A Positive Energy District (PED) is an urban area that produces more renewable energy than it consumes. By combining energy-efficient buildings, local renewable generation and storage, smart grids, and sustainable mobility solutions, PEDs turn neighborhoods into clean power hubs.
The EU Cities Mission is driving this transformation, aiming for 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030, with PEDs playing a key role. These districts don’t just cut emissions—they create resilient, self-sufficient, and future-proof communities.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane trap heat in the atmosphere, driving global warming. Cities, which house over half the world’s population and generate more than 70% of global GHG emissions, are at the center of this challenge. From transportation to energy use in housing, urban activities are major contributors.
But cities also hold the power to lead change. Investing in clean energy, green buildings, efficient public transport, and sustainable urban planning can dramatically cut emissions and create healthier, more resilient communities.
Being climate-neutral means reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero. Since cities generate over 70% of global CO₂ emissions, they hold the key to tackling climate change.
The EU Cities Mission is leading the way, aiming for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 such as the TIPS4PED Lighthouse City #Turin. These cities serve as pioneers, testing and scaling solutions like renewable energy, electrified transport, energy-efficient buildings, and urban greening—setting a model for the world.
Achieving climate neutrality isn’t just a vision; it’s a necessity. Cleaner air, healthier communities, and resilient economies depend on it.
Renewable energy sources – like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal – generate power without depleting resources or producing harmful emissions. As cities consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of CO₂ emissions, transitioning to renewables is one of the most powerful ways to combat climate change.
Urban leaders are already making the shift: investing in solar rooftops, sustainable mobility, energy-efficient buildings, and smart grids to power cleaner, healthier communities. The future of our cities depends on scaling up renewables and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The TIPS4PED project is supporting European municipalities in this transition, notably through developing a Digital Twin-based assessment platform and testing its effectiveness and techno-economic viability in four European cities.
An energy community is a group of people or organizations that come together to produce, manage, and share energy, often focusing on renewable sources like solar, wind, or biomass. These communities aim to increase energy independence, reduce carbon footprints, and promote sustainable energy practices.
Energy communities can take various forms, such as local cooperatives, neighborhood initiatives, or larger regional projects. They often involve collaboration between residents, businesses, and local governments to achieve common energy goals.
Energy communities can be integral components of PEDs, providing the social and organizational framework needed to manage and optimize energy production and consumption within the district.
A Digital Twin is a virtual replica of physical assets, systems, or processes, created through real-time data and advanced simulations. In the context of urban energy and mobility, Digital Twins provide a powerful tool to optimize and manage city infrastructure.
By modeling entire energy systems, buildings, transportation networks, and mobility patterns, Digital Twins enable cities to simulate scenarios, predict outcomes, and improve decision-making. They allow for smart grid management, dynamic traffic flow optimization, and the integration of renewable energy into the urban landscape – ensuring more efficient, sustainable, and resilient cities.
The TIPS4PED project is leveraging this potential of Digital Twins design, develop, and test a Digital Twin-based platform to support European municipalities in implementing Positive Energy Districts and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy flexibility is the ability to adjust energy consumption according to an external signal, such as electricity price. Flexibility is very important for the energy systems of the future, as it enables the energy system to handle the increasing uncertainty and variability that follows increasing share of renewable energy.
In cities, where energy consumption is high and variable, flexibility plays a crucial role in integrating renewable energy sources, reducing grid stress, and optimizing energy efficiency.
Therefore, energy flexibility forms a crucial component of the Digital Twin-based platform the TIPS4PED project is developing. Energy flexibility transforms cities into active energy players, making them more resilient, cost-efficient, and climate-neutral.
Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same services – whether it’s heating buildings, powering transport or lighting public spaces. In urban areas, improving energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions, cut energy bills and improve quality of life.
From 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 and 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to using 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, cities have the potential to cut waste and make the most of every kilowatt.
The digital twin-based platform being developed by the TIPS4PED project will allow European cities to understand their energy consumption in real time, enabling significant improvements in energy efficiency.
Co-creation is the process of designing and developing solutions together with all relevant stakeholders, including citizens, businesses, governments and experts. It is a shared approach that values different perspectives and expertise to address complex challenges such as urban sustainability, energy systems and mobility.
As part of TIPS4PED, we identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including residents and local authorities, in the development of their local PED. This ensures that our TIPS4PED solutions are not only technically feasible, but also meet the needs and ambitions of the community.
A CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) is a consensus-based, voluntary document developed through the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to address emerging technologies or niche industry needs. It offers a fast and flexible way to establish technical specifications or best practices, typically developed in a few months with input from various stakeholders. CWAs are not legally binding but can be referenced in contracts or adopted voluntarily. They usually have a limited validity period and may later evolve into formal standards.
They allow cities, businesses, and organizations to align on best practices and ensure that innovations meet shared goals of sustainability, interoperability, and scalability. CEN CWAs enable cities to standardize solutions, making it easier to implement sustainable, smart city projects across Europe and beyond.
The TIPS4PED project is developing CEN CWA for a Digital Twin-based platform to support European municipalities in implementing Positive Energy Districts and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
