In 2013, UNEP began research on low-carbon cities worldwide to identify why they were successful in scaling up energy efficiency and renewable energy, and in reaching zero or low greenhouse gas emissions targets.
Among the core components of the transition to a sustainable energy future are the integration of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and the need to use “systems thinking” when addressing challenges in the energy, transport, buildings and industry sectors. Tackling the energy transition will require the intelligent use of synergies, flexibility in demand, and both short- and long-term energy storage.
To achieve this, cities worldwide are adopting district energy systems, consisting of a diversity of technologies that seek to develop synergies between the production and supply of heat, cooling, domestic hot water and electricity. District energy is a powerful clean energy solution which results in affordable energy provision, reduced reliance on energy imports and fossil fuels, promotes community economic development and control of energy supply, local air quality improvements, CO2 emission reductions and an increased share of renewables in the energy mix.
UNEP and its partners published the District Energy in Cities: Unlocking the Potential of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Report which provides a glimpse into what integration and systems thinking look like in practice.
