International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA - Rise of renewables in cities: Energy solutions for the urban future

IRENA 2020

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Citation: IRENA (2020), Rise of renewables in cities: Energy solutions for the urban future, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.

ISBN 978-92-9260-271-0

About IRENA

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge, and a driver of action on the ground to advance the transformation of the global energy system. An intergovernmental organisation established in 2011, IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org

IKI support

This report forms part of the Energy Solutions for Cities of the Future project, which is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

Acknowledgements

IRENA would like to express sincere appreciation to the experts who reviewed the report. Insightful comments and constructive suggestions were provided by Anjali Mahendra (World Resources Institute), Gerhard Stryi-Hipp (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems), Haukur Hararson (ArcticGreen Energy Corporation), Helen Carlstrm (E.ON), Li Zhu (APEC Sustainable Energy Center), Sven Teske (University of Technology Sydney), Toby Couture (E3 Analytics), Vincent Kitio (UN-Habitat), Weimin Xi and Changxia Zhu (City and Energy Research Institute of State Grid Corporation of China) and Zhipeng Liang (National Energy Administration of China).

IRENA colleagues Arina Anisie, Asami Miketa, Celia Garca-Baos, Elena Ocenic, Francisco Boshell, Jinlei Feng, Luis Janeiro, Michael Renner and Prasoon Agarwal provided valuable reviews and input.

Helpful feedback also came from Paul Komor, Neil MacDonald and Elizabeth Press. Lisa Mastny edited the report.

IRENA is grateful for the support of Germanys IKI project in producing this publication.

Contributing authors: This report was prepared, under the guidance of Dolf Gielen, by the sustainable urban energy team at IRENAs Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC). It was authored by Yong Chen, Enzia Schnyder and Jennifer Potter (IRENA) and Mashael Yazdanie (Empa) with additional contributions and support from Julien Marquant (IRENA), Dorine Hugenholtz (IRENA) and Alina Gilmanova (Chinese Academy of Sciences).

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Disclaimer

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The information contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of all Members of IRENA. The mention of specific companies or certain projects or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by IRENA in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The designations employed, and the presentation of material herein, do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of IRENA concerning the legal status of any region, country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.

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Executive Summary

Cities are increasingly relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation, not only because of their high contribution to global carbon emissions, but importantly because of their large potential to mitigate emissions of all kinds as well as the rising need to build climate-resilient urban infrastructure for the future. Cities will need to accommodate two-thirds of the worlds population in a liveable, low-carbon environment by 2050. Integrating renewable energy technologies into local energy systems has become part of the transformative action that is needed to realise such potential, backed by strong political will and technological advancement. Cities will also benefit greatly from the positive impacts that local development of renewables has on gross domestic product (GDP) and employment.