Sustainable long-term energy planning for a district in Suzhou City, China

A city district in Suzhou aims to develop a progressive, long-term sustainable energy strategy. This study examines possible energy planning pathways for the district through the development of a long-term optimization model and a range of energy scenarios until 2050. The scenarios explore different CO2 emission reduction strategies and technology mixes/parameters. Results suggest which low-carbon energy conversion technologies and efficiency measures should be adopted by the district alongside supportive local policies and targets. Photovoltaic (PV) and waste energy converters are two renewable energy technologies which are taken up at maximum possible rates in the evaluated scenarios to reduce long-term CO2 emissions. Once local renewable resources are exhausted, natural gas-based combined-cycle plants (CCP) and combined heat and power plants (CHP) are required to further reduce emissions, alongside efficiency measures in the built environment. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies also demonstrate the potential to drastically reduce emissions; however, local feasibility studies are needed to support their implementation. Study results prescribe renewable energy share and CO2 emission reduction targets until 2050 for the district. Appropriate local policy and planning targets should also be accompanied by supplementary support studies, including local feasibility, renewable energy resource, and demand-side management studies.