Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain
To mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Commission created a Strategic Energy Technology Plan committing to forming 100 Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) by 2025. These are considered to potentially be major instruments for decarbonization in a just transition. This plan has led to so...
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doaj-7696ca475e8a4c8395e5a7344bca064d2021-08-26T14:20:33ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502021-08-01138698869810.3390/su13168698Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in SpainAdam X. Hearn0Raul Castaño-Rosa1Sustainability Research Group, University of Basel, CH-4051 Basel, SwitzerlandAppropriate Technologies for Sustainable Development Group, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28903 Madrid, SpainTo mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Commission created a Strategic Energy Technology Plan committing to forming 100 Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) by 2025. These are considered to potentially be major instruments for decarbonization in a just transition. This plan has led to some districts being defined as PEDs, although none have fully met the criteria to be a PED yet. Research shows that new forms of energy ownership and production, as could potentially be found in PEDs, could help reduce energy poverty, which affects a significant segment of the population, as households can reduce their energy expenditure as well as improve their energy behavior. This paper set out to shed light on the PED landscape, investigating the barriers and opportunities to PED creation in Spain and its potential to mitigate energy poverty. We conducted a literature review on community-owned energy in Spain, followed with expert interviews (energy researchers, stakeholders, and NGOs) who focus on sustainability issues in Spain. Results show a number of barriers (lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of trust from consumers) and opportunities connected with the creation of PEDs. In conclusion, policymaker engagement and support play a key role in successfully implementing PEDs.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/8698Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)Local Energy Communities (LECs)energy justiceenergy transitionenergy poverty |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Adam X. Hearn Raul Castaño-Rosa |
spellingShingle |
Adam X. Hearn Raul Castaño-Rosa Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain Sustainability Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) Local Energy Communities (LECs) energy justice energy transition energy poverty |
author_facet |
Adam X. Hearn Raul Castaño-Rosa |
author_sort |
Adam X. Hearn |
title |
Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain |
title_short |
Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain |
title_full |
Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain |
title_fullStr |
Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain |
title_full_unstemmed |
Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain |
title_sort |
towards a just energy transition, barriers and opportunities for positive energy district creation in spain |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
To mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Commission created a Strategic Energy Technology Plan committing to forming 100 Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) by 2025. These are considered to potentially be major instruments for decarbonization in a just transition. This plan has led to some districts being defined as PEDs, although none have fully met the criteria to be a PED yet. Research shows that new forms of energy ownership and production, as could potentially be found in PEDs, could help reduce energy poverty, which affects a significant segment of the population, as households can reduce their energy expenditure as well as improve their energy behavior. This paper set out to shed light on the PED landscape, investigating the barriers and opportunities to PED creation in Spain and its potential to mitigate energy poverty. We conducted a literature review on community-owned energy in Spain, followed with expert interviews (energy researchers, stakeholders, and NGOs) who focus on sustainability issues in Spain. Results show a number of barriers (lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of trust from consumers) and opportunities connected with the creation of PEDs. In conclusion, policymaker engagement and support play a key role in successfully implementing PEDs. |
topic |
Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) Local Energy Communities (LECs) energy justice energy transition energy poverty |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/8698 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT adamxhearn towardsajustenergytransitionbarriersandopportunitiesforpositiveenergydistrictcreationinspain AT raulcastanorosa towardsajustenergytransitionbarriersandopportunitiesforpositiveenergydistrictcreationinspain |
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