Why Decentralized Renewables Are Key to Resilient Cities and the city platform
I am starting a series on how technology can support city resilience, given the state of the world in terms of peace and environment. This will run along ride the up and running series on secret value adds of digital transformation and to hot takes
So let’s get into it…
The world is changing. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a present reality. Cities, as hubs of human activity and economic power, are particularly vulnerable to its impacts. From extreme weather events to rising sea levels, the challenges are mounting. In this evolving landscape, the need for resilient infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector, has never been more critical.
Traditional centralized power grids, reliant on fossil fuels and often located far from urban centers, are proving increasingly susceptible to disruptions. Climate-related disasters, aging infrastructure, and even geopolitical instability (as highlighted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine) can cripple these systems, leaving cities in the dark.
The solution? A shift towards decentralized renewable energy systems.
The Case for Decentralized Renewables
Decentralized renewable energy systems, which generate power from sources like solar, wind, and geothermal closer to the point of consumption, offer a compelling path towards greater urban resilience. Here’s why:
- Reduced Vulnerability: By distributing energy generation across numerous smaller sources, cities become less reliant on single points of failure. Damage to one part of the system has a limited impact on the overall supply, ensuring continued power to critical services.
- Enhanced Reliability: Renewable energy sources, particularly when coupled with battery storage, can provide a consistent and reliable power supply, even during grid outages. This is crucial for maintaining essential services like hospitals, emergency response systems, and communication networks during crises.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Renewables are inherently cleaner than fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier urban environment. This helps mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change and improves air quality for residents.
- Economic Benefits: Investing in renewable energy creates local jobs, stimulates economic growth, and reduces dependence on volatile global energy markets.
Learning from Ukraine: A Real-World Example
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine provides a stark illustration of the resilience benefits of decentralized renewables. Despite facing relentless attacks on its energy infrastructure, Ukraine has managed to maintain a surprising degree of power stability. This is largely due to the country’s growing investment in distributed renewable energy systems, particularly solar and wind power.
As reported by the Associated Press, Ukrainian energy companies are rapidly rebuilding damaged infrastructure and prioritizing the deployment of renewable energy sources. This decentralized approach has allowed them to restore power quickly and efficiently, even in the face of ongoing conflict. This demonstrates the crucial role that renewables can play in ensuring energy security during times of crisis.
And then there’s the battery disruptor
Another great case with a twist was the reports of citizens of Florida and South Carolina in the USA coping with the aftermath of hurricanes Nadine and Milton in the 2024 season. Due the 100 plus miles an hour winds, sea surge and exposed nature of the power lines, power service failed to thousands of households for days, especially those in rural municipalities.
Now of course the usual recourse, especially for those living in the countryside, is the petrol generator. But this is a point solution and not are all residences are suitable for them, apartments for example. Additionally, cities and near suburbs were effected, that may no be as ready as country people for power outages.
So the good citizens of the effected States had to deal with the situation with the means at hand, which for some of them included an electric vehicle (EV). Many of these were large cars with substantial batteries and some even had two way converters installed in the house.
In the reports, published by several news outlets, home owners gushed about how their cars were able to keep light and even fridges going for many days. These benefits go way beyond recharging a phone.
This example will also be recounted in the series on Secret Value Chains when we talk about EVs as it provides a great example of the potential for EVs to disrupt some of the volume of home batteries as a more practical, more flexible alternative, at least for evening and at home usage.
Building a More Resilient Future: The Role of Technology
The transition to decentralized renewable energy systems is further enhanced by advancements in technology:
- Battery Storage: Batteries are essential for storing excess energy generated from renewable sources, ensuring a consistent power supply even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. This is particularly important for managing peak demand and maintaining grid stability.
- Home Energy Management Systems: Smart home technologies allow residents to monitor and control their energy consumption, optimizing usage and reducing strain on the grid. This empowers individuals to actively participate in building a more resilient energy future.
- Microgrids: Microgrids are localized grids that can operate independently of the main grid, providing a reliable power source for communities during outages. These systems can be powered by a combination of renewable sources and battery storage, creating self-sufficient energy ecosystems.
Investing in Resilience: A Call to Action for Cities
The evidence is clear: decentralized renewable energy systems are essential for building resilient cities in the face of climate change and other challenges. It’s time for cities to prioritize investment in these technologies, ensuring a sustainable and secure energy future for their residents.
This means:
- Incentivizing the adoption of rooftop solar and other distributed renewable energy sources.
- Supporting the development of microgrids and community energy projects.
- Investing in battery storage and smart grid technologies.
- Promoting energy efficiency and conservation programs.
By embracing a decentralized and renewable energy future, cities can not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also enhance their resilience, ensuring a more secure and sustainable future for all.
Now obviously that’s not the end of it as cites and districts need more that power to be resilient, they also need to communicate with citizens, manage emergencies effectively in the absence of networks and many more hardened systems. I will cover these in future episodes, most likely starting with citizen communication, the excellent work currently going on in… you guessed it, Ukraine, which I have just been read into.