Showing posts with label Region aimed at self sufficiency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Region aimed at self sufficiency. Show all posts

City of Santa Monica, USA

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Santa Monica, renewable energy in Santa Monica.


Santa Monica is a city in western Los Angeles County, California, USA (Figure 1). This town is located in Santa Monica Bay. This city is surrounded by:[1]
  • Northwest: Los Angeles City - Pacific Palisades
  • North: Brentwood
  • Northeast: West Lost Angeles
  • East: Mar Vista
  • Southeast: Venice

Figure 1. Santa Monica City in Los Angeles County, California[1]


Desire and Target of Renewable Energy Utilization
Santa Monica City aims to increase the use of Renewable and clean distributed generation sources, and thus reduce the city's total amount of green house emissions and consumption of fossil fuels. Target utilization of renewable energy is 25% citywide electricity by 2010. In addition, 1% of all electricity should come from clean distributed generation by 2010. Main goal is renewable energy self sufficient in 2020.[2]


Performance of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy comes from three sources:[2]
  • first and the largest proportion: Southern California Edision (SCE) renewable power mix, mainly geothermal and wind energy.
  • Commerce Energy
  • Solar Santa Monica
The combination of renewable energy from SCE and Commerce Energy was 531 GJ by 2006 or 18% of total electricity usage (Figure 1). SCE contributes 16% and Commerce Energy 2% of total electricity usage (Figure 2). Clean distributed energy currently is 10% of all electricity usage.[2]

Figure 1. Renewable Composition and Percentage of Total Electricity Usage[2]


Figure 2. Renewable Energy as a Percent of Total Electricity Usage 2006[2]

Solar Santa Monica
This program was launched in 2006 as the first step of Community Energy Independence Initiative. It provides ways for residents to be energy efficient of utilizing energy in home and business, and ways how to produce energy by installing solar panels on individual buildings and community sites throughout the city. In 2007, nearly 20 solar projects was implemented.[2]


Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
This plan was initiated in 1992 by the City's Task Force on the environment to ensure that Santa Monica Community think, act, and plan sustainable. The program includes four goal areas, which are classified into resource conservation, transportation, pollution prevention and public health protection, community economic development. This program has achieved much success. Many initial targets have been met and this city is recognized as worldwide role model for sustainability.[3]

Update Process
In reviewing the progress made since1994 adoption of the program, the Task Force on the Environment recognized the need to update and expand the sustainability city goals and indicators and to develop new indicators target for 2010. Goals correlated to renewable energy is in the area of resource conservation found in Sustainable City Plan - Adopted plan 2006 are:[3]
  • Significantly decrease overall community consumption, specifically the consumption of non-local, non-renewable, non-recyclable, and non-recycled materials, water, energy, and fuels. The city should take a leadership role in encouraging sustainable procurement, extended producer responsibility, and should explore innovative strategies to become a zero waste city.
  • Within renewable limits, encourage the use of local, non polluting, renewable, and recycled resources (water, energy - wind, solar, and geothermal - and material resources).


Next Plan to be Improved[2]
  • Become energy independent with Solar Santa Monica.
  • Purchase renewable energy credits to supplement the portion of utility provided power which is not renewable.


Information Related


List of References
  1. Santa Monica, California. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California. Accessed April 3, 2010.
  2. Resource Conservation: Renewable Energy. http://www.smgov.net/Departments/OSE/Categories/Sustainability/Sustainable_City_Progress_Report/Resource_Conservation/Renewable_Energy.aspx. Accessed April 2, 2010.
  3. Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan. http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OSE/Categories/Sustainability/SCP_2006_Adopted_Plan.pdf. Accessed April 2, 2010.
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Hawaii Energy Self Sufficient, USA

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Hawaii, renewable energy in Hawaii.


Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. States and is the only state made up entirely of islands. It occupies most of an archipelago in the central of Pacific Ocean, southwest of continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia (Figure 1). The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu on the island of O'ahu.[1]

Figure 1. Hawaii in Pacific Ocean[1]


Renewable Energy Development
Motivation
Hawaii relies nearly 90% of its energy needs on petroleum. Currently, Hawaii faces the highest cost of energy in the nation. This dependency places Hawaii's long term economic viability at risk because high oil prices will be passed on to consumers.2 Since 1959, Hawaii's tourism has been the largest industry. This industry contributes 24.3% of the Gross State Product (GSP) in 1997.[1] Experts indicate that world oil prices have reached new highs, the low prices in the past are not expected to return because worldwide demands continue to increase. To make sure there is energy for tomorrow and to increase the addiction on imported oil, the state decided to make Hawaii energy self sufficient.[2]

Vision
The vision of Hawaii is to be the World's Renewable Hydrogen Energy Leader. The focus is producing hydrogen from renewable resources, and not conversion of hydrogen from fossil fuels. In the long-term, it is believed that this initiative could change Hawaii from energy importer to energy exporter.[2]


Renewable Fuel Potential
A study by Stillwater Associates in 2003 showed that an ethanol industry of 90,000 gallons per year could add as much as $300,000,000 to Hawaii's economy indirect and direct value. In addition, emerging energy technologies increase the use of renewable resources through advanced hydrogen technology. It makes renewable energy can be stored, distributed, and used in variety of clean, efficient power, and transportation application.[2]


Strategic Plan[2]
  1. Create More Transparency In Gasoline Markets And the Energy Industry
  2. Develop And Increase Use Of Alternate Transportation Fuels
  3. Stimulate State and Consumer Energy Efficiency
  4. Significantly Increase Use of Renewable Energy Resources
  5. Establish Hawaii as Leader in Hydrogen Production


Information Related


List of References
  1. Hawaii. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii. Accessed April 3, 2010.
  2. Energy for Tomorrow. http://www.oilendgame.com/pdfs/Implementation/WtOEg_EnergyForTomorrow.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2009.

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The municipality of Thisted in Northwest Jutland, Denmark

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Thisted Municipality, renewable energy in Thisted Municipality.


Thisted Municipality[1] is a municipality in Region Nordjyland, Denmark.[2] The municipality covers area 1,093 km2 and has total population 45,596 inhabitants in 2009.[3] The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Thisted.[2]

North Denmark Region or North Jutland Region is an administrative region of Denmark. This region is established on January 1, 2007 as a part of the 2007 Danish municipal reform. This reform replaces the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, cut the number of municipalities from 271 to 98. The reform was implemented in Denmark on January 1, 2007.[4]

Figure 1. Thisted Municipality in Denmark[2][4]

On January 1, 2007 a new Thisted Municipality was formed as the result of the Municipal Reform 2007. Merged was done between Hanstholm and Sydthy Municipalities.[2]


Current Status
Thisted is almost 100% renewable energy self-sufficient. The municipality uses less than 1% fossil fuels to produce energy and heat. With twenty years experience with renewable energy sources, the energy and heat consumption is almost exclusively derived from wind, sun, biogas, geothermal plant, incineration of biomass and residual heat from industry. Those various sources provide 100% electricity supplies and 85% heat to the municipality. It means, 90,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere.[3]

The municipality has been nominated to be the home of a national test centre for a large wind turbines in 2009. Thisted has received the prestigious European Solar Prize for its renewable energy effort.[3]


Actors Involved in the Development
Citizens, grassroots organizations, and local companies are actively involved in supplying the municipality with renewable energy from private wind turbines, geothermal installations, and biogas plants.[3]


Success Factors
Success factors of Thisted is characterized by the development has been going on in step with local farmers investing many privately owned wind turbines and biogas plant. All of 252 Thisted wind turbines are privately owned. Investing in renewable energy is a good business for farmers, because after 6-7 years they can earn money and sell the energy to the local electricity utility.[3]


Video 1. Clean Energy in Thisted[3]


The electricity utilities and companies in the area have set specific goals for reduction in carbon emissions. Now, the municipality is actively encouraging its citizens, e.g. through the association Energiske Thyboer. The association involves citizens, urges them to work on local renewable energy initiatives. The example is involved in building a biogas plant together with a local farmer or shared heating plant which serves several households. Everyone is welcome to attend citizens meeting and can be involved in developing ideas for new energy solutions by joining working groups. The municipality is providing technical and financial consultancy, and close tabs are being kept on projects to help ensure many of them could take benefit from the result obtained.[3]


Vision
Vision of Thisted Municipality are:[3]
  • become a carbon-neutral pioneer with an international reputation for inducing carbon emission.
  • By new supply energy initiatives, they can take care the environment and create more jobs through energy-based development based on municipality existing commercial activities.


Way to Achieve the Goal
They want to achieve the goal by:[3]
  • a holistic strategy incorporating an overall plan for water, heat and electricity, energy labeling of all public buildings, as well as an overall plan for the operation of collective transport.
  • The Danish government planed to build a new national test centre for 250 meter-high marine wind turbines in Thisted on September 2009.

Information Related


List of References
  1. Thisted Kommune. http://www.thisted.dk/. Accessed April 3, 2010.
  2. Thisted Municipality. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Thisted_municipality. Accessed April 3, 2010.
  3. Thisted: Almost 100% Sustainable Energy Sources. http://sustainablecities.dk/en/city-projects/cases/thisted-almost-100-sustainable-energy-sources. Accessed January 5, 2010.
  4. Region Nordjylland. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Region_Nordjylland. Accessed April 3, 2010.
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Goms, Energy Region in the Swiss Alps

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Goms Region, renewable energy in Goms Region.


The Goms Region is located in the high valley and in a sheltered position between the Grimsel, Nufenen and Furka passes, and the stepped valley at Grengiols (Figure 1). This region has area of 650 km2 with inhabitants live inside 5,261 people (according to the census in the year 2000).[1] There are 16 autonomous political municipalities. Three of the municipalities have population less than 100 people. The biggest municipality is Fiesch with inhabitants more than 1000 people. Ratio of increasing population in the Goms Region during the year 1999 and 2000 is around 5.3%.[2]

Figure 1. Goms Region in the Swiss Alps[1][3]


Leading Industry of Tourism
The share capital of Goms tourist region are especially intact natural and cultural landscape and also many valuable work of arts (more than 100 churches and chapels). A third of the surface region includes a nature reserve.[2] In the year 2007/2008, there were 1.1 million overnight stays, half of them are in summer.[1] Today, there are 1.2 million overnight stays registered.[2]


The First Energy Region in the Swiss Alps
Since 2007, Goms hat set an aim to be the first energy region in the Swiss Alps. Goms intends to supply the majority of its energy consumption from biomass, sun, wind, water, and geothermal energy by the year 2030. UnternehmenGOMS has overall responsibility for the project management, with an energy concept and its communications.[4]

UnternehmenGOMS
This association was established on January 1st, 2007 in Munster. The association goes itself as an organizational unit of the GOMS energy region. The initiator hat set the goal of contributing to sustainable regional development of Goms. The focus is to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.[5]

Aims and Vision
The aim is to cover the required energy with renewable energy. The Goms region should be a model in how to deal with sustainable and environment and can enhance the local economy for other rural, mountainous region at inland and abroad. The vision is for designing and implementing projects in practice.[3]


Energy Consumption
The current amounts of energy consumption in Goms is nearly 152 GWh/year. The consumption of various energy sources can be viewed in Table 1.[3]

Table 1. Total Energy Consumption[3]

  • Heat: heat consumption is 101 GWh, which 85 GWh (16 MWh per capita per year) is consumed for air conditioners and hot water of residential units. Most of heat consumption comes from fossil fuels (46%) and electricity (35%). The rest comes from wood energy of the region. Tourism related objects (hotels, vacation rentals, and apartment) are the majority consumer of heat (Figure 2). Characteristics of the existing homes of vacation guest are 40% of them were built in the year 1970 and have a high number of electric heating.[3]
Figure 2. Heat Consumption per Sector in Goms Region[3]

  • Electricity: electricity in Goms Region is used for light, heat production, as mechanical energy, or for mobility. The electricity consumption in 2008 was around 59 GWh. Two third of electrical consumption is used to heat homes and produce hot water (Figure 3).[3]

Figure 3. Electricity Consumption in Goms Region[3]

  • Mobility: the energy consumption of mobility (public and private transport) is about 30 GWh. The low number of this consumption is due to the principle of territoriality. This principle accounts only trips within Goms, the energy balance in the flight- and transit traffic and the trips outside Goms are not included.[3]


Utilization of Renewable Energy
The exiting renewable energy sources are water, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and various type of wastes. Currently, the potential of hydropower is mainly used to produce electricity, while other fuels have been used in modest ground. Goms Region has 13 hydropower plants with annual electricity production are around 520 GWh. The installed capacity of the four largest is about 150 MW. These plants produce electricity together about 500 GWh/year. The utilization of renewable energy at the present time can be viewed in Table 2.[3]

Table 2. Today Utilization in Goms Region[3]


Renewable Energy Development
There are three main programs which are still ongoing, have been completed, and in study progress in the Goms Region. They are energy production, energy efficiency, and awareness raising. Each of those have various sub projects. Energy production consists of Alps sun, wood chips, hot water from the Furka Tunnel, pilot plant of universal turbine, biogas plants, and wood pellets. Energy efficiency is included support programs for efficiency household appliances, building management, and mobility. Awareness raising program contains energy days in the schools, Gletsch water forum, and voluntary work. Status of each project can be viewed in Table 3.[2]

Table 3. Status of the projects[2]

Energy Weeks
During the school year of 2008 and 2009, kinder and teenagers in Fiesch and Münster Schools worked on the projects of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Those projects were presented on May 15th, 2009 and June 25th, 2009 in a public energy festival in front of their parents, local population, and the holiday guest. The occasion was success, 400 people were attended the festival. This energy week also met with interest.[7]

PV
In 2008 a feasibility study for the construction and operation of 16 photovoltaic systems in the largest roof has been compiled. The Mountain Aid has supported the study cost. In 2010 the largest PV plant would have been operated in the Canton Valais in the holiday village of Fiesch and Geschinen. The electricity is sold to the solar power exchange Zurich. It is planned to sell the electricity in Goms in the future.[7]

Wood Storage and Wood Pulp Composite
The common goals is to build a wood-chip interconnection with Gommer forest district. The woodchip network offers the operators a secure and high quality of wood chips from the region. The wood chips are planned to be a central and to cover wood storage stored and dried. The network is also responsible for the delivery of large quantities of wood chips.[7]

Electric Car
In October 30th, 2008 the project of Leisure- and Tourism Mobility in the San Gottardo Region has been launched. The project if funded by three institutions; Regio San Gottardo, Oberhasli Power Plants AG, and energieregionGOMS. In sommer 2010 a rental- and test drive system for tourists, holiday guests, and people interested on E-mobile on the Grimsell Pass will be offered. In the following years an extensive e-net will be built around the Gotthard, where people can explore the unique landscape passed by electric car. In Switzerland, this project had a great interest.[7]

Energy Efficiency Household Appliances
In July 2009, the region has won a "Golden Caesar". With 10,000 SFr the project of Golden Caesar has been started. The aim is to reduce the energy consumption of the households in Goms. Price of some appliances which have the highest energy efficiency are subsidized by15% of the purchase price (maximum price is 250 Francs). The region cooperated together with http://www.topten.ch./ to work on this project.[7]

Building Program
Building program is a focus activity in 2010. In November 21st, 2009 this program has been launched in Goms. There were around 80 people present in Münster. This program has been started by energy consultant which has worked for 12 owners in the building energy in Goms. Each year around 300 million CHF will be invested in building renovation.[7]

Energy Concept
The approach analyzes the current energy situation in Goms, describes ways and means to realize the vision of "energieregionGOMS" and explains with the realization of the vision-related effects. The Regional Energy serves as the central decision-making for the realization of projects in energieregionGOMS. The project was financed by the Office for Spatial Development (ARE), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (BFE) and Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN).[7]


Position of the Projects
Six programs of renewable energy projects are defined, whether they are in priority, in the medium term important, long-term focus, or still no activity planned. The programs defined are renewable energy and energy efficiency. Details position of each programs can be viewed in Table 4.[5]

Table 4. Project Development of six programs[5]


Networks
UnternehmenGOMS hat invested time and works in the first year to construct a networks. The partners are from inside and outside the region. They are:[5]
  • Federal Government: ARE - Federal Office for Spatial Development,BFE - Federal Office for Energy,BLW - Federal Office for Agriculture,SECO - State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
  • Canton Wallis: Department for Energy and Hydropower, Department for Economic Development
  • Professional and Scientific: SwissEnergy - Media Partner, EnergyBiomass,WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape, EBP - Ernst Basler + Partner


Information Related


List of References
  1. Media Information 2009. http://www.goms.ch/medien/mediainformation-english.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2010.
  2. EnergieregionGOMS Official Homepage. http://www.unternehmengoms.ch/. Accessed April 13, 2010.
  3. Das Goms: auf dem Weg zur ersten Energieregion der Schweizer Alpen. Integriertes Energiekonzept für die ländliche Regionalentwicklung. http://www.unternehmengoms.ch/PDF_Dossiers/Energiekonzept_GOMS_2009.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2010.
  4. Goms: the First Energy Region in the Swiss Alps. http://www.ebp.ch/en/geschaeftsbereiche/ressourcenklimaschutz/aktuell/goms-first-energy-region-swiss-alps.html. Accessed August 23, 2009.
  5. Infoblatt 1 - vom 3 August 2008. http://www.unternehmengoms.ch/PDF_Dossiers/info_1_08.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2010.
  6. Infoblatt 3 - vom 15. Januar 2010: Jahresrückblick 2009. http://www.unternehmengoms.ch/PDF_Dossiers/info_3_10.pdf. Accessed April 13, 2010.

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Frýdlant Microregion, Czech Republic

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Frýdlant Microregion, renewable energy in Frýdlant Microregion.


The Frýdlant microregion lies in northernmost part of the Czech Republic by the border with Poland and close to the border with Germany, it is a part of Liberec region (Figure 1) and also a part of the cross-border Nisa-Nysa-Neisse Euro region. The region comprises 4 towns and 14 municipalities; the total area is approximately 349 km2 and has approximately 24,300 inhabitants.[1]

Figure 1. Location of Frýdlant Microregion in Czech Repuclic[2]

The Frýdlant Microregion is an economically underdeveloped region. This is caused by problematic accessibility towards mainland (separated by a mountain ridge of Jizerské mountains), bad shape of technological infrastructure, historically grounded inadequate structure of agriculture, forestry, wood-processing industry and recession influenced textile industry, relatively low level of education and social stability of population. The micro region has the highest unemployment rate in Liberec region (approx. 20%).[1]


Energy Consumption
The total energy consumption in the area is 1,367,749 GJ (which is 379,930 MWh, based on data of the year 2001). 24% of this sum is electricity mostly imported from outside the region. The biggest share in current energy consumption is brown coal with 43% of total sum or nearly 60% of consumption excluding electricity (heating etc.). The largest consumer of brown coal is a company which uses 239,598 GJ (23%) of powdered brown coal. Share of renewable energy is less than 5%. Biomass has a major share with 53,100 GJ (Figure 2).[1]

Figure 2. Energy Consumption[1]


Focus on Renewable Energy
The focus on renewable energy technology to be used in the region are biomass for heating and wind power for electricity.[1]


Target[1]
  • The target of renewable energy development are to be 100% energy self-sufficiency, this self-sufficiency can be reached in four municipalities forming SeCeSe microregion.
  • Increasing the level of self-sufficiency by 48% in 2020.


The Czech Energy Agency (CEA)
It is an official national energy agency responsible for management of the State program for promotion of rational use of energy (RUE) and renewable energy sources (RES) in the Czech Republic.[1]


Integrated Energy Plan of the Frýdlant Microregion
Aim
The primary aim of the project was to support local administration of the Frýdlant microregion in regional planning for promotion of Rational Use of Energy (RUE) and Renewable Energy Sources (RES).[1]

Process[1]
  • Key target groups took part in the development of the proposal.
  • Municipalities as regional key stakeholders in the region were identified.
  • The Czech Energy Agency (CEA) was involved as a co-financier and had an important role in disseminating through presenting and distributing the outcomes of the action via its countrywide network of energy consultancy and information centres (EKIS).
  • The State Environmental Fund had a role to support of the implementation of identified pilot RES projects.
  • Steering committee was created to discuss with the project team major steps, to review the draft project results, and to participate in the dissemination activities (workshops and seminar).
  • ENVIROS s.r.o. as the coordinator worked close together with Power Service from Liberec.
  • IHKGesellschaft from Berlin and LandesEnergieVerein Steiermark (external consultant) transferred know-how about financial, technical and organizational issues.
  • The Mayor tried to persuade other neighbor communities to do similar work and to cooperate with the organizations of higher level (superior region administration and Czech Energy Agency) by the help of external consultants (financed through the project).
  • Many meetings had a lot of discussions. Within the meetings with the Austrian partner, it is decided to not only to speak or deliver papers about involving process, but to give a graspable tool to start local awareness campaign.

Parties Involved[1]
  • Target groups: the Association of municipalities of the “Frydlant microregion”, the individual in municipalities, the authorities of the Liberec region, end users, the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion authorities.
  • Key stakeholders: : agriculture farms, forestry firms, public and commercial services, local industrial sector, NGOs, financiers (banks), energy suppliers, households.
  • Steering Committee: the Regional Development Agency, the Czech Energy Agency (CEA), and the State Environmental Fund.
  • Partners: ENVIROS s.r.o., IHKGesellschaft from Berlin and LandesEnergieVerein Steiermark.
  • The Mayor.

Awareness Campaign[1]
  • An exhibition about causality of energy and climate and the role of schools, created by LandesEnergieVerein in cooperation with Klimabündnis (in German, but was translated into Czech).
  • Interactive parts in the workshops which show how to involve other actors, when further meeting within the region would be carried out.

Finance
The total costs of the project was about 200 kEuro, 49% was a contribution from the EU Community. 33% of the funding was for Czech partners and 51% for partners from Germany and Austria.[1]

Results
  • A small biomass district heating system a capacity of 350 kW and two windmills with capacity of 600 kW were installed in May 2003 (Figure 3).[1]
Figure 3. Wind mills[1]
  • The action plans: identification of concrete measures and projects to be implemented; recommendation to be focused on organizational measures, creating infrastructure and instruments like energy consulting, awareness campaigns, education and trainings to reach the goals of self-sufficiency in using renewable energy.[1]

Status
The project was completed, a poster was produced in Czech and English (Figure 4).[1]

Figure 4. Poster of a completed project[1]

Lesson Learned
Experiences from the region:[1]
  • The municipalities themselves should be involved in an implementation process.
  • It might be easy to transfer technology but hard to transfer instruments for such a process.
Energy and development planning is a very complex process, where a lot of measures and activities go on parallel. Energy management therefore need to have an overview of the whole of one's territory in terms of energy and the environment, the knowledge to identify ways of achieving significant improvement of the energy situation with regard to consumption, production and distribution and the means to measure the energy and environmental impact of one's policies, and to monitor the situation over time.[1]


Information Related


List of References
  1. Integrated Energy Plan of the Frýdlant Microregion. http://www.managenergy.net/download/nr138.pdf. Accessed August 24, 2009.
  2. Czech Republic Map. http://www.a-1hotels.com/cz/assets/images/CzechRepublicMap.gif. Accessed June 01, 2010.
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Dubai's Self Sufficient Ecotopia

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Dubai's self sufficient Ecotopia.


Food City
February 2009, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce authorized the development of "free zone" dubbed Food City (Figure 1 and 2). GCLA[1], a green landscape architect firm, proposed a master plan for the city sector turn it into an off-the-grid, self sufficient metropolis. GCLA's future-forward urban quarter incorporates an extensive list of sustainable urban planning ideas: vertically stacked landscape surfaces, artificial roof landscapes, renewable energy systems (Figure 3), aquatic farms, and thermal conditioning.[2]

Figure 1. "Free Zone" dubbed Food City (view from the top)[1]


Figure 2. "Free Zone" dubbed Food City (view from the side)[1]


Figure 3. Vertically stacked landscape surfaces, artificial roof landscapes, renewable energy systems[1]

GCLA has described their proposal for Food City as "the marriage of landscape and urbanism"(Figure 2). Their project integrates a variety of proposals to decrease energy overall use - concentrated solar collectors, towers covered in thin-film photovoltaic cells (Figure 3), piezoelectric pads in pedestrian areas, and methane harvesting through sewage percolation tanks.[1]

Figure 2. The Marriage of Landscape and Urbanism[1]


Figure 3. Towers Covered in Thin-Film Photovoltaics Cells[1]

GCLA also proposes water conservation measures critical to off-the-grid survival in water-starved Dubai, like atmospheric water harvesting, solar desalination through concentrated solar collectors, grey water recycling, and application of hydroponic sand to minimize water loss.[1]


Concept of Food City
Food City concept was driven by the following ideas:[3]
  • Inverted landscape where the roof of the entire development was created as an artificial landscape formation of sweeping topography that becomes a continuous agricultural mat for the planting of traditional multiculture oasis plants, public park, and also the grazing of livestock.
  • Layered landscape where the landscape is multiplied many times through the creation of vertically stacked landscape surfaces resulting in overall green area exceeding of undeveloped site.
  • Carbon surplus off the grid where all systems relating to water, energy, and matter are dealt with on-site through renewable means and release surpluses to export from the site. This includes solar, wind, bio-fuels, methane, and kinetic energy.
  • Iconic vertical farm creation of 3o storey vertical farm capable to produce enough organic food for a population of 50,000 inhabitants within the development boundaries and including a beam-down concentrated solar array for energy generation and desalination.
  • Aquatic farms for cultivating, harvesting, and research of fish and pearl oyster species of the Arabian Gulf created in the seafront and accessible from the public beaches.
  • Thermal conditioning using shade, water, wind corridors and natural phenomena like ground-source cooling to create comfortable exterior environment at all times every year.
  • Zero waste city where the key systems cycles keep under control sustainability (energy, water, and matter) were designed as fully circular systems ensuring no imports or exports of waste.


List of References
  1. Green Concepts Landscape Architects (GCLA). http://www.gcla-international.com/. Accessed April 2, 2010.
  2. Food City: Dubai's Self Sufficient Ecotopia. http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/13/a-utopian-vision-for-food-city-dubai/. Accessed August 23, 2009.
  3. Food City. http://www.gcla-international.com/foodcity.html. Accessed April 2, 2010.
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Dongtan Eco-city, China

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region, Dongtan Eco-city.


Dongtan[1] was a plan for a new eco-city in the island of Chongming, Shanghai, China. The meaning of Dongtan is "East Beach".[2] The location stands in the middle of the marshes at the eastern tip of Chongming, China's largest third island, at the mouth of Yangtse River (Figure 1).[3] It will be a city of three villages which meet to form a new city centre.[4]

Figure 1. Dongtan Eco-city at the mouth of Yangtse River[3]


Reason of Executing the Project
The reason of creating this eco-city is due to China rapid growing population.[5] Dongtan was planned to be occupied by 5,000 people in 2010. In 2020, it will accommodate a population up to 80,000 people. In 2050, the city will be one-third the size of Manhattan and planned to be occupied by 500,000 people.[4] The detail planning on how the city will be expanded to accommodate increased number of residents can be viewed in Dongtan matrix scales.[6]


Project Contract
The contract for the project was awarded to the Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC) in 2001.[3] Arup[7] (The British Engineering Consultancy Firm) is appointed to design Dongtan. This firm aimed to transfer Dongtan into green city.[5] Arup, which has been working in China for the past 20 years, contributed to the ­construction of amenities for the ­2008 Beijing Olympic Games. To demonstrate the political ­significance of the Dongtan scheme, the contract was signed in November at 10 Downing Street in the presence of the ­British prime minister, Tony Blair, and the visiting Chinese ­president, Hu ­Jintao.[3] SIIC and Arup have been joined by HSBC and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) in a long term strategic partnership to develop the commercial and financing strategy for Dongtan and other eco-cities in China.[4]


Status
According to Arup, the construction would be started in 2008.[4] Up to now, no construction has taken place yet. The project has fallen behind the schedule.[2]


Concept
The most original feature of Dongtan is its eco-friendly design.[3] This green city will have minimal negative impact on the environment.[5] It will have an ecological ­footprint (the total area of land required to sustain an individual) of two hectares per person.[3] The whole concept of Dongtan Eco-city can be viewed in Dongtan Eco-city.[8]


Video 1. Dongtan Flyover[5]

The delicate nature of the Dongtan wetlands close to the site has been one driving factors of the city design.[4] The location which is surrounded by miles of wetland, vital for birds migrating between Australia and Siberia.[3] The plan is to protect and enhance the existing wetlands by returning agricultural land to a wetland state creating a 'buffer zone' between the city and the mudflats. The buffer zone will be 3.5 meter wide, at its narrowest point.[4]

Figure 2. Dongtan Eco-city Masterplan[4]

The project will increase bio-diversity in Chongming Island. It will create a city which runs entirely on renewable energy for its building, infrastructure, and transportation. Dongtan will recover, reuse, recycle 90% of all waste in the city. The aim is to be a zero waste city.[4] Organic waste is burned in an incinerator, catering for part of the town's electricity requirements. Other burners consume rice husks, which ­produce a lot of heat and are plentiful in China. On the outskirts giant ­windmills, driven by the sea breeze, produce electricity too. Each building is fitted with photovoltaic panels and its own smaller windmill.[3]

Figure 3. Artist's Rendering: Dongtan Eco-city in the future[3]

The building is more than eight storeys high. Turf and vegetation cover the roofs, a natural form of insulation that also recycles waste water. The town has six times more pedestrians. Pollution-free buses, powered by fuel cells, run between neighborhoods. An intranet service forecasts travel times and connects people who want to share the car. Small and lightweight vehicles that consume little energy and travel almost bumper-to-bumper, taking up little room on the roads has been designed also. It is determined to preserve the quality of its air, so motor vehicles must be ­carbon-neutral and the plans provide for the construction of hydrogen filling stations for fuel cells. Traditional motorbikes are forbidden, replaced by electric scooters or bicycle. The roads are laid out so that walking or cycling to work is quicker than driving.[3]

Dongtan eco-city incorporates many traditional Chinese design features and combines them with a sustainable approach to modern living.[4] This city will be compact, inspired by traditional Chinese towns in which water plays an important part. Social factors are essential. It will have a diverse population, affordable housing, at least 30,000 jobs on the spot, schools and a hospital, to ensure it is not dependent on Shanghai."[3]

 However, the design team ­realises that it will have to overcome many obstacles before achieving its ideal. Individual behaviour may completely upset the plans. That is why it is needed a combination of rules, outreach and price incentives to educate the occupants and halt excessive consumption.[3]


Information Related


List of References
  1. Official Homepage. http://www.dongtan.cn/. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  2. Dongtan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongtan. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  3. China to Build First Eco-City. http://english.cri.cn/811/2006/05/07/301@85444.htm. Accessed August 23, 2009.
  4. Ultimate Eco-city: Arup Design and Masterplan Dongtan Eco-city in China. http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2137. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  5. Fly-over Dongtan EcoCity 2010, China. http://ecocity.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/fly-over-dongtan-ecocity-2010-china/. Assessed September 3, 2009.
  6. Dongtan City. http://www.iaacblog.com/emergentcities/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ds1_dongtan_matrix_mariapapaloizou.pdf. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  7. Official Homepage of ARUP. http://www.arup.com/. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  8. Dongtan City_China ARUP 2005-2010. http://www.iaacblog.com/emergentcities/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ds1_dongtan-eco-city_mariapapaloizou.pdf. Accessed September 3, 2009.
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Self Sufficiency Energy Villages, Korea

Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region.


Dongwang Village, Jeju-do Island, South Korea

Dongwang is the first self sufficient energy village in the world.[1] It is located in the west of Jeju-do Island, the biggest southern island in South Korea (Figure 1).[2] This semi-tropical village takes benefit from the solar energy to fulfill their electricity demand.[1]

Figure 1. Dongwang Village in Jeju-do Island, South Korea[1]

In every roof of the house (40 houses) and roof of the school are installed big solar panels (Figure 2). Every house has different capacity of solar panel. This program is developed in 2004. The government covered 70% of the installation cost. The reason of development this program is environmental issues. The people in Dongwang realize that environmental is very important issues. With this technology, currently the inhabitant use free electricity every day.[1] Due to solar panels covered almost the entire area and most of inhabitant get electricity from solar panels, this city is also popular as "Solar Town".[3]

Figure 2. Big solar panel (2.1 kW) in the roof of the house[1]

Jeju-do Island also has a large wind farm. In 2008, the local government announced their plan to raise the island's wind power generation capacity to 500 megawatt (MW) by 2020. It is aimed to replace 20% conventionally generated electricity and 26% existing fuel used in transportation to be environmentally friendly fuel.[3]

This village has a motto "A clean city - clean island". They don't have many factories. The inhabitant enjoy nice and clean air. They are trying to have a clean city with solar panels and windmills. Now, they are still struggling to accomplish total energy independence with clean technology. Dongwang is in a state of the art of renewable energy village.[2]



Deungryong Village, North Jeolla Province's Buan County, Korea

The town Deungryong is located in Jangsin-Ri of Haseo-Myeon, a sub division of North Jeolla Province's Buan County. This town is typically agriculture village (Figure 3). There are about 30 households, total population is around 50.[4]

Figure 3. Deungryong village[4]

Deungryong village is aimed to become self sufficiency on energy. Established in February 2005, Buan Civil Power selected Deungryong as a prototype of energy self-sufficient village and has taken steps toward it. Buan civil power plant relocated here as well as the office and education center of the 'Life Peace Priming Water'. Those with the same aspirations are helping the locals push forward mid and long term programs to establish an energy self sufficient village.[4]

First of all, Buan Civil Power Plant started operating the Solar Power plant-1. A power plant built in October 2005. By the winter in 2006, geothermal heating and cooling system, which produce up to 35RT was installed. This system provides air-conditioning to four buildings including residential households and education center. By 2008, the total electricity generated from solar energy reached 36 kW in Deungryong. This is due to the local community's participation in a program to 'install photovoltaic panels on roofs of 100 thousand homes'. The number of civil people which funded Solar Power Plant rose. It is contributed to the total of community involved.[4]

Deungryong village which declared its energy self-sufficiency, places its emphasis on energy savings, energy efficiency, and transition to renewable energy. In order to reach this goal, it is aimed to cut more than 30% of its total energy use and replace 50% of its total energy use with solar energy, wind power (Figure 4), and biomass.[4]

Figure 4. Installation of wind turbine[4]

Decreasing 10% of the total energy use in village
In 2008, Buan Civil Power Plant set up a more detailed objective: an annual decrease of 10% of energy use. Every household have changed their incandescent light bulbs into high energy efficient. They use switchable power bars with multiple sockets to reduce standby power.[4]

School of forest, the wind, and the sun
From summer in 2008, this school is opened to provides a learning experience relating to renewable energy. The school has built a solar photovoltaic power generator and it is equipped with a solar cooker. It uses wind and kinetic energy through generators powered by wind and bicycle pedaling. It has installed a water turbine in addition to methane collection and flaring system. People will take part in out door education programs related to the use of renewable energy. They will also get knowledge on how to generate and cook with renewable energy. Activities such as 'living without electricity' using candlelight during the night and watching movies with self generated electricity are available also.[4]

Making generators powered by wind and bicycle pedaling
Generators powered by bicycle pedaling can overcome the weather restrictions other renewable energy generators have. In order to make small wind generator (Figure 5), they carved propellers out wood, wounds the coils onto the magnet, and attached it to the generator. Producing up to 500W, this generator was constructed by their own. It has been installed in 'SiSu', a school of environmental studies in the Deungryong village. This will help Deungryong village's energy self sufficiency and educating children about renewable energy.[4]

Figure 5. A small wind generator[4]


List of References
  1. Desa Mandiri Energi Pertama Dunia (World First Self Sufficient Energy Village). http://kunaifi.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/desa-mandiri-energi-pertama-dunia-world-first-self-sufficient-energy-village/. Accessed October 28, 2009.
  2. South Korean Solar System Community on Jeju Island a Brilliant Idea. http://ecoworldly.com/2008/05/09/south-korean-solar-system-community-on-jeju-island-a-brilliant-idea/. Accessed October 28, 2009.
  3. Korean Village Runs on 100% Solar Power. http://www.enn.com/energy/article/36133. Accessed October 28, 2009.
  4. Energy Self-Sufficient Village at Deungryong, Buan. http://green-korea.tistory.com/83. Accessed August 23, 2009.

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