Citizens of Europe need energy to move around, be safe and to live their daily lives. As cities expand, so does the demand for energy. Urban energy is required for everything from providing citizens with water, heating and cooling, to other community functions such as powering homes, electrical vehicles, traffic control systems and communications. Countless changes in the way people, cities and industries use energy, putting pressure on cities, citizens and the environment and, also influencing the way we develop urban areas. The theme Urban Energy, describing various facets of sustainable urban development about energy usage, renewable energy and energy efficiency – with future challenges and opportunities in the new energy landscape. We explore how citizens view and use energy in urban areas and how local circumstances can be improved to create more liveable, sustainable and mobile cities and communities.
What would a world with a 100 per cent renewable energy mix look like? And which are the limits to integrate renewable energy? The Urban Insight report The Limits to Renewable Energy explores the use of renewables today and the obstacles for further expansion.
The report Electricity: how long could we survive without it? explores how our cities would be affected by long power outages and how vulnerability to power failures can be reduced.