Speaker
Description
Over 70% of global carbon emissions originate from cities, and a significant portion of these emissions is linked to urban energy systems. Accelerating the adoption of renewable energy in cities is therefore crucial to achieving worldwide decarbonization targets. However, the inherent volatility of renewable energy sources conflicts with the relatively stable nature of urban energy demand, making energy storage solutions a central topic in sustainable urban planning.
Currently, three primary energy storage methods—electricity storage, hydrogen storage, and thermal storage—are considered promising for integrating renewables into urban systems. Each requires new types of infrastructure, posing substantial planning challenges. Although numerous studies have investigated the economic viability and technical requirements of these facilities, particularly thermal storage, there remains a lack of comparative research that examines their spatial demands—a critical gap in guiding sustainable urban planning.
This study addresses this gap by analyzing various multi-type energy storage projects across multiple Chinese cities (Beijing, Jinan, and Hainan). Based on empirical data, we develop a comprehensive spatial assessment framework consisting of ten key factors, including energy sources, storage density, safety boundaries, supporting infrastructure, transmission pipelines, and engineering costs. In addition, we conducted 52 semi-structured interviews and surveys with stakeholders involved in five practical energy storage projects to identify major planning and siting challenges.
Preliminary findings reveal that:
1. Technological Maturity and Public Acceptance for Spatial Demands: Medium- and small-scale thermal storage facilities are favored due to lower barriers to implementation, while hydrogen storage faces resistance primarily because of sizeable safety buffer requirements.
2. Scale of Spatial Demands: Cities require vast spatial resources for storage facilities, with thermal storage claiming the largest footprint, followed by hydrogen storage and electricity storage. In Beijing alone, thermal storage systems needed to capture all available residual heat could occupy nearly 4 square kilometers—around 2% of the city’s built-up area.
3. Land Costs as a Bottleneck: Although certain storage technologies already offer competitive energy costs when land expenses are excluded, in high land-value areas these costs can account for up to 40% of total project expenditures. This underscores the importance of innovative planning approaches—such as mixed-use zones and shared infrastructure—to affordably meet expanding energy storage space demands.
Given these challenges, we argue for innovative approaches in urban planning that leverage digital technologies—such as dynamic spatial analysis, integrated infrastructure modeling, and data-driven stakeholder engagement—to optimize site selection and facility configuration. Crucially, we underscore the need to prioritize the new spatial requirements of energy storage facilities by fostering deeper cross-disciplinary collaboration between planning and renewable energy fields. At present, many emerging storage technologies overlook urban spatial complexities, which will greatly limit their feasibility in real-world applications. By integrating planning principles with cutting-edge energy solutions, cities worldwide can more effectively navigate the spatial challenges of energy storage and accelerate their collective transition toward a low-carbon future.
References
[1] Tronchin, L., Manfren, M., & Nastasi, B. (2018). Energy efficiency, demand side management and energy storage technologies–A critical analysis of possible paths of integration in the built environment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 95, 341-353.
IEA (International Energy Agency), 2020. Energy Storage. [online] Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-storage [Accessed 25 April 2024].
[2] Xia, H., Lin, C., Liu, X., & Liu, Z. (2022). Urban underground space capacity demand forecasting based on sustainable concept: A review. Energy and Buildings, 255, 111656.
| Keywords | Urban Energy Storage; Low-Carbon Transition; Spatial Planning; Sustainable Infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
