businesses have an interest themselves in saving energy and will shoulder responsibility for doing so. A combination has therefore been chosen of information provision, awareness-raising, reducing the burden, and funding support. Industry, agriculture, and the commercial sector as a whole see increased energy efficiency as an opportunity to boost the competitiveness of energy-intensive businesses, to create employment, and to achieve climate objectives in a costeffective manner. The energy-intensive sector of industry aims to become an international leader in energy efficiency. An independent centre of expertise will be set up to assist businesses and funding bodies in identifying the most effective measures in the area of energy efficiency in industry and agriculture. Cities today have the opportunity and the means to provide sustainable services and quality of life to their citizens. Urban areas account for more than half the world’s population, as well as 65% of global energy demand and 70% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Cities, therefore, need to take action to meet the rising needs of their populations while maintaining a healthy living environment, combatting poverty and avoiding catastrophic climate change. Romania has an important potential of renewable energy resources and has introduced a functional mechanism for supporting their development based on a system of mandatory quotas for electricity, combined with trading a number of green certificates, but all the costs are transferred to the consumers.This system may carry an overcompensation for the investors and also an excessive burden on the consumers. Most investments were made in wind and hydro, the fewest in solar and biomass. While the potential for renewables is high, it varies greatly depending on each city’s characteristics. Population density, growth prospects and demand profiles in cold versus hot climates all shape the opportunities to introduce renewables, including the vast growth potential for uses in urban buildings and transport. Accordingly, deployment strategies must be tailored to technology options and enabling policy frameworks for each city.