The goal is to have an affordable – reliable – clean – safe energy system for all

Astrid Madsen

By Astrid Madsen, Strategic advisor energy transition, City of Rotterdam

Our goal is to have an affordable, reliable, clean and safe energy system for all. This can only reached by a joined effort of public and private partners.

Many buildings in the Netherlands are heated by (domestic) gas boilers, while many houses do not have optimal insulation. The heat transition is about reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil based energy use. This transformation will have a huge impact not only on the owners and end-users of the buildings but also on the urban environment. A city can orchestrate the transition by focusing on the optimal combination of measures at buildings level (reduction & re-use energy consumption) and changes at energy systems level (re-use and production of sustainable energy).

Furthermore, cities play a vital role in realising economy of scale and combining operations, while using the transition also as a driver to improve the city. It’s the cities that can scan the districts that will go into transition for opportunities for improvement, e.g. parking problems or social cohesion. This will not only result in lower emissions, cleaner air, more jobs and a call for innovations, but will also have a valuable and positive social and physical impact. In other words, cities have the wide range knowledge on the local opportunities and needs and can therefore cash in on opportunities. Additionally, a city will focus on (cost and energy) efficiency, making the transition possible for all her citizens and not only for the happy few.

#DecarbCities is a conference organised  by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)

Rue d’Arlon 63 – 67, B-1040 Brussels – Belgium

T: +32 2 400 10 17 | F: +32 2 400 10 18

E: info@ehpa.org