The Potential of RES in the Reduction of Air Pollution: The SWOT Analysis of Smart Energy Management Solutions for Krakow Functional Area (KrOF)

Tomasz Jelenski (), Marta Dendys, Barbara Tomaszewska and Leszek Pająk
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Marta Dendys: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Al., 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Barbara Tomaszewska: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Al., 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Leszek Pająk: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Al., 31-155 Kraków, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-26

Abstract: Health impacts and a decrease in the quality of life caused by air pollution is a major problem worldwide. Krakow is one of the most affected cities in the EU by air pollution mostly caused by burning solid fuels in households’ furnaces. It is considered that the most effective remedies would be adequate spatial planning solutions and application of low-emission sources including renewable energy sources (RES). This article draws from the analysis of the use of RES as a means for reducing harmful emissions in Krakow Functional Area (KrOF). The inventories of renewable energy sources and systems were compiled by the authors as a part of the EU project “Smart Edge—Sustainable Metropolitan Areas and the Role of The Edge City”. Using the data from the inventories, a SWOT analysis has been carried out to identify factors that determine the smart management of the RES potential, particularly the decisions of households on the transition towards RES. The results of the analysis have shown that many actions have been taken at the national, regional, and local levels but the greatest influence bear the solutions initiated and implemented at the communal level. The conclusion is that legislative regulations should be combined with locally tailor-made instruments. The proposed method of analysis can be applied in other metropolitan areas as a diagnostic procedure supporting action planning to solve air-quality problems caused by distributed emission sources.

Keywords: air pollution; clean energy; distributed energy sources; layperson point of view; metropolitan area; renewable energy sources; smart governance; sustainable urban development; SWOT analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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