As a continuation of this module’s topic, we have Charlie Spork presenting the case of the ‘Utrecht Energy Protocol’. This is a real example of the effort to change instruments in a city in the Netherlands.

Key takeaways

• The Utrecht Energy Protocol is a step-by-step manual for project developers and other local stakeholders to develop climate-neutral areas – an area where the total sustainable energy production equals the total energy used on a yearly basis. It is aimed at the energy use during the use phase of buildings. It does not yet consider the energy use during the construction and demolition phase of buildings, although this is getting more and more attention through the circular economy.
• On the building and plot level, we focus on reducing energy demand. Then, the city looks for ways to exchange energy between buildings or extract heat and cold from the direct environment. If the first two steps do not result in a climate-neutral area, the city looks to produce sustainable energy elsewhere to compensate for the remaining energy use. This energy production has to come from new wind or solar installations that directly benefit the development area.
• The Utrecht Energy Protocol also raises new challenges. The first one is related to resource allocation, the second challenge is that higher initial investments are required than before and these new energy installations and infrastructure take up much more space. In the building itself, in the soil and in public space. Moreover, developing climate-neutral areas also puts extra pressure on the electricity grid, which will need to be adapted to new conditions.