The consortium of the European project ATELIER gathered on 11 and 12 March in Bilbao to hold its final conference, an event that showcased the progress achieved after more than six years of work and highlighted the key role of collaboration between cities, institutions and citizens in the development of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs).
More than one hundred participants—including consortium members, representatives of other European projects and experts in the energy transition—came together to review the project’s journey and underline its global impact, as well as its contribution to the implementation of energy-efficient districts across Europe.
Throughout the event, working sessions addressed key topics such as the development of energy communities, regulatory frameworks, the use of digital and data-driven solutions, as well as financing models and replication strategies. In addition, the eight cities involved in the project demonstrated during the first day how they have successfully transformed initial concepts into real solutions tailored to their local contexts, along with the strategies designed to replicate these models in other territories.
Project coordinator Frans Verspeek stressed the importance of the human dimension in the energy transition, noting that while cities are essential actors, early citizen engagement remains one of the main challenges. According to him, ATELIER has shown that “innovation, governance and citizen participation must go hand in hand to make PEDs a reality.”
With its conclusion, ATELIER leaves behind a legacy of practical tools, tested solutions and governance frameworks that will continue to support European cities on their path towards climate neutrality, highlighting the importance of building strong partnerships to successfully address the challenges of the energy transition.