Powering the energy transition at the district level_Cities4PEDs_AWB_final

Targets are the points on the horizon
that will mobilize stakeholders and initiatives
around a shared mission. These targets combine
environmental, social, organizational and
economic aspects, reflecting the integrated
ambition of PEDs.
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Ambitious neighbourhood projects are often accompanied by a complex of
impressive figures and terms: climate neutrality, self-sufficiency, drastic CO2
emissions reduction or intensive local production. How are these targets set?
Are they precise, realistic? Or are they part of a political narrative? These
questions can also be posed with regard to the central term of this publication:
Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). This concept seems to imply a clear target:
achieving a positive energy balance. In 2019 the following framework definition
for PEDs was established by JPI Urban Europe (JPI Urban Europe / SET Plan
Action 3.2, 2020):
‘Positive Energy Districts are energy-efficient and energy-flexible
urban areas or groups of connected buildings which produce net
zero greenhouse gas emissions and actively manage an annual
local or regional surplus production of renewable energy. They
require integration of different systems and infrastructures
and interaction between buildings, the users and the regional
energy, mobility and ICT systems, while securing the energy
supply and a good life for all in line with social, economic and
environmental sustainability.’
We believe that setting ambitious targets is essential. Concrete
goals help to give a clear direction to long multi-stakeholder journeys like
PEDs. They are points on the horizon that invite stakeholders to come up
with sufficiently ambitious steps and with their own pathway to get there.
The targets should therefore not be interpreted as a blueprint for the coming
decades, setting out every single action and project that will be implemented
in a certain order and by a certain year. Given the duration of PEDs, there will
be an evolution over time in terms of stakeholders, dynamics and financing
opportunities. This requires flexibility. By setting targets, we create the timespace
within which collaborations, projects and actions can be conceived
in their own time and manner, in such a way that they help to achieve the
objective: becoming a PED.
In this Key, we first situate the broader discourse on setting
targets for PEDs. Achieving a ‘positive energy balance’ with PEDs is not as
easy as one might hope. This is due to contextual influences such as high
building density or the heritage value of buildings. We introduce an approach
to setting targets that takes into account the specificities of the local context
while ensuring that each district contributes its ‘fair share’. In a second part, we
explore which dimensions can or should be part of the targets we set. After all,
a PED isn’t just an energy issue: social and economic objectives also play a role
and are often the main reason for undertaking PEDs. Finally, we look at how
you can begin to calculate your targets: from a quick estimation to a sound,
multifaceted approach.
CHAPTER 2. Keys for realizing PEDs
KEY 3 – Which district targets do we set