Implementation strategies for renovation concepts based on participative planning

Abstract

The potential for reducing Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by district renovation is largely untapped. It not only requires a thorough Energy Master Planning (EMP) of the district but also support of the decision-making processes. This can not only contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption and securing the location of energy infrastructure (generation, distribution, storage), but also to long-term sustainable development and climate neutrality. Understanding the different solutions for district renovation which include combinations with energy supply and consumption is important in districts. A technical as well as economical analysis is proposed that combines reduction of GHG emissions potential with an economic appraisal. A district near Winterthur, Switzerland was analyzed in respect to the aforementioned aspects. Site visits and structured interviews with key stakeholders were used to collect data which was then analyzed. Different renovation options were simulated, and investment and energy costs were calculated. The results show that the technical potential for a decarbonization is large. However, financial and social aspects are significant and lead to a delay in implementation.