Energy Transition Pathways for Deep Decarbonization of the Greater Montreal Region: An Energy Optimization Framework

Area of Science:

• Urban sustainability
• Energy systems analysis
• Climate change mitigation

Background:

• Cities house over 50% of the global population, consuming 75% of primary energy and emitting 70% of anthropogenic carbon.
• Urban population is projected to reach 68% by 2050, intensifying energy demands and environmental pressures.
• Sustainable urban energy provision necessitates integrated planning and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the Greater Montreal region's energy system from 2020 to 2050.
• To assess the impact of environmental mitigation policies on urban energy systems.
• To identify optimal strategies for sustainable energy procurement and carbon emission reduction in cities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the open-source Energy-Technology-Environment Model (ETEM), a long-term, bottom-up energy system model.
• Simulated a deep decarbonization scenario for the Greater Montreal region.
• Analyzed energy consumption patterns and emission sources across key urban sectors.

Main Results:

• Projected significant CO2-eq emission reductions by 2050 under a deep decarbonization scenario.
• Transportation sector: 6.9 million tons CO2-eq reduction.
• Commercial sector: 1.6 million tons CO2-eq reduction.
• Residential sector: 1 million tons CO2-eq reduction.

Conclusions:

• Electrification of transportation (EVs) and heating (heat pumps) are key mitigation strategies.
• Enhancing building energy efficiency through insulation is crucial for emission reduction.
• Integrated energy system modeling provides valuable insights for sustainable urban development and climate policy.