Although the national grid is the preferred source of electricity in most countries, and the aspiration in others, there are now powerful forces pushing the other way. With an increase in extreme weather events, houses and businesses were grateful to have diesel gensets or solar with battery to fall back on. This has become more of the selling proposition, though increasingly there are cost benefits as well. The situation is being turned on its head with the grid being used merely as backup. 70% of people will soon be in cities with 80% in prospect by 2050, becoming an urban story with a focus on how to make your own urban electricity – zero emission production.
The new IDTechEx Research report on the topic, “Electricity Generation by Urban Infrastructure: Zero Emission 2018-2050”, has a host of new infograms, forecasts, roadmaps and technology comparisons embracing activities of 241 organisations. This report shows howwe have entered a golden age where Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a practicality rather than an expensive dream. Newtechnologies are appearing, some invisibly retrofittable like solar window coating and glass that powers its own electrically-operated darkening for privacy and climate control. This hugely increases the addressable markets.
“Electricity Generation by Urban Infrastructure: Zero Emission 2018-2050” includes chapters on urban wind energy, urban photovoltaics, BIPV in action and self-powered multifunctional windows and glass. Electricity generating roads, paths, fences, lamp posts are appraised along with urban blue energy. The emphasis of the report is in on commercialisation and emerging options with real depth. It is the first report to give a twenty-year roadmap of the whole picture, embracing the campus, not just the buildings, because, for example, solar paths, fences, road furniture and roads must also be considered as a major part of the electricity generating package.
Although the report appraises the many new forms of photovoltaics from that three times as efficient to flexible and/or transparent PV for windows, it also looks at upcoming complementary technologies.
“Electricity Generation by Urban Infrastructure: Zero Emission 2018-2050” covers the whole urban electricity generation picture,focussing only on zero emission and looking forward all the way to 2050.
Add Comment