Cities consume up to 75% of global primary energy, creating substantial challenges for decarbonization especially for megacities, i.e. urban agglomerations with more than 10 million inhabitants. Megacities are mainly located in developing countries and face challenges in building infrastructures to ensure modern and clean energy access to citizens, while coping with lifestyle changes. Research on the role of megacities for global energy transition needs more attention by addressing the impact on the urban energy system and the relevant cross-sectorial implications.

This paper assesses different pathways for energy transition of megacities (supply and all demand sectors) using the Cairo megacity as case study. Greater Cairo is the 3rd biggest megacity in the world. With 22 million inhabitants, Greater Cairo (GC) represents the core center of energy consumption in Egypt as it encompasses 22% of overall population of Egypt and 43% of overall urban population.

A city-specific TIMES energy system model is used to investigate how energy supply and demand evolve till 2050, impacts in primary and final energy consumption and CO2 emissions considering different socio-economic urban pathways. The MARKAL-EFOM System (TIMES) model is applied to the Greater Cairo region to investigate how energy supply and demand will evolve till 2050, and what are the impacts in terms of final energy consumption, GHG emissions, as well as share of renewable energy sources consumption in total final energy consumption.

The dimension of megacities poses massive sustainability challenges in terms of housing, infrastructure and basic services. Nonetheless, given the rapidity of development and the magnitude of impact, they can be a potential locus to make the urgent energy system shift towards decarbonization. The substantial challenges that megacities are facing are forcing them to rapidly find solutions in order to guarantee energy access to all the urban population and to improve inhabitants’ well-being. Nevertheless, worldwide initiatives and international agreements urge them also to address GHG emissions mitigation and reduce energy demand through local-scale energy system planning and policies. The integration of renewables is fundamental to lower the oil dependency and to achieve the decarbonization goals.

In this paper, Greater Cairo (GC) is proposed as case study for modelling the role renewable energy systems in lowering the carbon emissions in megacities. In the past 40 years, guaranteeing access to energy and improving quality of life has been a core challenge to sustainable development policies for developing countries. This study assesses sustainable pathways to cope with rising energy needs deriving from urban development, improved access to energy and a higher transport demand. Specific modelling challenges for megacities are pinpointed.


The Importance of Renewable Energy Systems in Meeting Rising Energy Needs of Megacities in a Sustainable Way -  Case Study of Greater Cairo

Division / Sponsor:
Advanced Energy Systems Division (AESD) & Solar Energy Division (SED)

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ES/ES2020/volume/83631

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