A study on the development of decarbonisation projects in each municipality according to local characteristics

A Case Study in Kawasaki city

Abstract

The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21, has highlighted the urgent need for countries to shift towards environmentally conscious energy use, with urban decarbonization being a key focus. In Japan, 991 municipalities have declared themselves Zero Carbon Cities and are developing decarbonization initiatives at the local level. However, one of the main challenges for these municipalities is creating decarbonization plans that take into account the local energy consumption structure. To address this, it is necessary to develop decarbonization strategies tailored to local characteristics, such as building usage and design, while also determining the right balance between renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. This study aims to create decarbonization plans specific to regional features and assess the potential decarbonization outcomes and business viability of these strategies. The findings suggest that choosing the right measures based on building type and usage is crucial, and that energy collaboration between neighborhoods is key to achieving decarbonization at the municipal level.