Resilient urban energy: making city systems energy efficient, low carbon, and resilient in a changing climate

Panel: 3. Local action

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Stephanie Ohshita, University of San Francisco / LBNL, USA
Kate Johnson, Dept. of Energy and Environment, District of Columbia, USA

Abstract

How can urban energy systems be both low-carbon and resilient in a changing climate? We examine this question from a systems perspective, considering how climate change impacts both energy supply and energy demand in cities. Temporally, we consider both climate stresses, e.g. rising temperatures, shifts in precipitation patterns, and climate shocks, e.g., storm events, disruptions from cold snaps or heat waves. With this dynamic systems perspective, we draw upon a range of emerging literature and practice on climate action, resilience and adaptation. This ranges from utility reliability and emergency risk management, to end-use energy efficiency and urban infrastructure planning. We utilize case studies of three cities—Washington DC, USA; Copenhagen, Denmark, EU; and Shenzhen, Guangdong, China—to illuminate how cities are making their energy systems resilient and low-carbon. We find wide variation in the methods and areas of focus, as well as varying degrees of connection the cities are making between low-carbon efforts and resilience efforts related to urban energy. While institutional coordination is challenging, cities are finding that it leads to better energy and climate change strategies. Beneficial strategies across the cities include: distributed energy resources (such as microgrids, and district heating and cooling), passive and efficient energy systems in buildings, and partnerships across government agencies, businesses, and communities.