Cities4PEDs

The Project

So far, positive energy districts and neighbourhoods (PEDs) havebeen predominantly researched from a technological and energy perspective,often with a focus on electricity and related to new buildings. While thebuilding level is clearly regulated with known possibilities for intervention,this is not the case for the district- and neighbourhood-level. A broaderimplementation of the PED concept therefore requires a special focus on legal,institutional and organisational issues and a focus on the main actors, thecities, to develop effective instruments and structures.

In Cities4PEDs, the cities of Brussels, Vienna and Stockholmcollaborate with experts from research, innovation and citizen participation.They jointly investigate how cities can adapt and use their planning andimplementation instruments so that urban development results in neighbourhoodsthat produce more energy than they consume.

In details, the project has three main objectives:

• Advancing thePED concept and definition for new andexisting districts and neighbourhoods;
• Fostering PEDsthrough legal levers and ensuringPED qualities from planning to implementation;
• Developingapproaches for effectively engaging citizens and business stakeholders.

The PED areas chosen by the partners are diverse, from existing to newly-built areas, with different backgrounds and specific issues (energy poverty, coastal area, important social housing development…). This calls for an ambitious but differentiated approach of PEDs definition.

PEDs?

A PED can be defined as “an urban neighbourhood with annual net zero energy import and net zero CO₂ emissions working towards a surplus production of renewable energy, integrated in an urban and regional energy system”, as JPI Urban Europe puts it. Cities4PEDs is cofounded by the Programme “Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods for Sustainable Urban Development”, conducted by JPI Urban Europe, that aims to support the planning, deployment and replication of 100 Positive Energy Neighbourhoods by 2025.

What are Positive Energy Districts?

Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods are an integral part of comprehensive approaches towards sustainable urbanisation including technology, spatial, regulatory, financial, legal, social and economic perspectives. Find out more resources from JPI Urban Europe, including a Booklet on PEDs in Europe, on the programme webpage.