Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Roadmap for the Energy Transition in Reus

Project Summary:

The project aims to develop an Energy Transition Roadmap for Reus. The results will guide the policies and actions to be implemented in the short term (2025 and 2030), and indicate medium term needs (2030-2040).

In the project, Reus serves as a pilot initiative within the Metropolitan Area of Camp de Tarragona and at the provincial level. The proposal is intended to be not only a localized intervention but also to be replicable and scalable for other municipalities within and outside the metropolitan area. It aims to enhance synergies and increase integrated territorial development, thus facilitating the management and implementation of innovative and sustainable urban policies on a wider scale.

Main objectives:

  1. To determine the current state and future trends of the factors that influence Reus' energy demand, including climate, urban structure, mobility, demography, and socioeconomic structure, as well as existing regulations. This assessment will increase understanding of the factors that condition the energy transition.
  2. To carry out a comprehensive diagnosis of the city's energy consumption and production, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The objective is to identify the main sources of energy consumption and production and energy use patterns, and to use the data collected in the territorial diagnosis.
  3. To co-design clear energy objectives for 2030 through a participatory process involving the community and the socio-economic and institutional agents of Reus. This stage seeks to generate consensus on proposals that are realistic and ambitious, aligned with local needs and aspirations.
  4. To develop a framework that includes public policies and private initiatives needed to achieve the energy goals set. This objective also includes the creation of a monitoring platform to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the strategies implemented.

Expected impact:

The energy transition project in Reus is designed to generate several positive impacts that will transform the city's energy and climate management. The creation of an open database on Reus is one of the fundamental pillars of the project, as it will allow informed and specific planning for the real needs of the city.

This database will facilitate the precise identification of intervention needs, allowing a more efficient allocation of resources and better preparation for future climate and energy challenges.

With the strategic capacity to anticipate and mitigate challenges, the city will be able to develop specific strategies to take advantage of opportunities for a successful climate and energy transition. These strategies will increase the effectiveness of local actions and policies. At the same time, a detailed understanding of current energy consumption will allow the identification of areas where efficiency can be improved. This will lead to the design of specific measures to reduce energy consumption in key sectors, thus contributing to greater cost savings and energy efficiency.

Including diverse perspectives in energy planning will ensure that policies and actions reflect the needs and aspirations of the community. This will be done through participatory workshops that will encourage inclusion and transparency, generating trust and support for the proposed actions. These efforts will culminate in the creation of a reference document that will guide political and investment decisions in the coming years, providing a solid basis for the definition of specific measures and investment priorities. The project also includes the definition of 'realistic energy goals and aligned with local needs, reflecting a broad consensus of the community.

All the information generated by the research team will be made available very soon.