Development and Validation of a Computer Model for Assessing Energy Demand and Supply Patterns in the Urban Environment

Abstract

This paper describes a two year project, funded by the European Union, to develop a methodology for improving energy management in the urban environment, with the aid of a computer model. The methodology was applied to two urban regions: the city of Leicester in UK; and Cerdanyola, part of the Area Metropolitana de Barcelona, in Spain (Boyle, 1994b). The Energy and Environment Research Unit at the Open University carried out the initial model development and applied the model to Leicester, whilst the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona applied the model to Cerdanyola. The model that was developed as part of this project is discussed, with particular emphasis on the modelling process. The paper then goes on to discuss the application of the model to the city of Leicester, and the results obtained from the model describing the energy demand and supply patterns of Leicester for the years 1984 to 1994. A comparison is made between the energy demand and supply patterns of Leicester and the UK for 1990.