Today, we will focus on the theme of "Energy Utilization" and share innovative governance solutions from five cities. Without further ado, let’s learn about making good use of energy with Guangzhou Award Secretariat!

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil

Organic Waste to Biogas in Rio de Janeiro’s Biomethanisation unit

The Rio de Janeiro collaboration initiative “Biomethanisation Unit – Treatment of the organic fraction of urban solid residues by anaerobic digestion for energy generation and organic compost production” aims at developing and implementing the first Brazilian and Latin American technology to treat the organic fraction of urban solid waste, regardless as to whether it was segregated at the source or not. The unit has the capacity to treat 35 tons per day, which is the equivalent to serving a population of 70,000 people per day. It can produce 10-20 tons of organic compound per day and can generate 3,150 Nm³ of biogas / day or up to 2,408 MWh / year of electricity. Through this pilot initiative, the city intends to identify and validate optimal operational parameters and to establish a new business model for the sector, contributing therefore to the fight against climate change. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/rio-biomethanisation-unit

Seattle, United States

Seattle's Fossil Fuel Free Waste Collection Fleet

As the majority of Seattle’s climate emissions come from transportation, City leaders are exploring every opportunity to reduce transportation emissions. When the 10-year contract for waste haulers came up for renewal in 2018, Seattle’s waste and water utility—Seattle Public Utilities—saw an excellent opportunity to use their leverage to implement a major change in waste hauling services.

Seattle’s new waste fleet includes 200 new clean emissions vehicles powered by electricity, renewable natural gas, and renewable diesel. This includes two full size 100% electricity recycling trucks. Check out to see more at：

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/seattle-fossil-fuel-free-waste-collection-fleet

New York, United States

Sunset Park: Community Solar Energy in NYC

Sunset Park Solar is NYC's first community solar project owned and operated by a cooperative for the benefit of local residents and businesses. Community solar allows renters, homeowners, and small businesses to go solar without installing solar panels on their roof. Subscribers to the community solar project not only help their city mitigate emissions, they save money on their utility bills by receiving solar energy credits from projects on roofs elsewhere in the city.

Through a partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Sunset Park Solar is being developed on the roof of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, a City-owned industrial park. Check out to see more at：

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/nyc-sunset-park-solar

Curitiba, Brazil

Waterfalls to Generate Clean Energy: Curitiba’s First Hydroelectric Power Plant

Curitiba is taking advantage of the existing waterfalls from artificial lakes in its parks to generate clean energy for the city. The installation of the first Hydroelectric Energy Generator (CGH), in the Barigui Park, is set to produce clean energy without damaging the environment. This is thanks to the energy efficiency program of Curitiba City Hall, which also encompasses new legislation that allows the use of public spaces to produce renewable energy. The project was accompanied by an environmental impact assessment, concluding that there is no change on the lake’s flow rate nor issues for the animals. The hydroelectric energy reduces the necessity of using thermoelectric plants, which corresponds to 14% of the Brazilian energy matrix. This will thus reduce CO2e emissions, and contribute to the municipal resources savings.

The project encompasses multiple actions, providing a landscape structure around the CGH to disclose environmental and educational actions to the benefit of the population, nurturing awareness about clean energy, and to the preservation of the environment and actions to tackle climate change. Check out to see more at：

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/curitiba-hydro-energy

Venice, Italy

The Circular Economy in Venice: Green Fuel For the City’s Boat Fleet

In March of 2018, the City of Venice, AVAM Group, VERITAS Spa and ENI signed an agreement to test-run an experimental project based on the use of the "Eni Diesel +" by the boat public fleet. The new Eni fuel is constituted of 15% renewable content (waste cooking oil) which will be supplied to the Venetian public transport company at the same cost as usual diesel. The main purpose of this agreement is to test new technologies that will help implement the circular economy. Check out to see more at：

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/the-circular-economy-in-venice-green-fuel-for-the-city-s-boat-fleet

(Editor: Adam Xie)