The City of the Future: From Coal to Electric Vehicles
The introduction of modern technologies to the urban transformation will lead to the development of new sectors of the economy – such was conclusion reached by government and business experts during the ‘Building the City of the Future’ session held as part of Russian Energy Week.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Banking on reliable transport systems and energy efficiency
“As for [...] the climate and the
environment, it would seem most likely that future development in this area will
come from a more efficient system of grid generation, transport, and consumption.
In recent years, Moscow has seen major changes in generation with the
construction of seven powerful, state-of-the-art combined cycle gas turbines, the
closure of 50 inefficient boilers, the renovation of roughly 2,500 heat
networks and 17,000 power grids, new standards for heat consumption in the
construction of new buildings, renovation programmes, and so forth. As a
result, despite a 40% increase in gross product in Moscow, energy consumption
has not increased by a single percentage point. […] Maintaining and creating
reliable transport systems for delivering energy resources, generation, and consumer
energy efficiency – these are the key components of our current success. And in
the future, I am sure that our energy consumption will remain stable even as
the city continues to grow along with its economy and increased transport,” Mayor
of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin.
“Rapidly increasing the number of electric buses is a smart decision, as is the choice to [...] improve energy efficiency in residential development,” Global Energy Association President Sergey Brilev.
PROBLEMS
The experience of other countries isn’t a fit for Russia
“All of our [...] technologies
must be green. [...] The standards for energy consumption must be strict. [...]
We are also trying to figure out how to combine traditional energy sources with
green energy in one city,” State Grid Corporation of China Deputy Director for
Information Technology Jiye Wang.
“When they say that the
existing energy supply scheme for a city like Moscow must change and we must
produce a significant part of energy from renewable sources like solar energy
and wind turbines, all I can say is that to get enough wind power to supply
Moscow, we would have to cover the entire Central Federal District with wind
turbines without any place left for people or livestock. It’s a completely
futuristic scenario. [...] We will still consume a huge amount of heat and
generate a huge amount of electricity in parallel. So it wouldn’t make any
sense to pull the plug on [the existing] energy system and switch over to
alternative sources without a good plan,” Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin.
“It was predicted that coal would cease to be a source of power, and here it is emerging as a new resource. And in this sense, it would be best to hedge our bets a bit. [...] We have our own special features, [...] cheap energy. [...] Until we bring other sources of generation into alignment, [...] there is no point in pouring in investment. At the same time, we need to spend money on research into this and maintain a certain level of competence,” Sberbank Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board Herman Gref.
SOLUTIONS
New technologies in urban development call for new industries
“It turns out Smart Cities are
creating whole new industries,” Global Energy Association President Sergey
Brilev.
“Electric buses are all from
KAMAZ, thanks to a large order from Moscow. Moscow [...] signed a life cycle
contract, and so they also operate it [the transport. – Ed.] and improve
it themselves. [...] It’s the kind of order that creates a whole industry,” Sberbank
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board Herman Gref.
“80% of riders are currently switching
to electric transport. [...] We have set ourselves the task of switching
completely to electric buses, and it’s a goal we’ll reach. […] There are
already about 3,500 charging points [for electric cars. – Ed.] in Moscow,
and we have set ourselves the task of supplying 1,000 public charging points in
the coming years, 1,500 including commercial and closed recharging systems. […]
The Moscow power system is currently generating a surplus of about 12–14%. Even
if we get a million electric cars in Moscow, consumption will only increase by
4%. [...] 80% of atmospheric emissions today come from cars, and the switch to
electric is a top priority for cities. [...] We will set ourselves the task of
seeing the majority of cars on the streets of Moscow become electric in the
foreseeable future. [...] We will move as fast as possible,” Mayor of Moscow
Sergey Sobyanin.
For more information, visit
the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en.
The Russian Energy Week International Forum is a key global platform for discussing current trends in the development of the modern fuel and energy sector. This event is traditionally held at the highest level, featuring the participation of leaders from the largest companies in the energy industry. In 2022, more than 70 events, with the involvement of over 270 speakers, were held as part of REW. The Forum attracted over 3,000 participants and media representatives from Russia, as well as 83 foreign countries and territories.
The Forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, with the support of the Moscow City Government.
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