It’s only intended as a tongue-in-cheek depiction, but a new map of Eneropa sums up very well why campaigners for community energy are skeptical of designs to create an EU-wide renewable energy system. As a recent report in the Guardian explains, an architectural office was commissioned to draw up a map of Europe for the European Climate Foundation. The ECF has long been involved in gigantic designs for decarbonization, such as the (failed) Emissions Trading Scheme. Perhaps I have missed something, but I have not seen much work from them on the benefits of community energy. Suffice it to say that communities will be able to tap synergies and couple sectors (such as using waste heat and/or excess renewable electricity for heat supply). They will also handle urban planning to promote efficiency projects (building renovations) along with building bike paths and making urban environments walkable so that we don’t need cars at all.
Renew Economy 15th July 2016 read more »