New collaborative publication showcases citizen-centred pathways to Positive Energy Districts

TIPS4PED is pleased to announce its contribution to a new collaborative publication that explores how citizens can play a central role in the development of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) across Europe. Bringing together the knowledge and experiences of nine EU-funded projects, the paper highlights the importance of placing people at the heart of the energy transition and demonstrates how collaborative approaches can help create more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban communities.

The publication, Citizen-centric Pathways to Positive Energy Districts: Lessons from European PED Projects, was developed following a dedicated workshop at the Sustainable Places 2025 Conference. It brings together contributions from the projects InterPED, TIPS4PED, ARV, COMMUNITAS, PEDvolution, Citizen-led Renovation, NEUTRALPATH, ASCEND, and LEGOFIT, offering a comprehensive overview of how citizen engagement is being integrated into the planning, design, implementation, and governance of Positive Energy Districts.

The workshop “Strategic citizen engagement and impact in Positive Energy Districts” held during Sustainable Places 2025 is also available to watch online. The session brought together the nine participating EU-funded PED projects to share their approaches, methodologies, and lessons learned on engaging citizens in the development of Positive Energy Districts. Through presentations and discussions, the workshop explored how digital tools, energy communities, co-creation processes, and innovative engagement strategies can support citizens in becoming active co-creators of sustainable urban futures. The recording provides an opportunity to discover the different perspectives and experiences that contributed to the collaborative publication.

Positive Energy Districts represent an important step forward in urban sustainability. Rather than focusing solely on individual buildings, PEDs aim to create neighbourhoods that produce more renewable energy than they consume while improving environmental performance, quality of life, and urban resilience. However, achieving these ambitious goals requires more than technological innovation. As the publication demonstrates, meaningful citizen participation and inclusive governance are equally essential to ensuring the long-term success and acceptance of PED initiatives.

Drawing on experiences from projects across Europe, the publication identifies five key themes that are shaping citizen-centred PED development. These include partnership-based engagement models that encourage collaboration between citizens, local authorities, researchers, and other stakeholders; digital tools and platforms that support co-creation and participation; energy communities as innovative governance frameworks that enable citizens to take an active role in local energy systems; participatory monitoring and Living Lab methodologies that foster continuous learning and improvement; and gamification alongside other innovative facilitation techniques that strengthen engagement and improve energy literacy.

Together, these approaches demonstrate that citizens are not simply end users or consumers of energy but can become active co-creators of sustainable urban solutions. The publication highlights numerous examples of how involving communities from the earliest stages of project development leads to stronger local ownership, more effective decision-making, and solutions that better reflect the needs and priorities of residents.

For TIPS4PED, this collaborative publication reflects the project’s commitment to developing Positive Energy Districts through inclusive, participatory, and human-centred approaches. By sharing experiences and lessons learned with other European initiatives, TIPS4PED contributes to a growing body of knowledge that supports cities and communities in implementing successful PEDs that are not only technologically advanced but also socially accepted and economically viable.

The publication also demonstrates the value of collaboration between European research and innovation projects. By bringing together diverse perspectives and practical experiences, the participating projects have identified common challenges, successful practices, and transferable approaches that can help scale citizen-centred Positive Energy Districts across Europe. These shared lessons provide valuable guidance for policymakers, local authorities, practitioners, researchers, and communities working to accelerate a fair and inclusive energy transition.

We invite you to explore the publication and discover how citizen engagement, co-creation, and innovative governance models are helping shape the next generation of Positive Energy Districts across Europe.

Citizen-centric Pathways to Positive Energy Districts: Lessons from European PED Projects is available to read here.