TIPS4PED consortium meets in Cork for third General Assembly 

On 18–19 May 2025, the TIPS4PED project partners gathered in Cork, Ireland, for the third General Assembly of the project. Hosted by local partners, the two-day event provided an opportunity to reflect on recent progress, coordinate upcoming activities, and further the development of key tools that will support the implementation of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) across Europe. 

Now at month 18, the project is approaching its halfway mark, with several work packages reaching important milestones. The Cork meeting opened with a welcome from project coordinators and an overview of logistics and next steps, followed by a financial update and guidance on reporting procedures, including the use of the FAST tool. A dedicated session on financial reporting took place on 25 June. 

A central focus of the General Assembly was Work Package 2: Energy and Mobility Services Deployment, led by IES, which is scheduled for completion in December 2025. Partners presented the progress of the three core modules of the TIPS4PED IAP Platform: Feasibility, Design, and Operation. The Feasibility Assessment Tool, largely based on PlanHeat and developed with Python and QGIS, allows cities to simulate alternative PED scenarios using realistic data inputs. Partners demonstrated key features of the tool, including potential integration with the project’s Integrated Assessment Platform (IAP). 

Modules dedicated to private e-mobility forecasting, distributed energy resource deployment, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation were also showcased. Presentations highlighted how these tools will help cities assess electric vehicle charging needs, estimate local renewable energy potential, and calculate environmental and economic impacts. A live demonstration of visual interfaces allowed participants to experience how end-users will interact with the tools once deployed. 

Interactive sessions continued with a workshop for Work Package 3: Citizen Engagement and Urban Planning. City teams from Cork, Turin, Kozani, and Budapest identified challenges and missing elements in their local PED strategies. Turin, for instance, is developing a tailored social engagement strategy with LUT University, including stakeholder mapping, public calls, and upcoming focus groups. The city is also advancing its Digital Twin platform in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino and local institutions, although challenges in data access remain. 

Partners from Work Package 6: Dissemination, Communication and Replication, led by POLIS and ICLEI Europe, shared updates on recent outreach activities including the launch of a glossary campaign on LinkedIn, interviews with partners, and preparation of the second project newsletter. ICLEI also introduced the project’s replication approach, outlining plans for national roundtables that will involve local authorities beyond the consortium, starting in 2026. 

On the second day, the focus shifted to tracking project Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with partners split into technical and non-technical groups to review progress and align targets. The session was followed by a workshop under Work Package 4: Capacity Building and Skills Development, where partners began structuring their contributions to the TIPS4PED competency framework. These materials will form the foundation for the project’s forthcoming educational resources. 

Bilateral meetings allowed partners to deep-dive into specific technical and planning aspects, while a bike tour of Cork offered a welcome opportunity to explore the host city and continue discussions informally. 

With the third General Assembly now concluded, TIPS4PED continues to move steadily toward its objectives of creating replicable, data-driven tools and strategies to support sustainable urban transformation through Positive Energy Districts. 

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on the project’s progress, upcoming events, and new resources!