The project aims to contribute to the development of PEDs in four existing neighbourhoods in Belgium, Austria and Ital by integrating several dimensions: techno-energetic, socio-cultural, and institutional/regulatory. It adopts a holistic approach, including sufficiency as a core dimension to achieve zero-emission cities alongside efficiency, production and flexibility. The partnership will resort to living labs to facilitate co-creation by a wide range of actors in all neighbourhoods, and will explore synergies with renewable energy communities as key enabling mechanism for just transitions.

Equity stands out as an implication of transitions, as not only is energy poverty unevenly distributed across the EU – both socially and spatially – but transition policies may unexpectedly create further inequalities, including shifting the financial burden to low-income and low adaptive capacity groups and areas. The selection of study areas therefore includes challenging contexts for just transitions, such as social housing estates, while the overall research design aims to increase knowledge about what processes can promote just transitions in positive energy districts in very different urban contexts. User and stakeholder involvement will be explored and integrated at all stages of the PED development (planning, implementation and operation) as a key success factor in a long-term perspective.

To ensure replicability of good practices, the consortium will develop guidelines and process-based roadmaps for PED planning, design, implementation and monitoring through a proposal for a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA).