Speaker
Description
In response to the global trend of transitioning from carbon reduction to achieving net-zero emissions, the transformation of energy systems must simultaneously address challenges across social, economic, technological, and environmental dimensions. European countries have realised that relying solely on individual buildings, such as Zero Energy Building (ZEB) and Net Zero Energy Building (Net ZEB), is insufficient for effectively managing and efficiently utilising renewable energy on the district scale. As a result, they have begun to shift towards district-scale zero-energy or even positive-energy transformation pathways. By coordinating renewable energy at district and cross-district scales, overall energy efficiency can be better achieved. However, from the urban planning perspective, energy transition has been rarely taken into account when making land use plans due to the deployment of renewable energy varies significantly across different regions. Also, energy consumption differs greatly based on factors such as land use types and building typologies. Current research primarily focuses on identifying suitable locations for individual renewable energy sources.
Therefore, the importance of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) lies in their ability to comprehensively plan multifaceted relationships such as renewable energy production and land use patterns in different regions (Erkinai et al., 2022). The European SET-Plan (Strategic Energy Technology Plan) has set a goal of establishing 100 PEDs across the EU by 2025, with 23 sites or laboratories across 13 countries as of the end of 2023 (Haase et al., 2024). As Europe is still in the early stages of this transition, there is no clear definition of the key impact indicators for assessing the potential locations and defining spatial boundaries of PEDs. From the current cases, it is obvious that developing localised evaluation methods tailored to specific local conditions is essential.
As an island, Taiwan views the development of renewable energy efficiency as one of the most critical strategies for achieving a net-zero path. This study will first review previous literature about indicators related to PEDs in order to understand the energy production potential and energy consumption in different regions. Energy production potential may include indicators such as potential locations for solar power as well as urban development factors like new development areas or transformation areas, and the current state of energy infrastructure, including pipelines and power grids. Energy consumption may cover factors such as the distribution and proportion of various land use types, population density, and current electricity consumption patterns. In the second phase, Tainan City in Taiwan will be selected as the research area. Since 2011, the Tainan City Government has been the top one city for promoting solar photovoltaic installations. Considering its well-preparedness for renewable energy development, Tainan demonstrates greater potential for promoting PEDs. Based on the local contexts of Tainan City, an appropriate evaluation framework for PEDs will be developed. Finally, a spatial analysis is performed on a map that identifies the most suitable administrative districts to implement PEDs. The results of this study can serve as a strategic guideline for prioritising micro-scale priority areas. Furthermore, the findings can assist Taiwan and even the Asia-Pacific region in formulating effective spatial planning strategies for energy transition.
References
1.Erkinai, D., Solmaria H. V., Gert J. H., Eveline v. L. (2022). Positive energy districts: Mainstreaming energy transition in urban areas. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 153, 111782.
2.Haase, M., Eicker, U., Hachem-Vermette, C., Kayo, G., & Rehman, H. (2024). Lessons learned from analyzing PED case studies. 12th International Conference on Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings and Smart Communities, 118-132.
| Keywords | Positive Energy Districts; PEDs potential; Renewable Energy; Spatial Multi-criteria |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
