As the Energy Transformation Accelerates, Cities Hold the Key to a Sustainable, Low Carbon Economy

In a new white paper, Navigant outlines the opportunities and
challenges presented by the convergence of energy transformation and
smart city innovation

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today Navigant (NYSE:NCI) released Navigating the Urban Energy
Transformation, a white paper detailing the path to building smart
and sustainable future communities, providing specific recommendations
for cities, utilities, and other stakeholders.

By 2030, more than five billion people will live in cities, and the
convergence of energy and city innovation will be vital to creating a
low carbon global economy that is prosperous, sustainable, and capable
of providing a good quality of life to all communities.

The low carbon city of 2030 will need to manage a complex set of
interdependencies between diverse aspects of city operations,
infrastructure, and Energy Cloud platforms. It will require
technological and policy innovation, new forms of partnerships, and new
energy business models aligned to a platform-based and digital economy.

“The shift to a clean, distributed, intelligent, and mobile energy
ecosystem is essential, not only for meeting climate goals, but also
priorities such as improving air quality, reducing congestion, and
ensuring the future economic competitiveness of a city,” said Jan Vrins,
managing director and leader of Navigant’s global Energy practice.
“Building smart and sustainable cities of the future will be complex,
challenging, and exciting as cities and energy stakeholders work
together to advance progress.”

According to the white paper, there are five key areas where the energy
transformation is influencing future cities and in return where cities
are becoming more influential in shaping this transformation:

• Accelerating the shift to renewable energy: Cities are
  increasingly proactive in setting targets for their power utilities to
  shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy to help meet carbon
  emissions targets.
• Driving the adoption of smart grid technologies: Support for
  renewable generation by city authorities increases the pressure on
  utilities to deliver an infrastructure that can integrate new
  resources and accelerate changes in a city’s energy services.
• Increasing energy efficiency: Collaboration between city
  departments and local energy utilities to improve energy efficiency is
  one of the simplest and most effective measures for reducing the
  energy footprint of a city.
• Increasing resilience: Resilience requires an assessment of
  each city’s complex and interconnected infrastructure and
  institutional systems, and energy networks are at the heart of this
  complex web of infrastructure interdependencies.
• Shaping local energy markets: Cities are becoming active
  players in their local energy markets, collaborating with existing
  utilities, but also increasingly willing to challenge and, in some
  cases, even compete with those providers.

“Building tomorrow’s sustainable smart cities will require a combination
of new energy solutions, new technologies, new approaches to city
management and operations, and the development of Energy Cloud platforms
on which partners can support cities in their transformation to a low
carbon economy,” said Eric Woods, research director with Navigant
Research. “And if cities are to deliver in their ambitious climate
targets, the work must start now.”

To read the full white paper, click
here, and join the social media conversation through #FutureCities.

With over 600 consultants, Navigant’s
global Energy practice is the largest energy management consulting
team in the industry. We collaborate with utilities, government and
NGOs, industries and large corporations, product manufacturers,
investors, and oil and gas companies to help them thrive in a rapidly
changing energy environment. Our clients include the world’s 50 largest
electric, water, and gas utilities; the 20 largest independent power
generators; and the 20 largest gas distribution and pipeline companies.
Navigant’s seasoned professionals and highly skilled specialists form
exceptional teams to help clients transform their businesses, manage
complexity and accelerate operational performance, meet compliance
requirements, and transform systems and governance to address upcoming
changes as the energy transformation takes hold.

About Navigant

Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global
professional services firm that helps clients take control of their
future. Navigant’s professionals apply deep industry knowledge,
substantive technical expertise, and an enterprising approach to help
clients build, manage, and/or protect their business interests. With a
focus on markets and clients facing transformational change and
significant regulatory or legal pressures, the firm primarily serves
clients in the healthcare, energy, and financial services industries.
Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and
technology/analytics services, Navigant’s practitioners bring sharp
insight that pinpoints opportunities and delivers powerful results. More
information about Navigant can be found at navigant.com.

Contacts

Navigant Investor Relations
Kyle Bland
312.573.5624
[email protected]
or
Navigant
Corporate Communications
Belia Ortega
312.583.2640
[email protected]