social innovation

PEDvolution

2024-2027

The PEDvolution project paves the way for cross-sectoral integration of ever-evolving PEDs.

The pinnacle of community driven energy transition are Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). They improve energy efficiency, integrate local renewables and excess heat more effectively and enable interaction with the energy and non-energy sectors like mobility, ICT and industry. 

The Horizon Europe IA project’s vision is to change the landscape of energy transition across Europe, through a range of solutions enabling an integrated and interoperable approach that goes beyond mere technological. PEDvolution sets a new standard by enabling PED demonstration owners to receive tailored decision support that is streamlined to their specific local contexts and evolving needs, as well as the changing environment.

PEDvolution will establish seven interoperable solutions planned to be developed and tested at different dynamic environments. These are 1) PED Design and Planning Toolset, 2) PED Readiness Assessment, 3) Dynamic Decision Support Guideline for PED Development, 4) PED Energy Manager, 5) Data Exchange, Integration and Interoperability Platform, 6) PED Business Models, 7) Social Innovation tool.

This approach driven by the community enables citizens to collaboratively engage and merge with the local energy, transportation, and information and communication technology (ICT) systems, all the while fostering social innovation.

Project focus:

  • Interoperable solutions for positive energy districts to streamline evolutionary process of decentralised energy production in urban areas.
  • A toolbox of technical tools, design and planning tools, business model tools and social innovation tools.

Role of the Social Innovation team:

  • Development of social innovation approach for PEDs, based on SSH theories on stakeholder involvement for collective energy action and principles of human centric design.
  • Implementation of the engagement approach in three pilot sites in Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland.

 

Keywords: Positive Energy Districts, urban development, collective energy action, social innovation, engagement strategy, human centric design, social sciences and humanities framework