Change of energy model

The model of power generation and electricity consumption we have at the moment, mainly based on fossil fuels, is one of the main causes of climate change. Reversing this model of consumption and moving towards a rational use of energy, based on energy saving and efficiency and local, renewable energy, where priority is given to self-consumption and self-generation, is fundamental for achieving the targets and fulfilling the city’s commitments with regard to the climate emergency.

We need to make a firm commitment to renewable power generation in the city, making the most of any opportunity to generate energy from existing resources, both renewable and waste, and, at the same time, improve the state of buildings and infrastructures and also the way we use energy, by being more aware of the environmental impact our consumption habits have. Our citizens must play a key role in this and take the lead.

We want a city where self-generation and self-consumption are the norm, with a fair, democratic and renewable energy model that will enable us to be renewable and carbon neutral by 2050.

Most important challenges

  • Ensuring the levels of comfort and quality of life in buildings are maintained without increasing energy demand or consumption, by promoting improvements in and the renovation of city buildings (public and private) with energy efficiency criteria, and also ensuring new buildings that are built have almost zero consumption.
  • Making the presence of power generation facilities a normal feature of the city and increase demand for solar self-consumption facilities on buildings, by facilitating investment and installing new facilities in both the public and private spheres.
  • Making shared self-consumption a reality by developing physical and virtual energy communities.
  • Taking advantage of the city’s big spaces and setting for power generation, establishing that as a criterion to be incorporated in new plans and developments, and include generation equipment in the existing public space: pergolas, paving, etc.
  • Giving social prominence to the power generation and consumption model.

Key actions and actors

Local renewable generation and a boost to green electricity

  • Fill the city’s roof terraces with solar facilities, by making it easier to install them (reinterpreting the regulations and simplifying procedures) and boosting the financial incentives, such as grants, subsidies, tax breaks (IBI, ICIO, IAE) and other funding mechanisms, to incorporate 10 MWp of photovoltaic energy and 7 MW thermal solar energy in residential and private tertiary buildings by 2025.
    • Barcelona City Council, citizen and private.
  • Speed up the installation of renewable generation in municipal buildings (nursery schools, cultural and sports facilities, etc.) as well as public spaces by incorporating a further 6 MWp of photovoltaic generation in the municipal stock by 2025.    
    • Barcelona City Council
  • Start a process whereby up to 25 MWp of photovoltaic energy is installed in big urban spaces (industrial roofs, big tertiaries and pergolas or structures in industrial and logistics environments) by 2025.
    • Barcelona City Council, Bon Pastor Industrial Estate, industries and operators
  • Speed up the installation of renewables across Catalonia so that by 2030, 50% of electricity consumption in Catalonia comes from a renewable source, as set out in Decree Law 16/2019, of 26 November, on emergency measures for the climate emergency and promoting renewable energy, and Act 16/2017, of 1 August, on climate change.    
    • Government of Catalonia

Renovation

  • Set in motion the necessary mechanisms for increasing the weight of public subsidies with an energy and environmental focus, as part of public policy for encouraging renovations, so we can achieve a figure of 10,000 dwellings a year receiving financial help (subsidies or loans) for energy renovation.    
    • Barcelona City Council , financial entities and owners
  • Create support figures that can advise on the renovations that need to be carried out, depending on the type of action and characteristics of the building where it is being carried out (local renovators).    
    • Barcelona City Council

Energy efficiency

  • Draw up a building energy byelaw that ensures new buildings or those undergoing wholesale renovation in the city are minimum-demand and maximum-generation.    
    • Barcelona City Council
  • Develop a regulatory framework for using heating/air conditioning in the commercial and services sector, in order to avoid energy being wasted thanks to a social conscience, regulating, among other things, the uses of outdoor heaters and the closure or automatic actions of exterior doors.    
    • Barcelona City Council
  • Ensure efficient energy management of municipal services associated with the water cycle, as well as waste management and collection, and also optimise the energy management and supplies of public lighting and municipal buildings and offices (including infant and primary schools), in order to cut electricity consumption in the buildings intervened in by 10% by 2020.    
    • Barcelona City Council
  • Develop and consolidate the existing heating and cooling grids in the city, and define and promote a new one in La Sagrera.    
    • Barcelona City Council, private administrators

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