Planejamento energético de cidades inteligentes: perspectivas para a regulação setorial da eficiência energética

Abstract

The environmental imbalance caused by anthropic actions has led to climate changes that affect the stable supply of energy and the quality of life of individuals due to the pollution caused by the use of non-renewable energy sources. This has put pressure on governments to adopt a new regulatory approach to energy consumption, including in Brazil. Energy efficiency measures and incentives to diversify the energy matrix with renewable sources were incorporated into sustainable development plans after the 1988 Federal Constitution and years of international conferences on climate change. To implement measures that minimize environmental impacts and promote sustainable development, the urban environment is one of the main focuses, since it is where over half the world's population resides and where the consumption of natural resources and energy is concentrated. The promotion of sustainability in the urban environment then goes through the structuring of an efficient energy system, in order to reduce energy losses and reduce environmental impacts from energy exploration. As a means to implement the guidelines of the Brazilian regulatory framework on energy efficiency, formulated on the basis of the central role of the Union but which faces difficulties of application at the local level, the present study aims to investigate energy regulation at the sectoral level in the urban environment, in the respective sectors of transportation, civil construction and the energy sector. In a second level, the study investigates the possibilities of incorporating digital instruments in the urban energy system, at its equipment, building, city zone and integrated urban centre levels as a whole. To this end, the study uses qualitative research, based on the hypothetical-deductive method, making use of bibliographic sources and applied studies. The conclusion is that there are specific regulations for each of the three study sectors, but they have energy efficiency as a general principle of action for the Public Administration. In contrast, there are several regulations that promote energy efficiency at the equipment level, as in the promotion of hybrid vehicles, and of buildings, with new buildings whose structures are more efficient and renovation of old buildings. The incorporation of a digitalised system can contribute to ascertaining the needs of each region and levels of energy consumption, as well as fostering the use of technologies such as distributed generation.