In November, Finnish Lighthouse project cities gathered in Vantaa to exchange practices. During the two-day event, cities shared updates and experiences in developing positive energy districts (PEDs) and delved into pressing challenges of urban energy transitions.
The focus of November’s Lighthouse City network meeting was on replication and carbon neutrality in urban planning. The meeting gathered participants from Tampere (STARDUST), Oulu (MAKINGCITY), Espoo (SPARCS), Vantaa (NEUTRALPATH), and Turku (RESPONSE).
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to exchange on replication in Turku and Vantaa, and the ongoing work for energy transition in those cities that have already concluded their respective Lighthouse project. The second day of the meeting focused on energy planning and carbon footprints as integral components of urban planning. In addition, a workshop on the concept of “Nordic PEDs” was organised, focusing on what solutions “PED thinking” can provide to the energy transition in Nordic cities.
Examining the city through a PED lens can enable us to harness the full energy potential of the built environment, e.g. through capture of waste heat and increase of RES production. However, a critical challenge for scaling PEDs at city level lies in fostering and sustaining the kind of multistakeholder collaboration that are needed for successful implementation. New kinds of business and contractual models, which allow stakeholders to share benefits equitably, are needed to ensure broadscale adoption of PED practices. Finally, a key factor for scaling is related to the underlying structure of the city. In cities that are still expanding, the role of urban planning in new districts is highlighted.
Although some of the Lighthouse Projects have already ended, there is still much to share and learn between the project cities. Indeed, the fact that the projects are at different stages provides an excellent opportunity to compare various solutions.
The Finnish Lighthouse City network meets a few times a year to discuss ongoing work and relevant topics. November’s meeting was organised by the City of Vantaa and NEUTRALPATH project.
The Finnish Lighthouse City Network allows cities operating within the same legislative framework, faced with similar challenges and opportunities, to connect and foster mutual support. Ultimately, this advances development and strengthens the overall success of all the projects involved. November’s meeting was organised by the City of Vantaa and NEUTRALPATH project.
Key strengths identified included the need to address energy efficiency, waste heat utilization, renewable energy, and system flexibility from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Regional systems require collaborative solutions to harness the energy potential of the built environment, supported by business and contractual models that distribute benefits equitably. Energy efficiency must also translate into predictable and competitive pricing for end users.
