Transición energética y la sostenibilidad de las grandes ciudades

Abstract

One of the main challenges of the future renewable energy system will be to provide an adequate solution to the territorial impact that the supply of energy to large cities will entail. INTRODUCTION. The main sources of renewable energy come from natural flows (solar radiation, rain, wind) that must be captured based on large extensions of territory, which does not happen in the system based on fossil fuels. OBJECTIVE. The present work establishes a methodology to estimate these surfaces and their distribution in the territory, at the same time that it shows some of the parameters for their possible future solution. METHOD. Starting from the estimation of the useful energy to satisfy the needs of a given large city, the collection surfaces (in photovoltaic equivalent) and their impact on the territory are evaluated. RESULTS. This methodology is exemplified based on its application to the cities of Quito, Barcelona, ​​Paris, Moscow, New York and Shanghai. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The results of this work show that the supply of energy for large cities is going to be one of the most critical points in the energy transition to renewable sources.