Tag: – Works in Progress

Réunion, France

Reunion

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity by 2028
  • Status: In progress - Renewable energy represents 13% of the primary energy consumption.
  • RES: Main sources of electricity generation are hydropower, photovoltaics and biomass (bagasse). Photovoltaic energy represents 8% of the production. From 2011 and 2015 solar parks increased in 44%. Trials for solar micro-grids with storage capacity for areas within the island that are very difficult to access.
  • Implementation: Multiyear program for energy (Projet de programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie), which has a legal precedent on the Energy Transition Act for Green Growth (Loi sur la Transition Energétique por la Croissance verse) forms the basis of target. The project is being implemented by the EDF Group.
  • Population: 866,506
  • Area: 2,511 km²
  • Link: Reunion Island plans to go green

 

Reunion

Rietberg, Germany

Rietberg, Germany

  • Target: Energy self – sufficiency within the electricity sector by 2030
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Biogas plant, geothermal energy system and solar tracker.
  • Implementation: In 2011, the town of Rietberg in Germany compiled a communal climate protection concept together with the public to outline a wide range of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy saving initiatives. The city council also decided to fix the goal of achieving energy self–sufficiency within the electricity sector by 2030. To reach the target, the town has implemented several RE projects. The flagship of Rietberg is the unique “Klimapark Rietberg”. The Information- and Technology-Park exhibits several renewable energy facilities, like a walk-in biogas plant, a geothermal energy system and a solar tracker. Klimapark Rietberg is located in an old horticultural area and has involved 18 project partners from various business, science and environmental organizations. In 2013, Klimapark was awarded  the 'Place of Progress' from Nordrhein-Westfalen and UN-Decade Project of Education for Sustainable Development.
  • Population: 29,444 (2016)
  • Area: 110.37 km2 (42.61 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German) https://www.rietberg.de/rathaus/klimaschutz-energie
Rietberg, Germany

Ringkøbing-Skjern, Denmark

Gammelsogn, Ringkøbing Skjern, Denmark

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2020
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Bio-energy, wind power, new plus-energy buildings, hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen service stations, and solar power.
  • Implementation: Ringkøbing-Skjern is the largest municipality in Denmark, established in 2007. At its conception, the municipality only met 20% of its energy from renewable sources. However, Ringkøbing-Skjern aims to produce within its boundaries enough renewable energy to cover all consumption by its citizens and businesses by 2020. It has set out an Energy 2020 plan, which aims to have local people, businesses, institutions and non-profits implement energy projects, from testing to development to implementation, in order to stimulate sustainable economic growth within the municipality.

    The Energy 2020 plan includes a top-down and bottom-up leadership structure. From the top, the 100% plan would be lead by the Energy Board, which is made up of local business and organisation representatives, along with municipal officials and staff. The Board would advise the local governing Council, which appoints a Secretariat to coordinate the effort and provide information, marketing and an energy action plan. From the community level, projects of all sizes would be implemented by local citizens, businesses and non-profit organizations. Impetus to engage would be motivated by expected energy savings, environmental benefits, and economic opportunities.

    In relation to the energy target, the plan envisages different types of renewable installations. Ringkøbing-Skjern will take advantage of its large land area and the energy that can be made from farm animal waste and plants. New wind turbines are expected to generate twice as much power as the whole municipality consumes. New buildings will be "plus energy," that is, able to generate more energy than the use. The Council will continue to operate hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen service stations, and public and individual transport are to run on biofuel and electricity. Other technologies currently being used include thermal heat, fjord heat, solar power, solar cells, and wave energy.

  • Population: 57,148 (2014)
  • Area: 1,494.56 km² (577.05 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.energi2020.dk/english
Gammelsogn, Ringkøbing Skjern, Denmark

Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Rochester, Minnesota, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy in electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation sectors community wide by 2031
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: To be planned.
  • Implementation: Rochester is a small city located near the southeast corner of the state of Minnesota in the midwestern United States. In 2015, the city's Mayor released a proclamation declaring the city's commitment to transitioning to 100% renewable energy in the electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation sectors by 2031. The reasons behind the goal were climate protection, environmental preservation, and political expedience and mobilisation. Several actions were suggested: prioritizing energy efficiency, electrifying the heating/cooling and transportation sectors, maximizing citizen participation and development of new business models, educating the community, and adopting an integrated approach to energy, economic, and infrastructure policy. Although not legally binding and not accompanied with a strategic action plan, it is hoped that the City of Rochester's proclamation would create sufficient political momentum to set the City on the right path. In 2018, the Rochester Public Utilities Board finally commits to the creation of an implementation plan for Rochester to achieve its 100% renewable energy target.
  • Population: 115,733 (2017)
  • Area: 55.48 sq mi (143.70 km2)
  • Link: https://www.rochestermn.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=9421
Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

  • Target:Comprehensive 100 percent renewable energy target in electricity, heating and cooling, transportation by 2050
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar hot water and photovoltaic installations
  • Implementation: On October 2, 2017, the District of Saanich, British Columbia adopted a 100% renewable energy target for its entire community. It is assessing the feasibility of having all Municipal Buildings become 100% RE by 2025. Efforts began in 2010 when the municipality approved the Saanich Climate Action Plan, with the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% in the community and 50% in municipal operations by 2020, based on 2007 levels. In 2016, Saanich began developing an RE strategy for each municipal building. The RE retrofit in municipal buildings would provide beneficial examples to the community and the Region.

    Saanich joins Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia and Oxford County, Ontario (three major cities in British Columbia) in committing to 100% renewable energy, all of which have adopted the target for their electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation sectors. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the municipality is home to 115,000 residents. In addition to phasing out fossil fuels by the year 2050, Saanich will also pursue an 80% greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.

    The City's Energy Plan initiative is called 100% Renewable Saanich. Its Terms of Reference can be read here. The plan for the renewable energy transition will  baseline existing energy use, explore different scenarios, engage the community, and suggest monitoring and reporting options.
    Video: Saanich TAP project

  • Population: 114,148 (2016)
  • Area: 103.78 km2 (40.07 sq mi)
  • Link: Saanich Climate Plan
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Saerbeck, Germany

Solar module, Bioenergiepark Saerbeck, Germany

  • Target: 100% renewable energy and climate-neutral by 2030
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar power, wind power and biogas.
  • Implementation: Saerbeck is a municipality in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, north-west Germany. In 2008, its council decided to switch its entire energy supply to renewable energies in order to become climate-neutral by 2030. Since then it has achieved a range of climate protection milestones: In 2009, it won the German Solarprize. It was awarded the “NRW-Climate Community of the Future” by the State, functioning as a role model in the realm of climate protection and climate adaptation.
    To reach its 100% target, Saerbeck has developed an “Integrated Climate Protection and Climate Adaption Concept". Part of the Concept are three central flagship projects that have already been widely implemented. The first flagship project “Saerbeck’s Sunny Sites” focuses on investigating the potentials of energy efficiency improvements and renewables application in private and industrial buildings. The second flagship project “Saerbeckian Insights – Renewables Made Transparent” developed a glass-heating system supplying a local heating network that conveys the concept of renewables in an educative manner. The third project “Steinfurtian Material Flows – The Circle is Closing” represents the conversion of a former ammunition depot to a bio-energypark based on PV, wind and biogas plants.
    All of these achievements  of the Climate Community-Project of Saerbeck could not have been realized without the strong support of the town's clubs and organizations, local churches, schools and educational facilities, and last but not least its citizens. Citizens and community both benefit from the security of renewable energy supply, financial participation and local added value.
  • Population: 7,149 (2016)
  • Area: 58.98 km2(22.77 sq mi)
  • Link: (In German)  https://www.klimakommune-saerbeck.de/
Solar module, Bioenergiepark Saerbeck, Germany
  • Installation of solar modules in Bioenergypark Saerbeck, Germany © Tameer Gunnar Eden/Eifeler Presse Agentur/epa CC BY 3.0

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia

  • Target: Generate 35% of the country’s energy from renewables by 2020.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Geothermal, wind and solar power.
  • Implementation: Saint Lucia is a Sovereign Island and former French and British colony located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It gained independence in 1979. The country’s economy is based on tourism and the export of bananas. Its energy consumption depends on imported fossil fuels, particularly diesel. Facing the effects of fluctuating energy prices and the impacts of climate change, the Saint Lucia Government recognizes the economic and moral imperative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and plans over the next 10 years to switch much of its electricity from diesel to renewables. The government aims to reduce the costs for electricity and the demand of diesel imports, while simplifying opportunities for its citizens to generate their own electricity. In 2016, the government carried out the installation of solar PV panels on the roofs of the National Mental Wellness Centre (NMWC) and the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). In 2017, the first utility scale renewable project was constructed on the island: a 3MW solar plant by the airport funded by the utility company LUCELEC. In 2013, Saint Lucia had joined the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge at the Caribbean Conservation Summit, which aims to help islands across the Caribbean to transition to 100% renewable electricity generation.
  • Population: 178,015 (2016)
  • Area: 617 km2 (238 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/62688.pdf
Saint Lucia

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

  • Target: 100% of the community’s electricity supply will come from renewables by 2032.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar
  • Implementation: In July 2016 the officials of Salt Lake City (SLC), capital city of the US state of Utah, announced the 100% target on renewable energy. According to a Joint Resolution, published by the Mayor Biskupski and furthermore adopted by the City Council, 100% of the community’s electricity supply will come from renewables by the year 2032 and 80% of the community’s Greenhouse gas emissions – compared to the year 2009 – are supposed to cut off by 2040. The city's ‘Climate Positive SLC’ would show the progress, the goals and possibilities of how to enforce and achieve the conversion to 100% renewables. Four main pathways to achieve the target include: Clean Electricity Supply, Reducing Energy Waste (working with property owners and managers to explore new opportunities to save more energy), Active Transportation and Clean Vehicles (reduce prices for transit passes for its residents, new e-bike charging stations), and Community Partnership (process of sharing climate solutions).
  • Population: 200,544 (2017)
  • Area: 110.4 sq mi (285.9 km2)
  • Link: https://www.slc.gov/sustainability/climate-positive/
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Samoa

Samoa

  • Target: 100% renewable by 2025
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Five hydropower stations, solar and wind power facilities. Hydropower is the most cost effective renewable energy to develop in the country. The island uses solar energy to complement hydro sources during the dry season, and coconut oil for biodiesel generation.
  • Implementation: The Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP) has been implemented in the pacific region since 2006, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project involves the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Most of these countries have a 100% renewable energy target. The Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change (PIFACC) provides the framework to guide cooperation amongst stakeholders in the pacific region. To facilitate action on the ground, Samoa is working with the Asian Development Bank and New Zealand.
  • Population: 195,843 (2016)
  • Area: 2,842 km² (1,097 sq mi)
  • Link: Samoa opens new sources of renewable electricity
Samoa

San Diego, California, USA

San Diego, California, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy on the city-wide electrical grid by 2035.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Renewable electricity purchasing.
  • Implementation: In 2015, the City of San Diego, California set the target of cutting GHG emissions in half and achieving 100% RE by 2035. The target was part of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan launched by Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer. The plan was to also increase water and energy efficiency in buildings, intensify public transport, grow the number of electric vehicles, promote walking and cycling routes, zero-waste strategies and climate adaptation measures. The city would achieve the energy target through a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programme, which will enable it to purchase the electricity directly from various energy producers (gas, wind, solar, etc.) and sell it to residents and businesses. The power will be delivered to the consumers by the local utility SDG&E, which manages the power infrastructure, regulates the grid, and provides customer service, etc. The CCA programme differs from the past in that it allows the City of San Diego and its citizens to actively decide where their energy comes from. Previously, the utility had total control of the city’s energy supply, and conducted all the purchasing and selling of energy to consumers. Unlike the private utility model, the CCA programme is not for profit, and is run by the local government. Part of the revenue from energy sales that would normally flow into the private utility shares would now remain within the community budget. This available income can be used to fund local energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The CCA will also give consumers greater choice by allowing them to optionally take part in the programme and to decide whether they would like to purchase their electricity from renewable energy sources or not.
  • Population: 1,307,402 (city), 3,317,749 (metro)(2010)
  • Area: 372.39 sq mi (964.50 km2)
  • Link: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/planning/genplan/cap/pdf/CAP%20Adoption%20Draft%202015.pdf
San Diego, California, USA