Changing behaviour is a challenge for renewable energy in cities – panellists

Dr. Shweta Singh, Assistant Professor in Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering and Environment & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, USA addresses the Renewable Energy Deployment in Cities roundtable at SIEW 2015

By Chin Kai Li 

While it is possible to cover the Sahara Desert with solar panels to generate enough electricity to power the world, the scenario is unlikely not just because of the infrastructure challenges but also due to the social behaviour of consumers, industry and governments when it comes to renewable energy, panellists said on Thursday at Singapore International Energy Week 2015.

Despite the benefits of renewables – including better energy security, lower carbon emissions and more affordable electricity supply to low income groups – there is a long way to go, the panellists said at a roundtable on the deployment of renewable energy in cities.

“It is a field of complex systems because we are talking about cities, we are talking about technologies and policies,” said Dr Shweta Singh, assistant professor at Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering and Environment & Ecological Engineering.

“But the one thing we can’t predict is social behaviour – how people are going to change or how people are going to perceive different technologies and climate change. There is still a lot of research to be done.”

For infrastructure, one big challenge is getting existing buildings to be more energy efficient. Building codes also need to be revised to encourage energy efficiency, the panellists said.

In terms of transport, they said cities can encourage the use of public transport and the adoption of electric vehicles. But even when technical requirements are met for renewable energy, market mechanisms may not encourage the behaviour needed for society to change its ways, they added. 

For many cities, the municipal government has limited resources and more pressing concerns, the panellists said, noting that advocates of renewable energy must learn how to communicate with government officials to help them see how the deployment will meet their objectives. 

While many good ideas sound feasible in theory, they may be outside the government’s area of influence and cities may not have much autonomy about energy decisions, the panellists said. Much is driven by the private sector, as the deployment of renewable energy is an investment decision. 

“It’s not a linear sector-based approach to solving problems anymore. Increasingly, we have to invest in and document the results of policy actions, particularly integrated policy actions,” said Donovan Storey, chief of the Sustainable Urban Development Section at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

“It’s only by looking at that very messy field and quantifying the positive outcomes of doing things differently that we may be able to get some traction. Otherwise, we are going to be fumbling about putting out fires.”

About Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW)

In its 8th edition, Singapore International Energy Week is the premier platform in Asia for energy insights, partnerships and dialogue, bringing together the world’s leading conferences, exhibitions and roundtables in one week and one location. SIEW enriches the global energy conversation by convening political, business, academic and energy industry thought-leaders to define and advance the world’s energy challenges, solutions and actions across the spectrum of oil and gas, clean and renewable energy, and energy infrastructure financing. 

Please visit www.siew.gov.sg for more information. 

About the Energy Market Authority

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. Our main goals are to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, promote effective competition in the energy market and develop a dynamic energy sector in Singapore. Through our work, we seek to forge a progressive energy landscape for sustained growth. 

Please visit www.ema.gov.sg for more information.