POL4PED: Promoting Positive Energy Districts in Europe

A Positive Energy District (PED) is an urban area that produces more green energy than it consumes on a yearly basis. PED’s therefore contribute to European energy- and climate goals and to a cleaner and greener tomorrow. Which policy instruments can European cities utilise to promote the implementation of Positive Energy Districts?

PED as a part of a sustainable society

The design of a PED (Positive Energy District) is an interplay of technical, economic, social, and legal considerations. In the POL4PED project, the starting point is the pursuit of a sustainable, resilient society, to which the energy transition contributes. We discuss a vision for a city or a district with stakeholders and examine how energy solutions for a PED fit into that. Subsequently, we investigate which solutions these are, and which policies enable them. In doing so, we also consider legal or spatial aspects.

Research phases

To arrive at policy instruments that can support European cities in establishing Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), the following steps are taking place:

• Determining the social, economic, technical, and legal aspects that play a role in PEDs. This includes not only quantifiable matters like costs, but also qualitative aspects such as societal resilience and preferences.
• Developing a serious game that incorporates all these domains. This game simulates a neighbourhood situation, with all parties involved in a positive energy district participating. This helps bring potential bottlenecks to light.
• Bringing together the lessons learned from the game on a platform with tools. The participating cities (Zürich, Dübendorf, Vienna, Paris, and Groningen) can then use these tools in a local context through case studies.
• Creating policy insights and strategies for the implementation of PEDs in Europe, based on the differences and similarities that emerge from the case studies.

Results

The results of the Policy4PED project contribute to the development of effective and sustainable energy solutions for urban areas in Europe. They provide policymakers with the necessary tools and insights to successfully implement PEDs (Positive Energy Districts). The results will be shared as widely as possible so they reach policymakers and can actually be applied.

Visit the Pol4Ped website