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Module 4 -Spotlight session 2: Systemic energy transition at buildings, districts and city level

When: 30 October 2025 | 15:15 - 17:00 CET

Duration: 1 hr 45 min

 

Topic: This session focuses on the transformation of urban energy systems—complex, interconnected structures that shape how cities produce, distribute, and consume energy. ​We will explore this domain through a systemic lens, recognising the interdependencies between (smart) electricity grids and heating and cooling networks, using levers of change such as governance, finance, and social equity.  

By the end of the module participants will:

    • Gain understanding what is the role of cities in energy transition.  

    • Gain knowledge about how cities can lead and speed up energy transition in a systemic manner.  

    • Learn from examples about district level energy planning, following positive energy district development process and principles: 1) increasing energy efficiency, 2) increasing renewable energy production and 3) energy flexibility. 

    • Through practical use cases to understand the holistic approach to reducing carbon emissions includes heating, cooling, and electricity demand, distribution and production.  

Who is this session for?

This session is for everyone interested about how cities can lead and speed up the energy transition, e.g. cities' climate, energy and built environment experts and leaders. 

 

Supporting Material

 

➡️ Join the dedicated group for this Online Course
 
Join the related group on the NetZeroCities Portal:

Energy Systems in Cities 

 
Check out related EU-funded projects:
 

CrAFt (2022-2025)

CrAFt (Creating Actionable Futures) connects the New European Bauhaus with the Cities Mission. It explores collaborative governance models, promoting cultural, aesthetic, and social innovation to accelerate climate-neutral urban transitions and embed the NEB principles in city planning, policies, and practices across Europe.
 
UP2030 (2023-2026)
UP2030 focuses on urban planning and design pathways to climate neutrality by 2030. It equips cities with participatory tools, digital solutions, and scenario modelling to co-design equitable transitions. Pilot cities experiment with innovative planning strategies addressing mobility, energy, and built environment challenges.
 
ASCEND (2023-2027)
ASCEND creates Positive Clean Energy Districts in European cities, scaling climate-neutral solutions in energy, buildings, and mobility. It combines digital tools, citizen engagement, and investment strategies to demonstrate replicable models that accelerate city-wide systemic change towards climate neutrality and resilience.
 
NEUTRALPATH (2023-2027)
NEUTRALPATH establishes Positive Clean Energy Districts in Zaragoza and Dresden, with follower cities Istanbul, Ghent, and Vantaa. It integrates technology, governance, and citizen participation to scale replicable PED solutions across Europe, supporting the Cities Mission climate-neutrality targets by 2030.
 
BIPED (2024-2027)
BIPED develops digital twin models for Positive Energy Districts. It creates interoperable planning tools to design, monitor, and replicate PEDs across European cities. The project combines technical innovations with governance frameworks, supporting the Cities Mission energy transition and urban sustainability goals.
 
EXPEDITE (2024-2027)
EXPEDITE advances experimentation with digital twins for Positive Energy Districts. It pilots innovative tools in Mission Cities, enabling simulation of complex urban systems. The project supports decision-makers with actionable data and predictive modelling, driving systemic change towards sustainable and resilient urban futures.

 

Facilitators

 

Tags

CommunicationJust transition