Readiness for Ecocities in Egypt. Insights Into the Current State of Ecocity Systems, Technologies and Concepts
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NOL CH OG E Y T • • R E E C S N E E A I 161 R C C S H • S H N I G O I H S L I I V G • H S T Readiness for EcoCities in Egypt Insights into the current state of EcoCity systems, technologies and concepts Åsa Hedman | Carmen Antuña Rozado | Ola Balbaa | Yehia ElMahgary | Ali El-Nashar | Ahmed ElShazly | Mona GamalEldin | Ahmad Hamza | Jutta Jantunen | Ali Kamel | Abdelazim Negm | Heba Saeed | Boshra Salem | Mohamed Shahin | Ahmed Tawfik| Pekka Tuominen | Walaa Youssef | Ahmed Yousry VTT TECHNOLOGY 161 Readiness for EcoCities in Egypt Insights into the current state of EcoCity systems, technologies and concepts Åsa Hedman, Carmen Antuña Rozado, Jutta Jantunen & Pekka Tuominen VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ola Balbaa, Yehia ElMahgary, Ahmed ElShazly, Mona GamalEldin, Ahmad Hamza, Ali Kamel, Abdelazim Negm, Heba Saeed & Ahmed Tawfik E-JUST Egypt-Japanese University of Science and Technology Ali El-Nashar, Boshra Salem, Mohamed Shahin & Walaa Youssef Alexandria University Ahmed Yousry Cairo University ISBN 978-951-38-8136-8 (URL: http://www.vtt.fi/publications/index.jsp) VTT Technology 161 ISSN-L 2242-1211 ISSN 2242-122X (Online) Copyright © VTT 2014 JULKAISIJA – UTGIVARE – PUBLISHER VTT PL 1000 (Tekniikantie 4 A, Espoo) 02044 VTT Puh. 020 722 111, faksi 020 722 7001 VTT PB 1000 (Teknikvägen 4 A, Esbo) FI-02044 VTT Tfn +358 20 722 111, telefax +358 20 722 7001 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland P.O. Box 1000 (Tekniikantie 4 A, Espoo) FI-02044 VTT, Finland Tel. +358 20 722 111, fax +358 20 722 7001 Readiness for EcoCities in Egypt Insights into the current state of EcoCity systems, technologies and concepts Åsa Hedman, Carmen Antuña Rozado, Ola Balbaa, Yehia ElMahgary, Ali El-Nashar, Ahmed ElShazly, Mona GamalEldin, Ahmad Hamza, Jutta Jantunen, Ali Kamel, Abdelazim Negm, Heba Saeed, Boshra Salem, Mohamed Shahin, Ahmed Tawfik, Pekka Tuominen, Walaa Youssef & Ahmed Yousry. Espoo 2014. VTT Technology 161. 77 p. + app. 11 p. Abstract The objective of this report is to provide a general overview of the current state of urban planning, energy systems, water and waste management, transportation planning and raising general awareness. One objective is also to provide some general information about what the EcoCity concept means in the Egyptian context. Some case examples are given in order to give an idea of the practical conditions on the ground. An EcoCity essentially has high ecological quality, but at the same time it is technologically sophisticated and modern. The attempts to build an EcoCity so far have been based on optimization of different sectors or technologies, and thus they are a compromise between the high-level targets and the present level of design. However, there is not just one EcoCity concept but a variety of possibilities that need to be adjusted to fit the local context, local culture and local economic realities. This is the way to achieve a possible solution with regard to the local resources, but at the same time to meet the high goals set for an EcoCity. High-tech solutions are one way to the EcoCity, but they are not the only goal of an EcoCity. The main elements of an EcoCity are a dense city structure, clean energy production, minimal energy consumption, sustainable transport solutions, ecological water and waste solutions and the inclusion of social aspects. In Egypt the biggest challenges in terms of EcoCities concern transportation. Bigger cities have big problems with too many private cars and the lack of functioning public transportation systems. Water resources are scarce in Egypt, and they have therefore to be given special focus when planning sustainable city structures. There is a high level of know-how about water handling systems. The main challenges are in finding investments for the solutions. As regards energy, there is a major saving potential in terms of electricity usage. Regarding renewable sources, the biggest potential is in solar energy. To achieve sustainable cities, focus must also be put on awareness-raising activities and on developing governance structure. Keywords EcoCity, city planning, renewable energy, sustainability 3 Preface The aim of this publication is to give an insight into the current state of Egypt’s EcoCities and aspects related to those. These aspects cover urban planning, energy systems, water and waste management, transportation planning and general awareness-raising. The publication has been written in co-operation between the Egypt-Japanese University of Science & Technology, E-JUST and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Experts from Alexandria University and Cairo University have also contributed to this report. This publication is part of the joint project “EcoCity Capacity building in NBC” which aims to raising the capacity of the EcoCity know-how within E-JUST. The project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. 4 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................... 3 Preface ............................................................................................................. 4 List of symbols ................................................................................................ 7 1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 9 1.1 Objectives and structure ..................................................................... 9 1.2 EcoCities and sustainability............................................................... 11 1.3 EcoCities as ecosystems .................................................................. 12 1.4 EcoCities and governance ................................................................ 13 2. Energy systems ...................................................................................... 16 2.1 Oil and gas ....................................................................................... 16 2.2 Hydro energy .................................................................................... 20 2.3 Wind energy ..................................................................................... 20 2.4 Solar energy ..................................................................................... 22 2.5 Biomass energy ................................................................................ 23 2.6 Egypt’s renewable energy strategy .................................................... 24 2.7 Power generation costs .................................................................... 27 2.8 Regulatory status of the energy sector .............................................. 29 2.9 Policies and incentives...................................................................... 31 3. Energy efficient architecture and planning ............................................ 34 3.1 Spaces ............................................................................................. 35 3.2 Orientation and shape of building ...................................................... 35 3.3 Patios............................................................................................... 37 3.4 Facilities ........................................................................................... 38 3.5 Walls and roofs................................................................................. 38 4. Water and waste management ................................................................ 40 4.1 Water management .......................................................................... 40 4.2 Waste recycling, treatment and vaporization ...................................... 41 4.3 Case example: New Borg El Arab City............................................... 44 4.3.1 Potable water........................................................................... 44 5 4.3.2 Domestic and industrial waste water ......................................... 44 4.3.3 Solid waste management ......................................................... 46 5. Transportation......................................................................................... 48 5.1 Transportation and environment ........................................................ 50 5.1.1 Air pollution.............................................................................. 50 5.1.2 Climate change........................................................................ 53 5.1.3 Sustainability ........................................................................... 55 5.2 Case example: New Borg El Arab City............................................... 58 5.2.1 Road network and classification system .................................... 59 5.2.2 Inventory of existing road network ............................................ 59 5.2.3 Analysis of existing public transportation system ....................... 61 5.2.4 Analysis of existing pedestrian and bicycle transport ................. 62 5.2.5 Railway line and stations in NBC .............................................. 63 5.2.6 Borg el Arab International Airport .............................................. 64 5.2.7 Traffic surveys ......................................................................... 65 5.2.8 Unsustainability of present transport system in NBC.................. 66 6. Awareness-raising case examples ......................................................... 67 6.1 World Environmental Day (WED) celebration..................................... 67 6.2 Green Corner ..................................................................................