Author | Raquel C. Pico

What is the consistent electricity consumption of a community of residents? And an entire block? And a neighborhood? Every situation varies, but one way to explore this is by conducting an experiment where we walk through each room in our home, noting the number of devices that are consistently switched on. An average household consumes significant amounts of electricity. When you multiply this consumption by every household in a city, the numbers become astronomical. When you factor in specific peaks, such as after-work hours, power grids can approach their capacity limits.

To prevent power outages, it is crucial to comprehend their causes and incorporate this understanding into urban planning processes. Smart grids enable companies and urban managers to monitor and adjust power generation and distribution, enhancing their ability to understand and respond to fluctuations in demand.

One notable instance of smart grid deployment is in Austin, the capital of Texas (USA). A metropolitan area with over two million residents, making it one of the most populous cities in both the state and the country. Over the past decade, the city has been experimenting with smart power grids as part of its energy transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy usage model.

What is the Pecan Street Project

The Pecan Street Project lies at the heart of this transformation. It all started several years ago with a collaboration between the city and the University of Austin in an economic development project centered around the energy transition. Initially, their focus was on the Mueller neighborhood within the city. In this neighborhood, they installed an energy usage monitoring system and solar panels on the first participating households.

Since then, the project has expanded significantly, becoming a widespread initiative spanning multiple neighborhoods in various cities, rather than being confined to just one neighborhood in a single city. In total, the Pecan Street Project now operates in an additional ten U.S. states and in Puerto Rico. Its methodology and smart grid solutions are implemented across all of these locations.

The implementation of smart grids not only facilitates the adjustment of power flows but also allows for the collection of usage data. This generates a database with enormous research potential, offering a realistic view of energy usage patterns. As a result, it sheds light on the necessary adjustments and enhancements required by the electricity grid. This is particularly important since, as highlighted on the project website, the energy transition is a new process in which citizens must play a pivotal role. It is precisely those citizens who are essential in this research equation. Capturing the electricity consumption patterns of everyday people is crucial, and this image needs to be as diverse as possible to reflect the diversity of society. Understanding what the energy transition process requires and how it should be conducted to accommodate these various uses is vital.

Each day, 15 billion data points on energy usage are collected, accessed by two thousand researchers in over 60 countries. In fact, they now measure not only energy data but also other crucial factors for the green transition of cities, such as water usage.

With the recovered data, they have already succeeded in breaking down the typical energy consumption of a household into minutes. During the pandemic, they were able to comprehend how such a rapid and abrupt change affected urban energy consumption patterns. Another case study focused on understanding the feasibility of transitioning to a vehicle-to-grid model, where the unused energy of electric cars is fed back into the energy grid during periods when the vehicles are parked, and then retrieved when needed. Their conclusion was that the idea is indeed feasible, though it is important to consider its weaknesses.

All of these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how cities should be designed to be greener. By combining these discoveries with other proposals such as the implementation of vertical farms, cities can be designed to be more environmentally friendly.

The potential of renewables in Texas

In a way, Austin’s geographical features play a key role in this green transition process. Renewable energy sources have emerged as crucial components of Texas’ energy strategy.

The ecosystem of clean energy in Texas sustains over 150,000 jobs, reflecting strong public support for renewable energy adoption driven by both environmental concerns and economic pragmatism. In regions with abundant sunlight, the potential for solar power is exceptionally high. Projections indicate that Texas aims to increase its solar energy capacity by a factor of 70 by 2030, solidifying it as a cornerstone of the state’s renewable energy mix.

Supporting this transition is the fact that the cost of solar panels in Texas is significantly lower than the national average in the United States. Moreover, as emphasized by the U.S. press, various local and state assistance programs are actively promoting the adoption of renewable energies in households through incentives such as tax exemptions and discounts on energy bills. The benefits associated with installing solar panels in homes, include enhanced real estate value.

Texas has emerged as the primary renewable energy producer in the United States, surpassing even California in this regard. While Texas was the first state to implement a renewable energy mandate, the renewable energy sector has become a focal point for political contention in recent years. In addition to its significant solar energy potential, Texas also generates a substantial portion of its energy from other renewable sources. It is, in fact, the leader in wind power generation in the United States. In its energy mix, Texas now derives 40% of its total production from renewable energy sources.

Other green initiatives

Austin is not alone in its endeavor to transform city neighborhoods into green energy zones. Other initiatives are also embracing the use of smart grids and renewable energy sources as part of their transformation efforts.

Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town (Japan)

This experimental neighborhood of Fujisawa, Japan, is dedicated to pioneering technological solutions aimed at addressing energy and sustainability challenges. Solar power, autonomous vehicles, and smart grids are among the key tools being leveraged to achieve these goals.

Sarriguren, Navarre (Spain)

Recognized by the UN for its exemplary sustainable development practices, the city of Sarriguren in Spain made a deliberate choice to embrace ecocity principles during its recent period of urban expansion, prioritizing sustainability over mere urban growth. They took into consideration the importance of incorporating green spaces and designing buildings with sustainability in mind.

Beddington Zero Energy Development, London (United Kingdom)

Also known as BedZED, this project located on the outskirts of London, United Kingdom, not only utilized reclaimed materials from surrounding demolitions to reduce its environmental footprint, but it also features its own wastewater treatment plant and generates its own energy.

Photographs | billnoll/iStock, Pgiam/iStock, Arpad Benedek/iStock, RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/iStock