The Co-benefits evaluation tool for the urban energy system is a simulation model designed for evaluating the climate co-benefits of an urban energy system in the short term. The tool evaluates climate co-benefits of the urban energy system based on different scenarios of socioeconomic, technological, and demographic developments.

The tool relates systematically the climate change based on the specific energy demand in different sectors in cities to the corresponding social, economic, and technological factors that affect this demand. It calculates the total energy demand for each end-use category, aggregating the urban energy system into three main ‘energy consumer’ sectors: Residential, Commercial, and Service.

Key questions addressed:

• What are the proper methods to pursue the climate co-benefits approach for urban energy system?
• What are the potentials to reduce GHG emissions and air pollution by improving energy efficiency and using low emission technologies in big cities?

Sample data input:

• Regional demographic related data
• Living conditions of the population
• Type of residence
• Average floor area in commercial sector
• Active labor force
• Number of employees in service sector
• Installed capacity by power source

Sample quantitative output:

• GHG emissions and air pollution
• Cost benefit analysis to compare scenarios
• Benefit-cost ratio (BCR)
• Payback period (PBP)
• Energy demand

Resources:

Urban energy system co-benefits evaluation tool guidebook