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Positive energy districts

About

The Implementation Working Group on positive energy districts and neighbourhoods for sustainable urban development (PED)  was established in October 2018. It is supported by 19 European countries with their national research and innovation (R&I) programmes and networks of European cities, R&I and industry.  

The working group joined forces with the JPI Urban Europe, which provides a management platform to develop a PED-specific call agenda and additional activities engaging “problem-owners” - specifically city administrations, in co-creation processes to identify solutions to their challenges.  

The development of PEDs is crucial for the transition towards climate-neutral European cities. It is helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, European Green Deal objectives, the Mission on Carbon-Neutral and Smart Cities, and to implement the Renovation Wave.  

The working groups activities include: 

  • developing a common European understanding on PEDs across all participating countries 
  • running a European platform of city administrations who work towards attaining PEDs (PED city panel) 
  • managing annual calls for R&I projects in the field of PEDs (applied research, PED labs and PED demonstrations) 
  • valorisation and interconnection of nationally and regionally-funded PED projects for knowledge exchange and learning on a transnational level 
  • developing tools and guidelines on PEDs 
  • developing replication and upscaling schemes to support PED mainstreaming in Europe 
  • developing a monitoring and assessment scheme for PEDs. 

 

Its activities link to other SET Plan activities such as those of the working groups on energy systems and energy efficiency in buildings.  

 

The working group participates in international collaboration initiatives, e.g.: 

  • the International Energy Agency (IEA) technology collaboration programmes (TCPs) on energy in buildings and communities (ANNEX 83 on PEDs) 
  • decarbonisation of cities and communities 
  • the Mission Innovation network. 

Targets and objectives

The working group supports the planning, deployment and replication of 100 ‘Positive Energy Districts’ by 2025 as a tool for achieving climate-neutral cities, embedded in integrated urban strategies providing liveable, sustainable and inclusive urban neighbourhoods. 

Composition

The working group is chaired by Austria. 

Participating countries (in alphabetical order):

Countries
Austria (Chair) 
Belgium
Cyprus
Czechia 
Germany
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Italy
Latvia 
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania 
Spain
Sweden 
Norway (associated country) 
Turkey (associated country) 

 

PED stakeholders from research, industry and cities
European energy research alliance (EERA)
Joint programme smart cities (JPSC)
UERA
Eurocities
ERRIN
Energy Cities
Housing Europe
Euroheat & Power
TP DHC+
EUA EPAUE
TB Construction
European technology innovation platform (ETIP)
Renewable Heating and Cooling

 

Documents

  • Factsheet
  • 3 May 2021
Factsheet on positive energy districts 2020
  • Factsheet
  • 26 April 2021
Factsheet on positive energy districts 2019
  • Strategic plan
  • 26 April 2021
Implementation plan on positive energy districts

Relevant links

Contact point

Chair: Hans-Günther Schwarz, Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology BMK, Hans-guenther [dot] schwarzatbmk [dot] gv [dot] at (Hans-guenther[dot]schwarz[at]bmk[dot]gv[dot]at)

Other contacts: 

Christoph Gollner, Programme Management Coordination, Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, christoph [dot] gollneratffg [dot] at (christoph[dot]gollner[at]ffg[dot]at)

Susanne Meyer, Policy Coordination, Austrian Institute for Technology AIT, susanne [dot] meyeratait [dot] ac [dot] at (susanne[dot]meyer[at]ait[dot]ac[dot]at)