Solar Cities: above and beyond rooftops
New report showcases the benefits of solar energy in cities and how it can be further promoted
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Around 80% of energy consumption in the European Union is linked to urban activity. Cities and public authorities are on the frontlines of the climate, geopolitical, and price crises Europe is facing. Across the continent, city actors are driving the forefront of the energy transition, committing to ambitious climate-neutrality objectives, and investing heavily in the decarbonisation of transport, energy, and buildings through renewable electricity.
With three quarters of the European population living in urban areas, the bulk of energy consumption is happening on cities’ territory. The number of people living in cities is constantly growing, and together, the city’s demand for sustainable electricity, transport, heating, and cooling. The relationship between cities and their inhabitants feels more tangible than most levels of government. So, cities set the perfect stage for the energy transition. Cities have incredible potential to empower the daily of lives of citizens through the energy transition. And, it’s a two-way street, cities are often committed to higher targets than their national governments in terms of renewable energy, and climate change mitigation.
Furthermore, the electrification of heat in building and districts, via large-scale heat pumps powered by solar and wind, opens significant market opportunities for solar project developers. With their proximity to citizens, cities and local authorities also play a crucial role, and can prove a positive influence on their citizens, or even other municipalities.
However, cities still face challenges in deploying renewable energy, and solar PV in particular. Cities combine large electricity consumption with limited space, which impacts access to eligible solar surfaces. As public actors, cities are also subject to public procurement rules, which sometimes contradicts with the sourcing of local energy. Municipalities can also face difficulties accessing electricity markets, due to a lack of data and expertise, in addition to heavy administrative burdens. Lastly, citizens might sometimes be excluded from the energy transition for financial and geographical reasons, a lack of space, or because of an information deficit.
This report presents 21 Solar Solutions which demonstrate how cities have tackled these challenges, and proposes concrete solutions to deploy solar – above and beyond rooftop applications. These solutions can be used, and replicated by cities and solar developers, to facilitate the deployment of solar PV at a local level. Ultimately, solar can support cities, and cities can support solar!
