On June 11, 2025, Scalable Cities hosted the "Joint Workshop on PED Innovation & Collaboration”. This event brought together representatives from five leading Positive Energy District projects: ASCEND, InterPED, NEUTRALPATH, PEDvolution, and HARMONISE. As active members of the Scalable Cities community, these projects are working together to accelerate the deployment of PEDs and support Europe’s climate neutrality objectives.
A Dynamic Platform for Collaboration
The workshop opened with a welcome from Veronika Cerna from Scalable Cities, who highlighted the collaborative spirit and wealth of expertise within the community. With over 130 cities and 28 projects in its network, Scalable Cities plays a leading role in supporting a vibrant environment where city leaders, technical experts, and project partners can share strategies, scale up solutions, and collectively address the challenges of urban energy transformation.
Veronika Cerna emphasized the importance of the PED cluster within Scalable Cities, stating that the secretariat is dedicated to supporting the community, disseminating solutions, and nurturing a welcoming and collaborative environment for all members.
Project Spotlights: Diverse Approaches, Common Goals
The heart of the workshop featured presentations from each of the five PED cluster projects:
- ASCEND: Baptiste Mougeot introduced ASCEND’s mission to deliver Positive Clean Energy Districts that integrate health, sustainability, and inclusiveness. The project is demonstrating this vision through two lighthouse sites in Lyon and Munich, with six additional follower cities: Porto, Charleroi, Prague, Stockholm, Budapest, and Alba Iulia, preparing for scale-up. ASCEND showcases the diversity and adaptability of PED models across different urban contexts.
- PEDvolution: Marina Lascari presented PEDvolution’s focus on leveraging digital twins and innovative business models to support the design, implementation, and replication of PEDs. The project aims to accelerate the adoption of positive energy solutions by providing cities with practical digital tools and methodologies.
- NEUTRALPATH: Stefania Mascolo highlighted NEUTRALPATH’s approach to developing scalable PEDs through a combination of demonstration activities and digital innovation. The project places a strong emphasis on creating pathways for replication and upscaling in cities across Europe.
- InterPED: Laurena Sanchez explained InterPED’s work on building interoperable platforms and advancing data-driven decision-making for PEDs. By enabling seamless integration of various urban systems, InterPED supports cities in optimizing energy flows and achieving climate targets.
- HARMONISE: Dr. Christos Korkas described HARMONISE’s commitment to harmonizing digital solutions and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The project is dedicated to supporting PED development through integrated digital infrastructure and shared best practices.
Each project, while unique in its approach, is committed to demonstration, replication, and the development of scalable, transferable PED solutions for cities at all stages of their journey.
Thematic Panel: From Implementation to Social Innovation
A lively panel discussion, moderated by Eugenia Brignone, invited project leads to share practical experiences and lessons learned. The discussion covered several key topics:
- Implementation Strategies: Speakers addressed technical and governance challenges, including monitoring frameworks, digital infrastructure, and the integration of renewables.
- Citizen Engagement: The importance of community participation and inclusive value chains was highlighted, with several cities sharing strategies for co-governance and social innovation.
- Business Models and Policy: The panel explored the need for robust financing mechanisms and supportive policy environments, drawing insights from both lighthouse and follower cities.
Audience engagement was encouraged throughout, with opportunities for questions and ongoing networking.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Up PEDs for a Climate-Neutral Europe
As the workshop concluded, participants reaffirmed their commitment to knowledge sharing, peer support, and the delivery of replicable, scalable PED solutions. With the ambitious target of 100 PEDs by the end of 2025, the momentum generated at this workshop will drive upcoming roadshows, technical exchanges, and policy dialogues. Scalable Cities and its projects are committed to remaining at the forefront of Europe’s clean energy transition.
The PED Joint Workshop highlighted how collaboration across the Scalable Cities community is turning ambitious ideas into real progress, setting a strong foundation for the next steps toward climate-neutral, energy positive districts across Europe.