Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities

Beril Alpagut; Muhyettin  Sirer; Zeynep  Ozcan; Merve Mermertas; Cecilia  Sanz Montalvillo; Xingxing Zhang; Margherita  Fabbri; Lorena  Sanchez Relaño; Mohaddeseh  Maktabifard; Julia Schließauf; Omar Shafqat; Frans  Verspeek; Martijn  de Vries; Humberto  Queiroz; Roeland  Keersmaekers; Hannelore  Scheipers; Laura  Bordo

doi:10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1

Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities

Beril Alpagut
, Muhyettin Sirer
, Zeynep Ozcan
, Merve Mermertas
, Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo
, Xingxing Zhang
, Margherita Fabbri
, Lorena Sanchez Relaño
, Mohaddeseh Maktabifard
, Julia Schließauf
, Omar Shafqat
, Frans Verspeek
, Martijn de Vries
, Humberto Queiroz
, Roeland Keersmaekers
, Hannelore Scheipers
, Laura Bordo

Energy and Innovation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Background
Positive Energy Districts, which incorporate energy planning at the district level, are a pioneering concept for sustainable, smart and climate-neutral urban development. This concept supports creating communities that generate more annual energy than they consume. To this end, integrative innovative solutions for Positive Energy Blocks/Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts have been, are being, and will continue to be devised, tested, and monitored for their performance in the “Lighthouse” cities of various EU research and innovation initiatives. This review paper showcases a range of EU projects that were brought together through panel discussions and workshops during two key events: the MAKING-CITY final event (June 13, 2024) at the Innovation Camp in Groningen, and the Sustainable Places 2024 Conference (September 25, 2024) in Luxembourg.

Methodology
11 invited projects on Positive Energy Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts, and their corresponding case studies aim at exploring innovative strategies and practical approaches to accelerate the transformation of cities towards sustainability and resilience. Participants of the two events have gained insights into cutting-edge initiatives, exchanged best practices, and discussed actionable steps to foster the development and implementation of PEDs/PCEDs in diverse urban contexts.

Results and Discussion
These projects collectively serve as a portfolio of related initiatives derived from Smart Cities and Communities, the Climate Neutral Cities Mission, and the Driving Urban Transitions funding programs—each targeting different stages in the planning, design, implementation, or operation of PEDs/PCEDs.

Conclusion
This study primarily highlights how the eleven projects and their case studies collaborate and cooperate by discussing policy recommendations, technological innovations, economic frameworks, and the role of social and local communities. Through these explorations, it seeks to offer insight into the complex and varied domain of PEDs/PCEDs in terms of replication and future steps.

Original language	English
Article number	364
Number of pages	19
Journal	Open Research Europe
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1
Publication status	Published - 2025

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No [101104058](Adaptable technological solutions based on early design actions for the construction and renovation of Energy Positive Homes [LEGOFIT]); [101103450] (Renewable ENergy-based Positive Homes [RENplusHOMES]); [101096753] (Pathway towards Climate-Neutrality through low risky and fully replicable Positive Clean Energy Districts [NEUTRALPATH]); [101096571] (Accelerate poSitive Clean ENergy Districts [ASCEND]) [101138047] (INTERoperable cloud-based solution for cross-vector planning and management of Positive Energy Districts [InterPED]) and [101139633] (Turning cIties Planning actionS for Positive Energy Districts into success [Tips4PED]). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No [864374]( AmsTErdam BiLbao cItizen drivEn smaRt cities [ATELIER]) and []),[824418] (Energy efficient pathway for the city transformation: enabling a positive future [MAKING-CITY]) ; [864242] (Sustainable energy Positive & zero cARbon CommunitieS [SPARCS]) and ([864400] A POsitive Energy CITY Transformation Framework [PoCityF]) This project has also received funding from the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe, strategic innovation program ‘Viable Cities’ financed by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Formas under grant agreement No [P2022-01000] and The Scientific and Technological Research Center of Turkey (Türkiye) under grant agreement No [122N697] (Auto characterization of PEDs for digital references towards iterative process optimisation [PED-ACT]) The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Alpagut, B., Sirer, M., Ozcan, Z., Mermertas, M., Sanz Montalvillo, C., Zhang, X., Fabbri, M., Sanchez Relaño, L., Maktabifard, M., Schließauf, J., Shafqat, O., Verspeek, F., de Vries, M., Queiroz, H., Keersmaekers, R., Scheipers, H., & Bordo, L. (2025). Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities. Open Research Europe, 5, Article 364. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1

@article{84c750557a0247bb997a76ea24957681,

title = "Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities",

abstract = "Background Positive Energy Districts, which incorporate energy planning at the district level, are a pioneering concept for sustainable, smart and climate-neutral urban development. This concept supports creating communities that generate more annual energy than they consume. To this end, integrative innovative solutions for Positive Energy Blocks/Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts have been, are being, and will continue to be devised, tested, and monitored for their performance in the “Lighthouse” cities of various EU research and innovation initiatives. This review paper showcases a range of EU projects that were brought together through panel discussions and workshops during two key events: the MAKING-CITY final event (June 13, 2024) at the Innovation Camp in Groningen, and the Sustainable Places 2024 Conference (September 25, 2024) in Luxembourg. Methodology 11 invited projects on Positive Energy Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts, and their corresponding case studies aim at exploring innovative strategies and practical approaches to accelerate the transformation of cities towards sustainability and resilience. Participants of the two events have gained insights into cutting-edge initiatives, exchanged best practices, and discussed actionable steps to foster the development and implementation of PEDs/PCEDs in diverse urban contexts. Results and Discussion These projects collectively serve as a portfolio of related initiatives derived from Smart Cities and Communities, the Climate Neutral Cities Mission, and the Driving Urban Transitions funding programs—each targeting different stages in the planning, design, implementation, or operation of PEDs/PCEDs. Conclusion This study primarily highlights how the eleven projects and their case studies collaborate and cooperate by discussing policy recommendations, technological innovations, economic frameworks, and the role of social and local communities. Through these explorations, it seeks to offer insight into the complex and varied domain of PEDs/PCEDs in terms of replication and future steps.",

author = "Beril Alpagut and Muhyettin Sirer and Zeynep Ozcan and Merve Mermertas and \{Sanz Montalvillo\}, Cecilia and Xingxing Zhang and Margherita Fabbri and \{Sanchez Rela{\~n}o\}, Lorena and Mohaddeseh Maktabifard and Julia Schlie{\ss}auf and Omar Shafqat and Frans Verspeek and \{de Vries\}, Martijn and Humberto Queiroz and Roeland Keersmaekers and Hannelore Scheipers and Laura Bordo",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

journal = "Open Research Europe",

issn = "2732-5121",

publisher = "F1000 Research Ltd.",

}

Alpagut, B, Sirer, M, Ozcan, Z, Mermertas, M, Sanz Montalvillo, C, Zhang, X, Fabbri, M, Sanchez Relaño, L, Maktabifard, M, Schließauf, J, Shafqat, O, Verspeek, F, de Vries, M, Queiroz, H, Keersmaekers, R, Scheipers, H & Bordo, L 2025, 'Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities', Open Research Europe, vol. 5, 364. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts

T2 - Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities

AU - Alpagut, Beril

AU - Sirer, Muhyettin

AU - Ozcan, Zeynep

AU - Mermertas, Merve

AU - Sanz Montalvillo, Cecilia

AU - Zhang, Xingxing

AU - Fabbri, Margherita

AU - Sanchez Relaño, Lorena

AU - Maktabifard, Mohaddeseh

AU - Schließauf, Julia

AU - Shafqat, Omar

AU - Verspeek, Frans

AU - de Vries, Martijn

AU - Queiroz, Humberto

AU - Keersmaekers, Roeland

AU - Scheipers, Hannelore

AU - Bordo, Laura

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background Positive Energy Districts, which incorporate energy planning at the district level, are a pioneering concept for sustainable, smart and climate-neutral urban development. This concept supports creating communities that generate more annual energy than they consume. To this end, integrative innovative solutions for Positive Energy Blocks/Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts have been, are being, and will continue to be devised, tested, and monitored for their performance in the “Lighthouse” cities of various EU research and innovation initiatives. This review paper showcases a range of EU projects that were brought together through panel discussions and workshops during two key events: the MAKING-CITY final event (June 13, 2024) at the Innovation Camp in Groningen, and the Sustainable Places 2024 Conference (September 25, 2024) in Luxembourg. Methodology 11 invited projects on Positive Energy Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts, and their corresponding case studies aim at exploring innovative strategies and practical approaches to accelerate the transformation of cities towards sustainability and resilience. Participants of the two events have gained insights into cutting-edge initiatives, exchanged best practices, and discussed actionable steps to foster the development and implementation of PEDs/PCEDs in diverse urban contexts. Results and Discussion These projects collectively serve as a portfolio of related initiatives derived from Smart Cities and Communities, the Climate Neutral Cities Mission, and the Driving Urban Transitions funding programs—each targeting different stages in the planning, design, implementation, or operation of PEDs/PCEDs. Conclusion This study primarily highlights how the eleven projects and their case studies collaborate and cooperate by discussing policy recommendations, technological innovations, economic frameworks, and the role of social and local communities. Through these explorations, it seeks to offer insight into the complex and varied domain of PEDs/PCEDs in terms of replication and future steps.

AB - Background Positive Energy Districts, which incorporate energy planning at the district level, are a pioneering concept for sustainable, smart and climate-neutral urban development. This concept supports creating communities that generate more annual energy than they consume. To this end, integrative innovative solutions for Positive Energy Blocks/Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts have been, are being, and will continue to be devised, tested, and monitored for their performance in the “Lighthouse” cities of various EU research and innovation initiatives. This review paper showcases a range of EU projects that were brought together through panel discussions and workshops during two key events: the MAKING-CITY final event (June 13, 2024) at the Innovation Camp in Groningen, and the Sustainable Places 2024 Conference (September 25, 2024) in Luxembourg. Methodology 11 invited projects on Positive Energy Districts and Positive and Clean Energy Districts, and their corresponding case studies aim at exploring innovative strategies and practical approaches to accelerate the transformation of cities towards sustainability and resilience. Participants of the two events have gained insights into cutting-edge initiatives, exchanged best practices, and discussed actionable steps to foster the development and implementation of PEDs/PCEDs in diverse urban contexts. Results and Discussion These projects collectively serve as a portfolio of related initiatives derived from Smart Cities and Communities, the Climate Neutral Cities Mission, and the Driving Urban Transitions funding programs—each targeting different stages in the planning, design, implementation, or operation of PEDs/PCEDs. Conclusion This study primarily highlights how the eleven projects and their case studies collaborate and cooperate by discussing policy recommendations, technological innovations, economic frameworks, and the role of social and local communities. Through these explorations, it seeks to offer insight into the complex and varied domain of PEDs/PCEDs in terms of replication and future steps.

U2 - 10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1

DO - 10.12688/openreseurope.21271.1

M3 - Article

SN - 2732-5121

VL - 5

JO - Open Research Europe

JF - Open Research Europe

M1 - 364

ER -

Empowering cities through Positive Energy Districts: Strategies and implementations from PED projects of EU climate neutral and smart cities

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