Language: English
This Solution provides guidance on the integration of renewable energy (RE) sources into district energy. It can be of interest to both established and growing cities. For new district energy systems (DES), cities should explore opportunities to integrate local RE sources from the early planning stages. For pre-existing systems, the integration of renewables can be coordinated with system expansion and/or the retrofitting plans for the network as well as energy production. Decentralized production using multiple RE sources and technologies can offer several benefits as well.
This Solution is tailored to Local Governments who have ownership and/or regulatory authority over the municipal water supply system. In this Solution, the Local Government takes a comprehensive approach to increase its energy-efficiency throughout the different phases of the system`s project and useful life, from policy setting, planning, project design, and project evaluation to operation, maintenance and monitoring.
Water is a vital, limited and variable resource which is under increasing demand. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) (glossary) is a process which seeks to secure access to clean water, to satisfy current and future needs, in an economically efficient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable way. It includes: good governance principles and taking advantage of scientific knowledge to support policy and decision-making; coordination of the different LG departments and engagement of a wide range of stakeholders; integration of different water uses within the watershed, upstream and downstream (including with wastewater management); the integration of future needs into current planning processes; and as a next generation of integration the water – energy nexus. This Solution focuses on the processes which the Local Governments (LGs) can implement to contribute to IWRM, within their territory and beyond.
District energy systems (DES) deliver heating or cooling to customers through a pipe network filled with hot or cold water, circulated by pumps. As the character of the built environment greatly determines project feasibility, consideration of DES in energy and urban planning processes can significantly contribute to achieving the heat load density necessary to ensure network cost effectiveness. Urban planning can also mitigate load uncertainty for DES by enabling phased development that balances generation and demand.
Waste incineration with energy recovery, usually named Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a widely applied technique in developed countries – especially in the European Union, Japan, and the USA. WtE plants process the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and similar wastes that remains after waste prevention, re-use and recycling. WtE plants treat waste hygienically, reduce its volume by about 90%, and enable the recovery of energy contained in the waste through the generation of electricity and /or thermal energy (steam or hot water). The electricity is fed into the power grid to supply the end-users; depending on local infrastructure, the hot water can be used for District Energy network to heat (or cool) homes, hospitals, offices etc.; and the steam can be used by nearby industries for their production processes.
The Local Government implements a set of integrated measures to deploy solar hot water in private buildings and facilities in the community within its jurisdiction. The local government uses its regulatory power as the main leverage to approve or amend a municipal building code that requires (new) buildings to use solar hot water (SHW) systems – Solar Ordinance.
This Solution was tailored to Local Governments who have ownership and/or regulatory authority over the municipal water supply system. In this Solution, the Local Government takes a comprehensive approach throughout the different phases of the system’s project and useful life to decrease water-loss, both due to leakage and ruptures and to unaccounted consumption, from policy setting, project design, and project evaluation criteria to operation, monitoring, and maintenance of the system.
Architectural designs, construction practices, and technologies help optimize energy and resource use in buildings and provides benefits such as cleaner air, more comfortable homes and workspaces, and lower utility bills [1]. Improving energy efficiency in buildings aligns perfectly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement by lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Sludge is the solid waste material, primarily organic in nature which settles out in the residential/municipal wastewater treatment process. When the dewatered and dried sludge undergoes anaerobic digestion, it generates biogas (mostly Methane) which can be collected and used as a source of renewable energy.
Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of useful heat and electricity from the same fuel source (IEA, 2009), also known as Combined Heat and Power generation (CHP). It is much more efficient than separate power generation through the combustion of fuels and usually a good choice for large consumers of both heat/cool and electricity such as certain types of industry and hospitals.
Geographical Information System (GIS) Mapping serves as a framework to organize and analyze data, and communicate information using the science of geography. It also reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships, and situations, helping users make smarter decisions [1]. Before the introduction of GIS for resource assessment, site suitability was carried out through site surveys, paper maps, and other time-consuming, inefficient, and costly field sampling methods.
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) is an innovative business model where energy service companies sell or lease solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, usually solar home systems (SHS), to customers in exchange for regular payments via mobile money, cash or scratch cards [1]. Due to the range of packages available, customers can choose from starter kits that supply a few lights and charge cell phones, to larger systems that can power TVs, radios, stoves and small fridges [1][2]. In some cases, if a customer cannot make payments, the energy service provider is able to switch off the system remotely, and switch them on again once payment is made [2