Renewable energies and energy efficiency in cities

Project description

Title: Renewable energies and energy efficiency in cities
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Brazil
Lead executing agency: Rio de Janeiro State Ministry for Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services (SEDEIS)
Overall term: 2013 to 2015

Context

Rio de Janeiro is home to the major Brazilian energy companies, which are also of international importance. In 2011 the governor of the federal state of Rio de Janeiro issued a decree enacting the Rio Capital da Energia (RCE) programme (energy capital Rio). This decree assigns to the State Ministry for Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services (SEDEIS) the political and organisational responsibility for tackling energy and climate-related challenges. Its declared goal is for Rio de Janeiro to assume a leading role in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies.

Investments in infrastructure and construction projects for the major sporting events – the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 – are intended to drive growth in the development and use of innovative technologies for renewable energies and energy efficiency.

However, many projects under the RCE programme have so far tended to be of an academic nature. Greater focus is therefore to be placed on promoting projects with practical relevance to the development of competitive markets in renewable energies and energy efficiency in Rio de Janeiro. Key actors and public programmes for stimulating these markets have not yet been involved in the implementation of the RCE programme. The state government requires more resources and support in improving its performance capacity in order to build up urban markets for renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Objective

In the context of the Rio Capital da Energia (RCE) programme, the government of Rio de Janeiro is building up urban markets for renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Approach

The project is working in three areas to help build up markets for renewable energies and energy efficiency in Rio de Janeiro.

1. It is advising the State Ministry for Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services (SEDEIS) on the strategic alignment and steering of the RCE programme. To support its implementation, capacity development is being carried out with a view to enhancing operational and management skills.
2. Project officers and staff receive application-oriented advice and training at the operational level on topics related to renewables and energy efficiency for demonstration projects.
3. Experience gained in demonstration projects is systematically recorded, evaluated and made available for developing relevant urban sub-markets.

Results

The project’s contributions to developing the RCE programme strategy have improved cooperation among institutions at state and municipal level. The RCE programme is now also assuming a stronger role within the state government as the initiator of activities in the field of renewables and energy efficiency. The State Ministry for Social Housing, for instance, has initiated the process for introducing energy efficiency factors into new buildings. Similarly, the State Ministry of Planning launched a working group which drew up and is now implementing the action plan for increasing energy efficiency in public buildings.

Six demonstration projects have been set up within the scope of integrated development partnerships with the private sector, public institutions or universities:

• A photovoltaic system was installed at Rio de Janeiro’s vocational education centre Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica and is to be used for training purposes. Integrating a corresponding component into the training courses of the centre is set to reduce the shortage of skilled workers in the field of photovoltaics.
• Support was provided to the Fundo Verde (Green Fund) to carry out two photovoltaic projects on the Rio de Janeiro State University campus, including what is currently the largest free standing system in Rio de Janeiro. Annually, EUR 2.5 million is invested through the Fund in projects to test and introduce sustainable energy production and mobility technologies on this campus.
• Following the implementation of jointly identified energy efficiency measures, the planetarium is the city’s first building to be granted an energy efficiency certificate. A building-integrated photovoltaic system is also being installed at the planetarium, which welcomes a large number of visitors.

Two other demonstration projects are currently being prepared within the public housing sector together with the state government of Rio de Janeiro and the national Ministry of Cities.