Current Challenges of Urban Energy Planning in a Norwegian Municipality

Abstract

Transitioning urban areas into sustainable communities is an important part of combating the current energy and emission challenges facing the world. The Norwegian municipality of Oslo has set ambitious energy and emission reduction goals for the coming decades. This analysis seeks to uncover how these goals are incorporated in the planning practice in the municipality. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with four energy planners employed in or related to this municipality’s current urban development, this issue was explored. The data gathered from the interviews was analysed in relation to existing literature to reveal underlying problems, and what the potential benefits of a more integrated approach between the two planning agencies can yield. Results from the interviews reveal that there are underlying challenges regarding system definitions, transformation of existing urban areas, making the right prioritizations, and indicate that integration between departments to reach common goals has potential for improvement. The urban planning department focuses mostly on other, non-energy related aspects of planning. From the data gathered it is clear that a stronger implementation of energy assessment in the urban planning practice can be beneficial for achieving the energy and emission reduction goals set by the municipality. New assessment methods and tools need to be developed and current tools should be stronger implemented in decision chains. Results are valuable for any government with similar challenges. As urban planning decisions will often have long-lasting implications this issue is pressing.