LAUSR

ABSTRACT A rapid urbanisation rate, coupled with an increasing global population, equates to a surge in energy demand; threatening sustainable transitions from fossil fuel. However, faced with the impacts of climate change and increasing geopolitical accords, cities are turning towards Renewable Energy sources to meet this demand, but this is a complex matter in Megacities where land availability is scarce for the construction of new, or larger, power plants. As the number of Megacities is expected to increase in the near future, the need for decentralised and sustainable solutions that are technically and economically viable for both the state and the private sector need to be sought. This paper dwells into an extensive review of literature studying energy generation in the case of Megacities, and highlight the dimensions required for them to achieve increased sustainability and resilience. A model, inspired from urban complexity theories, aimed at generating decentralised grid networks -based on the dimensions of Energy Diversification, Land Fragmentation and Fiscal Mechanisms, is proposed with a new way at looking at energy grids from a geometrical and morphological perspective while supporting economic dimensions that will encourage its implementation at both policy and project level. This paper is aimed towards Urban and Energy Planners and Policy Makers looking at how to power Megacities as well as cities facing rapid urbanisation.