Pathway for Renewable Energy Application in Urban Green Space under the Low Carbon Perspective

Objective In the context of global climate change and the ongoing transition of energy structures, promoting the application of renewable energy in urban green spaces has become a crucial strategy for achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development. Urban green spaces, in addition to their ecological benefits such as regulating urban climates, improving air quality, and providing areas for social interaction, also play an essential role in meeting energy demands. These demands include lighting, heating, cooling, and infrastructure operation. Despite the importance of urban green spaces, existing research tends to focus primarily on individual renewable energy technologies or localized applications, with little systematic exploration of urban green spaces as a distinct spatial typology. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive adaptability analysis regarding the application of renewable energy technologies in different energy usage modes and spatial contexts. In practice, issues such as insufficient integration of energy facilities with landscape, the lack of tailored energy supply models, and underdeveloped management and operation systems have impeded the effective promotion of renewable energy. As such, there is a need to establish a scientifically grounded approach to applying renewable energy in urban green spaces to optimize energy configurations, enhance carbon reduction capabilities, and provide actionable planning and management strategies. This is particularly important for advancing the construction of low-carbon cities and promoting broader sustainability goals.

Methods This research systematically reviews the research on renewable energy application in urban green spaces by exploring interdisciplinary fields such as landscape architecture, urban ecology, and energy planning. The research focuses on assessing the applicability of renewable energy in urban green spaces. Based on existing renewable energy classification systems, the research considers factors such as spatial openness, ecological foundation, and available areas of urban green spaces to examine five main types of renewable energy: solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy. To evaluate the practical application of renewable energy in urban green spaces, the research analyzes 33 typical domestic and international case studies, with a particular emphasis on urban parks, which are the most widely implemented example of urban green spaces. The case studies are systematically analyzed to summarize key aspects including renewable energy technology selection, spatial distribution, landscape integration models, and operational management approaches. The cases are categorized into three major types: comprehensive recreational spaces, natural ecological spaces, and small green spaces. The research provides a detailed analysis of energy application types and methods, as well as energy consumption models for each of the aforesaid three types of green spaces.

Results The research identifies three core challenges in the application of renewable energy in urban green spaces: 1) How to scientifically select the most appropriate renewable energy types and optimize spatial layouts in accordance with natural resource constraints and the functional requirements of green spaces in order to improve energy efficiency; 2) how to effectively integrate the technical functions of energy facilities with landscape and ecological values, so as to achieve a seamless integration of energy infrastructure with landscape, thereby enhancing both environmental adaptability and public acceptance; and 3) how to develop flexible energy utilization and management strategies tailored to the energy consumption characteristics of different green space types, thus ensuring long-term, stable, and sustainable energy supply. To address these challenges, the research proposes a systematic framework for renewable energy application that includes energy technology selection, landscape integration, and scenario adaptation. The proposed framework aims to optimize the energy structure of green spaces and enhance their carbon reduction effectiveness. The research finds that the applicability of solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy in urban green spaces is significantly influenced by factors such as climate, topography, and hydrology. As such, renewable energy types should be selected based on the local resource endowment and the specific energy needs of each green space. Furthermore, the research highlights the importance of optimizing the layout of renewable energy facilities within green spaces. In terms of spatial organization, renewable energy facilities can be integrated into landscape using techniques such as sculptural landscape design, facility integration, and ecological participation. These methods not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of green spaces, but also promote multifunctional synergies. Regarding energy management, the research identifies several adaptive strategies, including self-generation and consumption, energy storage system, grid-connected solution, and microgrid model, all tailored to the energy consumption characteristics of different types of green spaces. These strategies are essential for adapting to diverse energy demands and ensuring that each green space can rely on a stable, sustainable, and adaptable energy supply.

Conclusion The pathway for renewable energy application proposed in this research offers a comprehensive solution for low-carbon energy use in urban green spaces. This pathway can serve as a reference for other types of green spaces and provides valuable insights into urban energy transition and green infrastructure development. The research not only offers practical solutions for urban green spaces, but also contributes new theoretical support for global climate change mitigation efforts. The research findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the challenges of integrating renewable energy into urban environments. Future research should explore renewable energy application in urban green spaces in various climate zones, urban development models, and socio-economic contexts. The goal is to develop promotion strategies that are more universally applicable, thereby enhancing the scalability and operability of renewable energy application in urban green spaces. By doing so, the research contributes to the global transition towards sustainable, low-carbon cities and highlights the potential for renewable energy to play a transformative role in urban sustainability.