District Energy highlighted as enabler for a just energy transition at COP25
On Friday 13th, last day of COP 25 in Madrid, representatives of TECHO, NRGIZAR, Fundación Energy para Todos and ENGIE, participated in a panel discussion on how to reduce energy poverty and leave no one behind in the energy transition. The panellists discussed how energy efficiency and renewable energy can help reducing energy poverty in addition to stopping climate change. A wide range of examples including high efficient and sustainable social housing, off-grid clean energy solutions for remote protected areas in the region of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, and district energy were presented, showing that a just energy transition is possible.
Luisa Barrero, from TECHO, presented “Sol de Polpaico”, a sustainable social housing project for the commune of Tiltil (North of the Metropolitan Region) that will support 130 low-income families. The project aims at advancing towards the construction of sustainable social housing in Chile, promoting the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency public policies in Chile.
An example of improving energy access through renewable energy was provided by Gustavo Andrade, from the NGO NRGizar, who presented an Initiative that supports the implementation of off-grid clean and sustainable solutions in remote protected areas of the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego region. Christine Fedigan, ENGIE, showed innovative technology solutions, such as district energy, to decarbonize heating and cooling in cities.
The Executive Director of Fundación Energía para Todos, Javier Piedra, highlighted the work of the UNEP’s District Energy in Cities Initiative to accelerate the development of district energy in Chile, particularly in high polluted cities of central and southern regions of the country. Unsustainable heating systems are causing serious health problems in citizens, the development of alternative clean heating solutions is urgent and engaging the citizens is key to identify suitable solutions adapted to the local context, says Javier Piedra. These examples represent concrete solutions to mitigate climate change while generating energy savings and social wellbeing for citizens, thus contributing to overcome energy poverty in Chile.
