Scenarios for the integration of renewables in a European cities network

Panel: Panel 4. Building the bridge from lab to customer

Authors:
P.H. Webber, Leicester Energy Agency
D. Lack, Leicester Energy Agency
M. Pardo, Leicester Energy Agency

Abstract

Leicester City Council has a target to reduce by 50% Leicester’s carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2025, and for 20% of the city’s energy requirements to be provided by renewable energy sources by 2020. It has been working to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in Leicester. As part of this work, barriers to the uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy have been considered. For example, the Leicester Energy Agency has recently participated in the European Commission supported SiREN project, co-ordinated by Innova (Italy) with other partners in Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, which has looked at non-technical obstacles associated with the dissemination of new and renewable energy-related research and development projects at the local level in Europe.

The SIREN project has included the selection of a number of new and renewable energy-related research and development projects, with the potential impact of the results of these projects for Leicester and the other partner cities being explored. Four possible future scenarios have been considered for individual energy projects. The partner cities have used the ‘European Awareness Scenario Workshop’ approach involving workshops with representatives of local groups (technical experts, residents, local decision makers/politicians and businesses). The workshops have included discussion of obstacles facing the uptake of new and renewable energy project results, such as meeting the initial cost of new technologies, and insufficient awareness and information. Possible actions to overcome the barriers to new and renewable energy, including financing schemes and public participation have been identified.