Data on cities that are benchmarked with the sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems index and related crosssectoral scenario

The data set of this article is related to an original research article entitled "Benchmarking the sustainability of urban energy, water and environment systems and envisioning a cross-sectoral scenario for the future" Kilkis , 2019. The data article provides data compilations in the context of benchmarking studies based on the composite indicator of the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems City Index. Data tables for the seven dimensions of the index are provided for 35 main indicators and related sub-indicators for the newly benchmarked cities while those for other cities are monitored. In addition to periodic updates in the common data sources, some cities released updated reports for the Sustainable Energy and/or Climate Action Plans and/or relevant local statistics since the initial benchmarking. Normalized and aggregated values per dimension of the index for 120 cities are provided as an appendix for groups of 30 cities that are characterized as the pioneering, transitioning, solution-seeking, and challenged cities of the sample. The data compilation for the sources of residual energy from the industry, thermal power generation, the wastewater sector and urban biowaste are further provided for 60 cities as the basis of a scenario to encourage the integration of cross-sectoral measures in urban systems to improve benchmarked performances. The data that is contained in this data article thus enables the original application of the index to 120 cities and the analysis of a scenario in which cities reduce primary energy spending and carbon dioxide emissions. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc

Application of the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Index to World Cities with a Normative Scenario for Rio de Janeiro

Urban sustainability is one of the most prominent challenges in the global agenda waiting to be addressed since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This research work applies a composite indicator that has been developed as the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Index to benchmark the performance of a new sample of 26 world cities. The sample advances the geographical diversity of previous samples and represents cities in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy as well as the C40 initiative. The benchmarking results are analysed based on quartiles of city performance and Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicate the top three cities in the sample to be Copenhagen, which obtains a score of 36.038, followed by Helsinki and Gothenburg. The top cities represent multiple best practices including those in district energy networks, water quality, and environmental management. A normative scenario up to the year 2050 is then applied to one of the cities in the sample, namely Rio de Janeiro. The normative scenario involves targets that take place in local plans, particularly Vision Rio 500. The benchmarking results for the new sample of 26 world cities and the normative scenario not only identifies the benchmark leaders but also underlines opportunities to pursue pathways in which higher levels of performance can be reached by cities that may face multiple challenges. The results of the research work holds significance for advancing the application of an original composite indicator to benchmark cities towards supporting the aim of decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures in more sustainable urban systems towards carbon neutrality

Science-Based Solutions for a Shared and Sustainable Future in the Belt and Road Initiative

Addressing common challenges for a shared and sustainable future in the Belt and Road region requires significant contributions from science, technology, and innovation. Green technologies, smart energy systems, and sustainable urbanization are among the central points of emphasis in the development plans of China and Turkey. Based on the Beijing Declaration, the Alliance of International Science Organizations was launched to support the region with science-based solutions. This study compares a sample of countries in this alliance based on research capacity as well as selected indicators under the Sustainable Development Goals. An original approach is then developed to compare knowledge production patterns across linkages in the goals based on combined searches that are visualized with chord diagrams. The results indicate the goals that are receiving more focus within knowledge production, including sustainable cities. Expected increases in urbanization are compared leading to the year 2050, and collaborative research projects that are supported by the alliance are discussed in connection with their contributions for sustainable development alongside new scientific interactions. The article concludes with evidence-based observations regarding research capacity in the Belt and Road region and opportunities for further strengthening solutions based on science, technology, and innovation now and in the decades ahead

Benchmarking South East European Cities with the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Index

Tools that can benchmark cities, including cities in South East Europe, are necessary to enable the comparison and diffusion of more sustainable practices for urban systems. The “Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Index” provides a composite indicator for benchmarking city performance based on 7 dimensions and 35 main indicators. In this research work, the Index is applied to a new sample of 18 cities in South East Europe for which data is collected, normalized, and aggregated. Klagenfurt (3.08), Velenje (3.06) and Pécs (3.01) are found to be the top three cities in the sample while an average city receives an index score of 2.85. The results are further compared to reference averages and evaluated based on the mean simulated values of 10,000 Monte Carlo experiments. The results are interpreted in quartiles for pioneering, transitioning, solution-seeking, and challenged cities. The results are then applied within a benchmarking tool of the Index that supports policy learning to trigger collaboration between cities and further used to match cities according to a search algorithm based on index performance. In addition, the results are compared to urban hierarchy as well as development contexts and mapped onto the spatial dimension as an initial step for enabling a “Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Future City Network”. The paper concludes with a set of four proposed steps to enable decision-makers and urban planners in using the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems Index in support of more sustainable urban systems

Rational Exergy Management Model for Effective Utilization of Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Energy Resources

Within the broad range of sustainability and decarbonization efforts, energy and exergy-rational cities are becoming universally important. Within this context, both ORC systems, which are touted as primarily useful for utilizing low-enthalpy geothermal resources and heat pumps, which are considered as the primary tool for decarbonization are critically analyzed in this study. In this context, two cases regarding an ORC, which is used only for power generation without utilizing its waste heat and a heat pump operating on grid power, were examined and was concluded that they are not exergetically sustainable, if they operate as individual systems. This study instead developed an analysis model, which reveals with case studies and examples that a broad hybridization of combining ORC technology, heat pumps, absorption units, thermal storage, and other renewable energy resources, like solar and wind provides sustainable and exergetically rational design solutions. It is argued and verified that, within practical demand and supply constraints in the built environment, such hybrid systems lead to 4th generation district energy systems and beyond, like nearly-zero energy and exergy cities. In order to arrive such conclusions, new evaluation and rating metrics based on Rational Exergy Management Model were introduced. A novel nearly-zero energy and exergy design about a 20000-inhabitant town having geothermal energy potential at a production well-head temperature of 80o C is presented for a simplified purpose of demonstrating the algorithm of the new model This design incorporates ground-source heat pumps, waste heat utilization, cogeneration units, in addition to ORC system. Such an enrichment of the multiple systems even in a simplistic manner in an exergy economy cycle analytically reduces CO2 emissions by about 66%, when compared to a conventional district energy system utilizing natural gas. Yet analyses have shown that results are sensitive upon design constraints and local conditions and concludes that the only option of achieving a truly sustainable solution in terms of exergy towards net-zero status is optimum bundling of the energy resources and systems on a caseby-case design with the main aim of balancing the supply and demand exergy

A Nearly Net-Zero Exergy District as a Model for Smarter Energy Systems in the Context of Urban Metabolism

The planning of urban settlements requires a targeted approach towards more sustainable energy, water, and environment systems. This research work analyses the city of Uppsala and a district that is an urban renewal project at the site of former high voltage power lines, namely Östra Sala backe, which will have a new energy concept. The latter is analysed based on proposals for two phases that aim to reach a net-zero district target based on the quality of energy (exergy). An indicator set with five main categories is introduced based on per capita values to enable a comparable basis between the scales of the city and the district, including exergy per capita as a new indicator. The present status of Uppsala is further analysed based on Sankey diagrams to provide insight into the present urban metabolism of the city. The results indicate that the best practice values of Östra Sala backe based on phase two can achieve significant savings in per capita values, which include 5.5 MWh of energy usage, 6.1 MWh of exergy consumption, 33 m3 of water consumption, 22 kg of waste generation, and 4.2 tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Additional scenarios for Uppsala indicate that the district can be about 10 years ahead of the city’s existing performance

Motors of Change for R&D and Innovation towards Sustainable Energy in Turkey

<p><em>There is a revival of mission-oriented R&amp;D and innovation programs in prioritized areas that serve the aim of decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures. This paper analyzes the governance process in activating the innovation actors in the area of energy technologies in Turkey. This process that was coordinated by TÜBİTAK led to the National Energy R&amp;D and Innovation Strategy for 2011-2016. The three main phases of this process are mapped to be strategy-building, prioritization, and implementation involving six different participatory approaches. The Strategy is based on the strategic aims of mission-oriented R&amp;D projects, capacity advancement, commercialization, and governance. Two new, call-based grant programs launched with eleven energy calls in the first year are overviewed. These programs were key to activating a phase known as “motors of change” for the innovation system. The second year led to the selection of the topic of “Energy Efficiency” for a pilot technology roadmap process, which involved a separate, multi-actor governance process. The paper concludes with the key role of R&amp;D and innovation in allowing energy to contribute to the sustainable development of Turkey by utilizing energy resources effectively and efficiently.</em></p