• Start year: 2011
• Type: Assessment/Research
• Status: Completed

Energy consumption at 23 building housing 28 municipal
services was monitored and monitoring for 31 buildings
housing more than 43 municipal services is projected.
Additionally, readings are being made at temperature and
humidity probes at a number of agency offices in order to
detect operative dysfunctions in buildings that have since
been corrected; consumption-impact visualizations have
led to several upgrade investments. This measure also
makes it possible to visualize the consumption curve as
well as project photovoltaic plate production in order to
evaluate a building’s self-sufficiency levels.

• Start year:
• Type: Policy/Strategies/Action Plans
• Status: In operation

Compromís de Barcelona pel Clima - Barcelona Commitment for the Climate (see document)

• Start year: 2013
• Type: Policy/Strategies/Action Plans
• Status: In operation

This document covers the state of the environment in Barcelona, focusing on different aspects related to:
1) Energy and climate change mitigation.
2) Resilience and climate change adaptation

• Start year: 2011
• Type: Technical/Infrastructure investment
• Status: Completed

The project consists of installing solar-thermal sanitary cold
and hot water production systems. Solar energy can power
thermal absorption coolers that produce cold based on a
heat source: a 90 m2 solar thermal catchment system that
feeds a solar cooling system with 17 kW residual heat recuperation
to support a dehumidifying system in the existing
pool. The residual heat will also cover 60% of the necessary
energy to heat the pool and other sanitary water installations.
In total an annual energy savings of 150,000 kWh is
expected and will avoid emitting 30 metric tons of carbon
equivalent yearly.

• Start year:
• Type: Policy/Strategies/Action Plans
• Status: In operation

In 2000, Barcelona was the first European city to develop and implement a Solar Thermal Ordinance (STO), making it compulsory to use solar energy to supply 60 percent of running hot water in all new buildings, renovated buildings, or buildings changing their use. The STO has been integrated into the overarching political and planning framework for climate change mitigation. Within this framework, Barcelona aims to achieve energy self-sufficiency in the long term through the promotion of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources.
As a result of the STO, the surface area of installed solar panels in Barcelona increased from 1,650 square meters (m2) in 2000 to 87,600 m2 in 2010. At the time of installation, this carried a projected energy savings potential of over 70,000 megawatt hours (MWh) per year, and a projected avoided emission potential of 4,300 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.1 However, the acceptance of solar thermal technology by stakeholders has not developed as expected, and in 2011 this led Barcelona to revise the projected achievements to 11,222 MWh and 1973 tons of CO2 per year.2 To consolidate acceptance of the Ordinance, and as part of its integrated approach towards energy self sufficiency, the City Council has strengthened its governance framework and stakeholder engagement efforts.

• Start year:
• Type: Policy/Strategies/Action Plans
• Status: In operation

• Start year: 2011
• Type: Technical/Infrastructure investment
• Status: Completed

A pilot construction project for solar photovoltaic installations
on shared walls that is timed to coincide with common
wall auto-consumption mode rehabilitation and retrofits.
The idea is that part of the electrical energy the plates
produce is consumed by the building itself to help reduce
neighbors’ dependence on outside energy sources. The energy
the building does not absorb is redirected to cover future
public energy consumption.