At the Smart Cities Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, a vibrant panel discussion explored the transformative potential of Positive Energy Districts in reshaping urban districts across Europe. The agora session brought together experts from the RESPONSE, ATELIER, POCITYF and MAKING-CITY projects to share successes, challenges, and innovative strategies for scaling PEDs.
The discussion was moderated by Veronika Cerna, from the Scalable Cities Secretariat and Twenty Communications, who expertly guided the dialogue and ensured the session remained engaging and interactive.
Monjur Murshed Senior Project Manager at EIFER provided insights from the RESPONSE Project into the implementation of Positive Energy Districts in Dijon, France, and Turku, Finland, showcasing strategies and outcomes from these cities. Frans Verspeek, representing the ATELIER Project, discussed the integration of PEDs in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Bilbao, Spain, emphasising innovative approaches tailored to urban energy needs.
Humberto Queiroz, Project Manager at PED, shared key lessons from the POCITYF Project in Évora, Portugal, and Alkmaar, Netherlands, highlighting practical applications and challenges. Cecilia Sanz-Montavillo, Project Coordinator at CARTIF, presented examples of PED implementation in the MAKING-CITY Project in Oulu, Finland, and Groningen, Netherlands, underscoring their impact on achieving sustainable energy transitions in diverse urban contexts.
The panel explored case studies of cities that have implemented PEDs, demonstrating replicable strategies and best practices. Speakers emphasised the importance of community engagement in ensuring that PED initiatives align with residents' needs, creating vibrant and inclusive urban environments. Additionally, they addressed the challenges of scaling PEDs, such as regulatory, financial, and social hurdles, sharing creative solutions and policy support strategies to overcome them.