Abstract
This article investigates the potential of selected urban typologies in Vienna to reach the state of Positive Energy Districts (PED) by achieving a positive annual energy balance. It follows the EU initiative for implementing at least 100 PED in Europe by 2025. Four urban typologies have been assessed using the bottom-up energy modelling tool MAPED that enables a simplified energy demand-supply analysis at the district scale. Considering relevant urban typologies in different construction periods, the analysis focused on converting the allocated building stocks into PED by employing comprehensive thermal refurbishment and energy efficiency measures, electrification of end-uses and fuel switching, exploitation of local renewable energy potential, and flexible interaction with the regional energy system. The results reveal that a detached housing district can achieve a positive annual energy balance (for heat and power) of 110% due to the fact that there are sufficient surfaces (roofs, facades, open land) available for the production of local renewable energy, whereas the remaining typologies fail to achieve the criteria with an annual balance ranking between 61% and 97%, showing additional margins for improvement to meet the PED conditions. The presented concept offers a practical approach to investigate the PED suitability of urban typologies. It will help the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action and Environment to identify appropriate strategies for the refurbishment of existing urban areas towards the PED standard.
Highlights
It has become apparent that sustainable urban development can only be achieved through a significant change in the way we build and manage our urban spaces
Positive Energy Districts (PED) are still in the early stage of their introduction with a significant need to overcome a multitude of challenges spanning across technological, financial, environmental, societal, and regulatory domains. This stems from the fact that a PED is not just an energy standard, but rather an innovative concept to promote the sustainable development of urban energy systems on a district scale with significant impact on the development of our future cities, which are committed to a sustainable and low-carbon pathway to ensure high viability and affordability of urban services for all residents
Given the fact that cities are responsible for about 75% of energy consumption and 80% of GHG emission—with the building sector alone responsible for around 28% [27,28]—the expected impact of implementing and deploying PEDs within Europe will have a significant role in enabling the targeted urban energy system transformation, given its high potential for energy-saving and local renewable energy integration
Summary
It has become apparent that sustainable urban development can only be achieved through a significant change in the way we build and manage our urban spaces. The outcomes of this effort resulted in proposing an integrated approach to tackle the interdisciplinary challenges of PEDs covering technological, economic, financial, legal, and regulatory aspects within an urban perspective It recognised the crucial role of cities on the way to realise PEDs together with the vital contribution of key stakeholders from research, industry, real state, and funding and financing, beside other fields. The transnational Joint Programming Initiative Urban Europe (JPI-UE) has been working to provide a programme management structure for PEDs research activities It aligns research efforts with cities’ needs and their apprehended future sustainable development goals, including the deployment of PEDs. The JPI programme seeks, for its implementation, the contribution of stakeholders of city authorities, research organisation, industry, energy suppliers, and citizens’ organisations. This stems from the fact that a PED is not just an energy standard, but rather an innovative concept to promote the sustainable development of urban energy systems on a district scale with significant impact on the development of our future cities, which are committed to a sustainable and low-carbon pathway to ensure high viability and affordability of urban services for all residents
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