Renewable Energy:
The objective of the Global Plan of Action Regional Renewable Energy (Solar Plan Reunion Island, Climate Plan, PRERURE and more) is to reach an energy mix of 100% renewables by 2025-30. This mix will be made up of biomass (methanization of effluents and gasification of the biogas), marine energies, photovoltaics and wind energy.
- Ample sunshine: typical radiation is on average 30% more than in continental France. La Reunion averages 1,350 hours of sunshine per year, with peaks of over 2,000 hours per year.
- Biomass sites: with its prolific vegetation, sugarcane industry, and agricultural and corporate activity, multiple opportunities exist to evaluate biomass (wood, invasive species, compost, bagasse, farm byproducts and more).
- Wind energy: the eastern part of the island is particularly conducive to the development of wind technology. 62% of the island’s surface is windy and provides for a wind potential at a height of 30 miles, with average wind speeds measuring between 6-7 meters per second.
- Marine energy: the structure of the sea floor and properties of the currents have revealed strong potential for the development of technologies such as Pelamis (wave energy), SWAC (sea water air conditioning), OTC (ocean thermal energy conversion) stations, or turbines.
Energy efficiency:
The distribution of electric consumption through the island varies according to the commercial, economic and industrial distribution of activities, but household consumption dominates electricity consumption, at 74%. Final energy consumption is constantly increasing with a growth of about 20% between 2000 and 2009. However, electricity consumption per habitant in 2009 was on average 1.29 megawatts (MW) per hour, while a metropolitan French resident consumed about 2.37 kilowatts per hour.
To reach energy autonomy, the Government plans to implement units of methanization for a potential of 12MW, and gasification of biomass of 120MW. By 2030 La Reunion is expected to develop 30MW from wave energy and about 100MW of ocean thermal energy conversion. Then by 2025, 100MW of wind power and around 300MW of photovoltaic energy is expected to be generated.
Clean transportation:
Reunion Regional Council wants to develop collective transport around the island in order to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, create better links between villages, improve mobility options and enhance access to mountain areas through the Trans-Eco-Express project.
Several electric bicycles and hybrid vehicles will be acquired, as well as photovoltaic recharging stations and electric vehicles, with the aim of having 50% electric vehicles on the island by 2030.
Urban environment/smart cities:
Communities are working on implementing an intelligent electricity distribution network. There are also other initiatives for managing energy consumption in an intelligent way during peak hours.
Waste management:
In La Reunion, waste management is shared between municipalities (responsible for household waste collection and sorting), utilities (waste treatment), the Department Council (household and similar waste treatment planning) and the Regional Council (non-household, industrial and farming waste collection, recovery and recycling, as well as landfill management).
Sustainable land use:
Under the Overseas Regions Act 84-747, August 2 1984, the Regional Council of La Reunion is responsible for setting up Regional Development Plans (SAR) to meet the needs of its growing population, protect agricultural and natural areas, strengthen social cohesion of Reunion society in an increasingly urban context, reinforce economic enterprise and social solidarity, and secure the territory by anticipating the effects of climate change. The Region plans to plant 35,000 trees in La Reunion in order to help offset its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 10 000 within the framework of regional cooperation (Seychelles Project) .
The SAR is the umbrella document providing guidelines that apply to all other town planning regulations. Main challenges it addresses include reducing the share of fossil energy, reducing exposure to climate change effects, preserving the resource balance, protecting biodiversity, curbing pollution and sustaining landscapes and heritage. The Regional Council contributes to structuring and enhancing upland and mid-altitude villages, giving city centers new life, developing intermodal nodes and implementing a new regional social housing program.
