Tag: – Works in Progress

San Francisco, California, USA

San Francisco, California, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity supply community wide by 2030.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar power and biogas cogeneration.
  • Implementation: San Francisco is a renowned city and county on the central coast of California. In December 2010, a $250,000 grant was awarded to the city from the Sidney Frank Foundation to develop an implementation plan over 12 months to generate 100% of San Francisco’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020 in support of the City’s carbon neutrality goal. By January 2011, the Mayor’s Renewable Energy Task Force was established  to develop recommendations to help meet this goal within 10 years. It was headed by the San Francisco Environment Department and comprised of local renewable energy leaders, key stakeholders and other City departments. In 2011, the electricity mix in the city was made up of 16% non-large hydropower renewables, 30% large hydro, 36% fossil fuels, and 18% nuclear.
    The Task Force report suggested six strategies to get to 100% renewable power by 2020. First was to increase energy efficiency by promoting energy audits and retrofits through local and state programs; integrating green building and energy labelling; tightening building code energy requirements; and. strengthening retrofit on resale rules. Second was to encourage local renewable energy by streamlining solar permitting and provide online permitting; funding  GoSolarSF (the local rooftop solar) incentive program; supporting net metering; developing  feed-in tariff for local renewables; integrate renewables on aging downtown distribution grid; and addressing solar system shading. Fourth was to encourage green leases and support community renewable energy legislation on the state level. Fifth was to encourage private sector investment in renewable energy through various measures. And sixth was to expand access to local renewable energy.
    Fundamental among these recommendations was the Community Choice Aggregation program (CCA) that allows communities to aggregate the bulk buying power of its citizens to purchase power on the wholesale market and directly from power generators. CCAs give communities the ability to opt out and stay with the local investor owned utility as a provider if they want to. In California, communities have been adopting CCAs to increase their renewable power portfolios and keep more value in the community. San Francisco's CCA program developed CleanPowerSF which today offers a basic plan of 35% renewable power for .25% less than the investor owned utility rates, or a "Super Green" plan for 100% renewable power. As of mid-2013, more than 18.5 MW of in-City renewables had been installed, with 15 MW of solar PV (more than 2,000 systems) citywide and 3.5 MW of biogas cogeneration at the City’s wastewater treatment plants. All public transportation in San Francisco was running on electricity or biodiesel.
  • Population: 884,363 (2017)
  • Area: 231.89 sq mi (600.59 km2)
  • Link: San Francisco Climate Action Plan
San Francisco, California, USA

San Jose, California, USA

San Jose, California, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity by 2022
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar energy
  • Implementation: San Jose is California’s third largest city by population. In October 2007 the city launched its Green Vision, with plans to shift towards clean renewable energy. This 15-year-plan focuses on the creation of jobs, the improvement of the city life, and the preservation of the environment. It set the target that all sectors of the city are to be powered exclusively with renewable energy by 2022, and that per capita energy consumption should also be reduced by 50%. The city aims to achieve this by envisioning itself as a solar-powered community. Due to its location, the city possesses enough sunshine for solar and is already home to several solar technology companies. To finance this plan, the city is looking at ways to support the financing of solar projects by the creation of incentives and through the provision of regulatory strategies, such as abolishing building permits required for rooftop solar panels in residential areas. To carry out activities, the city adopts a participatory approach that engages the City Departments, and external stakeholders, such as the California Solar Energy Association. The city has plans to install solar panels on city buildings and to support and incentivise homeowners and businesses to do the same. In addition, it is supporting investments in solar power technology innovation. Aside from solar power, the city is evaluating the potential of other renewable energy sources, such as wind, water, hydro power and biomass.
  • Population: 1,035,317 (2017)
  • Area: 180.52 sq mi (467.55 km2)city, 2,694.61 sq mi (6,979 km2)metro
  • Link: CLIMATE SMART SAN JOSE
San Jose, California, USA

Santa Barbara, California, USA

Santa Barbara, California, USA

  • Target: Free of fossil fuels by 2033.
  • Status: In progress -  To date, about 30% of the City's electricity comes from renewable sources.
  • RES: Wind and solar power.
  • Implementation: The City of Santa Barbara has committed to a plan to make the city free of fossil fuels by 2033. Milestones so far include a city ordinance requiring new and remodeled buildings to be carbon neutral, and the construction of a 100 MW wind farm. In Point Arguello, it has commissioned PG&E to conduct a study into the feasibility of wave power. The city found that the earmarking of land for specific developments, an aging grid infrastructure, and high real estate values, have posed technical and permitting challenges for the implementation of larger renewable energy projects. However, the distributed energy option through rooftop solar has made implementation easier. Incentives created by the city with regards to small rooftop systems have attracted more residents and thus increase renewable energy uptake. Other residents have adopted a solar purchasing program, launched by the Community Environmental Council (CEC), a local educational and advocacy group, which has resulted in over 300 MW of solar power being generated.
  • Population: 92,101 (2017)
  • Area: 41.99 sq mi (108.75 km2)
  • Link:
Santa Barbara, California, USA

Santa Monica, California, USA

Santa Monica Pier, California, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar energy
  • Implementation: Santa Monica is a beach city in California USA. The city is taking action to achieve carbon neutrality by using electricity through renewable electricity sources. They are achieving this by giving residents and businesses the option to switch to renewable electricity though the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) of Southern California, a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. 100 percent renewable energy will be the default product for all residential electricity customers in Santa Monica beginning in February 2019. This program will allow Santa Monicans to know where their power is coming from and be able to choose from multiple renewable options. This choice was not possible previously.  The new rates are expected to be on average between $56 and $72 more annually. Low-income qualified customers will receive the same discount on their rates and experience no net increase in cost compared to Southern California Edison (SCE) rates. Santa Monica City Council approved a '100 percent renewable energy tier' law whereby 100 percent renewable energy will be applied to all Santa Monica residents who do not choose to opt out. 50 percent and 36 percent renewable options will be available for residents who do opt out. The CPA is a Joint Power Authority consists of 31 public agencies across the region, who are working together to bring clean, renewable power choices to customers. The 100% Renewable Energy initiative is part of 'Santa Monica Green' program, which also includes other sustainability actions including public transportation and micro mobility, water conservation, compostable good waste collection, plastic ban, and organic food. (Via THRIVEGLOBAL)
  • Population: 89,736 (2010)
  • Area: 8.42 sq mi (21.80 km2)
  • Link: https://smspoke.org/2018/10/24/santa-monica-leads-again-with-clean-renewable-energy/
Santa Monica Pier, California, USA

Scotland, UK

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity by 2020 with an interim target of 50% by 2015. 11% renewable heat consumption increase and 12% energy efficiency increase by 2020. 16% energy productivity increase from 2005-2011.
  • Status: In progress - In 2012, the amount of electricity generated by renewable sources was 40.3% of the gross annual consumption of electricity.
  • RES: Onshore and offshore wind farms, inland hydropower and wave/tidal infrastructures.
  • Implementation: In 2011, the Scottish Government established the 100% target, alongside heating and energy efficiency targets. Through a renewable energy routemap, these targets are being closely monitored and regularly published. The energy infrastructure will make use of Scotland's large inland water resources, high-speed winds on- and offshore as well as the daily tides and large waves along its coasts.  Between 2010-2020, renewables in Scotland is estimated to provide up to 40,000 jobs, £30b investments and opportunities for R&D. The Scottish government also intends to promote local ownership of energy that benefits communities today and in the future. The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) was launched to maximize public involvement and community benefits. CARES facilitates funding application for projects, and offers advice and support to develop community-owned projects.
  • Population: 5,424,800 (2017)
  • Area: 77,933 km2(30,090 sq mi)
  • Link: Securing a green recovery on a path to net zero: climate change plan 2018–2032 - update
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Šentrupert, Slovenia

Šentrupert, Slovenia

  • Target: 100% self-sufficient in terms of electricity and heating requirements by 2020
  • Status: In progress - 70% of energy demand for electricity and heating met from renewable sources. To date, wood biomass provides 90% of the entire heating requirements of the town. About 50% of the electricity demand of the town is covered by renewables, mainly hydro (39%), co-generation from wood biomass plant (10%) and solar PV (1%).
  • RES: Hydropower, cogeneration from biomass and solar PV.
  • Implementation: Since the Municipality of Šentrupert set its 100% target in 2007, it has been investing extensively on its energy supply. By 2009, the Council had adopted a Local Energy Concept which outlined energy efficiency measures, new energy solutions and how to increase general consumer awareness on energy issues. According to a corresponding Action Plan, an Energy Manager would be appointed to keep track of the energy supply and consumption levels (“energy accounting”) and to promote the use of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency measures (EE). The data gathered by the energy manager was particularly useful for the new biomass heating systems. First activities of the municipality was to improve the heating system of the school buildings of Šentrupert Elementary School as well as of the gym and new kindergarten. A new biomass boiler was installed in the school basement. In August 2010, the construction of the first energy efficient wooden building in Slovenia was completed. At the end of August 2014, a SEAP – Sustainable Energy Action Plan was confirmed by the council, with the aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The municipality was rewarded with the award En.občina 2012 for the most energy efficient municipality in 2012. In 2014, it won the award En.občina 2014 in the category of small municipalities and also became the winner among most energy efficient municipalities in 2014. In 2014, wood chip system was installed in the local prison complex for heating, and recently it was used to simultaneously produce electricity and heat. By sourcing wood chips from local producers of wooden boxes during the spring, savings in biomass purchases have amounted to 200,000 € per year. The council also constructed a greenhouse to produce 3000 tons of tomatoes per year on an area of 4.5–5 hectare to meet the needs for food self-sufficiency, especially with vegetables. The heat requirements for the greenhouse is  supplied by a public company Energetic Šentrupert, which is providing 50 new jobs.
  • Population: 310 (2017)
  • Area: 1.2 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.renewables-networking.eu/documents/SI-Sentrupert.pdf
Šentrupert, Slovenia

Skellefteå, Sweden

Skellefteå city, Sweden

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity by 2020, 100% renewable heating by 2040
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydropower, wind farms, bioenergy production, cogeneration, and district heating grids.
  • Implementation: The city of Skellefteå on Sweden’s Northeast coast has long been known for its gold and copper mining industry. Today it is better known for its production of renewable energy, first developed in the area in the early 1900s when Skellefteå’s municipally-owned energy company, Skellefteå Kraft (SK), first constructed hydroelectric dams to power the region’s mining. Since then, SK has become one of the top five renewable electricity producers in Sweden. As a municipally owned company, social priorities precedes commercial pursuits. Like the Swedish national government, SK has established ambitious 100% RE goals.

    Currently, 82.2% of SK’s production consists of renewable energy and SK plans to meet the targets by diversifying their electrical and energy production methods and increasing RE generation capacity by installing new technologies and upgrading existing ones. The municipal company at present operates hydroelectric dams, wind turbine farms, bioenergy production facilities, cogeneration facilities and district heating grids. The city also aims to be net exporters of bio, wind and hydro power by 2020. Skellefteå’s emphasis on RE has prompted the creation of renewable energy laboratories and research institutes. The municipality's reputation is attracting advanced technology development, such as Tesla who selected SK as electrical provider for their super charger stations in Sweden.
  • Population: 32,775 city, 72,025 urban (2010)
  • Area: 21.74 km2 (8.39 sq mi)
  • Link: https://smartcitysweden.com/companies/795/skelleftea-kraft/
Skellefteå city, Sweden

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2030
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar energy, hydro schemes on rivers, and biomass energy.
  • Implementation: One of the least developed countries in the world, the Solomon Islands consists of over 997 islands from which 97 are inhabited. The six main islands are Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira, Santa Isabel, Choiseul, and New Georgia. The major activities in the islands are agriculture and fishing. The islands possess mineral, hydro and forest resources. The Solomon Islands are currently experiencing the severe effects of climate change, with extreme weather conditions, rising air temperatures on flora and fauna, and rising sea levels. Like most pacific islands countries, Solomon Islands is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its transportation system and diesel for its power generation. The country, however, is now turning to renewable energy to replace these fuels. The country´s national Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification is implementing energy schemes to promote the use of renewable energy. The government has initiated renewable energy projects in rural communities, with donor support to promote rural electrification and the use of solar power. Notable projects include the use of solar for power generation in schools. In 2019, an agreement to build the Tina River hydropower project was signed which will  increase the amount of renewable energy in the Honiara national grid by nearly 70 percent while reducing reliance on expensive diesel power. The project is Solomon Island’s first large-scale infrastructure project to be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP), involving the Solomon Islands Government, the state-owned power utility Solomon Power and the private developers of the project, Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and Hyundai Engineering Corporation (HEC). Support is also being received from the World Bank. The Solomon Island's government is working towards addressing challenges in reaching its energy goal in general, which include: the lack of technical skills, little or no renewable energy training available locally, and the lack of legislation for Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs).
  • Population: 599,419 (2016)
  • Area: 28,400 km2 (11,000 sq mi)
  • Link: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/12/06/agreements-signed-to-bring-reliable-renewable-electricity-to-solomon-islands
Solomon Islands
  • Malaita Island © Irene Scott/AusAID CC BY 2.0

Sontra, Germany

Sontra, Germany

  • Target: 100% RE
  • Status: In progress - In 2011, 40% of the energy demand was from RE, with 242 RE installations integrated into the grid.
  • RES: Windpower, solar power, and EV-charging stations.
  • Implementation: The city of Sontra is located in the German state of Hessen. The city intends to produce its energy locally and ideally as close as possible to its consumers. It is focusing on electro mobility as part of its energy plan by establishing new EV-charging stations. A large photovoltaic plant was built at a new industrial park and new wind turbines were built with the participation of the local population. The key motivation for city to deploy RE technologies has been regional value creation, which plays an important role in influencing political action. In Sontra, the regional commitment to the transformation of the energy systems is a priority to counteract global climate change in an active and exemplary way.
  • Population: 7,856 (2017)
  • Area: 111.29 km2(42.97 sq mi)
Sontra, Germany

Steinfurt District, Germany

Steinfurt District, Germany

  • Target: 100% climate protection and 100% renewable energy by 2050.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Wind power, solar power and biomass energy.
  • Implementation: The county of Steinfurt in Germany has implemented a 100% Climate Protection masterplan or  “Masterplan 100% Klimaschutz” with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas-emission by 95% until 2050 by reducing the regional power demand by 50% and covering the remaining demand by renewable energy (reference year 1990). To achieve this target, Steinfurt is cooperating with many local and regional actors including: climate activists from the 24 municipalities in the district of Steinfurt, local citizens, regional politicians, regional power companies, companies from the regional business network “Unternehmernetzwerk energieland2050”, experts from the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, external experts for  climate protection, regional tourist promotion offices and other associations. The first phase of the masterplan has concluded, with an analysis of the actual energy data and future energy scenarios. There it was shown that wind power stations, solar or biomass power systems can produce sufficient renewable energy by 2050. Furthermore, the potential of power production will be higher than the predicted power demand in 2050. To achieve sustainable mobility however will require alternative vehicle options like e-mobility, hybrid- or hydrogen-drive.
  • Population: 444,409 (2016)
  • Area: 1,792.097 km2(691.933 sq mi)
  • Link: Amt für Klimaschutz und Nachhaltigkeit
Steinfurt District, Germany