Articles Archives - Page 4 of 5

Litoměřice: Two decades of working towards a just transition in the Czech Republic

By mPOWER|June 22, 2020|

The city of Litoměřice has for a long time been a frontrunner in the Czech energy transition. A former port town not far from Prague, which has now become a commerce and service centre, the city of some 25,000 inhabitants began its energy transition in 2000 with a subsidy scheme for solar water heaters in private homes. 20 years later, Litoměřice is becoming a climate-friendly role model for the Czech Republic and the Central European region.

New ways for the energy transition – the Viennese approach

By mPOWER|June 22, 2020|

The city of Vienna and its wholly-owned energy provider are testing a range of participatory approaches to meet the city’s decarbonisation goals. From sustainable urban planning, through geothermal engineering to blockchain technology, Vienna is contributing new ideas and sustainable solutions for the city of tomorrow.

A democratic transition to renewable energy in Cádiz

By mPOWER|June 2, 2020|

As in many other Spanish cities, two new left parties (For Cádiz Yes We Can and Winning Cádiz) took over the local government of Cádiz in an unprecedented election in May 2015. They inherited many economic and social problems such as high levels of debt and unemployment.

The local energy agency and support for self-consumption drive energy transition in Pamplona

By mPOWER|May 4, 2020|

Pamplona is the capital of the autonomous province of Navarra in northern Spain. With 200,000 inhabitants, it is the biggest city in the region. In recent years, the local government has made considerable efforts to phase out fossil fuels, extend renewable energy generation and increase energy efficiency. In 2019, Pamplona declared a climate emergency.

Frankfurt’s energy transition: Passive houses, a CO2 budget, and an app to collect residents’ ideas

By mPOWER|April 15, 2020|

It is vital for both citizens and the environment that Frankfurt becomes more climate friendly. The municipality’s goal is a 95% carbon emissions reduction by 2050 compared to 2010 and a halving of energy use in the same time frame. The administration has put multiple plans and processes in place to put the city on the right pathway, including a ‘Masterplan 100% climate protection’.

European Cities in the Energy Transition: A Preliminary Analysis of 27 Cities

By mPOWER|March 30, 2020|

It is estimated that cities are responsible for 70% of global CO2 emissions. Thus, they have a large responsibility to react to the climate crisis by adapting their energy systems. Where do European municipalities stand with regards to the energy transition? What are the difficulties they face? This study sets out to answer these questions by surveying 27 diverse cities―from Mizil, Romania to Barcelona, Spain―that participated in the mPower Exchange project. This study them draws conclusions, assessing what has to be done in order to enable a democratic energy transition.

Barcelona Energía: public power to tackle energy poverty and achieve energy sovereignty

By mPOWER|March 9, 2020|

The Barcelona Energy Agency (AEB) is a public consortium that consists of a number of authorities that are directly involved in managing energy and the environment: Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Metropolitan Area, the Catalan Energy Institute, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. AEB aims to boost the city’s reputation as a benchmark city in terms of promoting energy saving and energy efficiency, and enhancing knowledge about and the use of renewable energy.

The ‘smart’ transformation of a Black Sea metropolis

By mPOWER|March 3, 2020|

Burgas has recently been named the ‘Best city to live in Bulgaria’[1] – which may just have something to do with its strategy of transforming itself into a climate-friendly city without leaving any of its residents behind. The implementation of the municipality’s action plan 2014-2020, designed to set Burgas on a path towards becoming an inclusive ‘smart’ metropolis, has already changed the face of the city’s residential buildings and upgraded its transport system.

Financial innovation, ‘smart grids’ and one-stop shops: Aradippou’s ambitious journey towards net carbon-neutrality

By mPOWER|February 24, 2020|

Aradippou is driving an ambitious local energy transition by engaging local actors as well as national and European partners. The municipality aspires to establish one-stop shops that provide comprehensive solutions for homeowners, encouraging them to engage in upscaling renewable energy projects and increasing energy efficiency. The municipal projects also aim to unleash financial and technological capacity to establish a ‘smart grid’. Involvement in various European projects is allowing the city to access European funds and partnerships which will equip it to reach net carbon-neutrality by 2030.

“There were evenings when we almost gave up.”

By mPOWER|February 17, 2020|

How did the Mouscron energy cooperative come into being and what are its plans for the near future? In December, Energy Cities met with Emmanuel Fontaine who is both the City of Mouscron’s energy adviser and one of the cooperative’s trustees. He told us about the long, but enriching process that led to the creation of this unique energy cooperative. According to this cheerful Belgian, with a clear passion for his work, such a project requires perseverance, tenacity and strong motivation. Below is a shortened version of the interview. You can also download and listen to the unabridged conversation by clicking on the link on this page.

consortium of partners

consortium
of partners