Cities ahead of the Energy Transition

Abstract

Responsible cities have to ensure access for all to clean, secure, competitive, and affordable energy. The advent of local renewable energy procumers, producers and consumers, of green energy, can lead to energy-producing cities instead of energy- (over)consuming cities. This chapter offers an insight into the components and vectors of sustainable energy production and consumption in cities and the efforts made at the local level to overcome national and supranational energy policy targets. Green electricity and hydrogen seem to be the energy vectors of the future and there is great potential for achieving energy efficiency in conjunction with cleaner energy options and technologies and behavioral improvements.

Sustainable energy is at the heart of the EU Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Renewables are becoming a major and competitive player in the European energy market and a significant generator of employment. European leaders recognized that sustainable and renewable energy sources and smart systems will make the difference in safely reaching the ambitious EU 2050 goal of decarbonization and cities prepared action plans to surpass the European targets. In the United States, cities choose to invest in efficient lighting, better building materials, and solar energy for electricity.

3.1 Watercolour 3 Stockholm: The First European Green Capital 2010