A new international research project guides European Cities towards energy self-sufficiency

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, together with partners from the U!REKA European University Alliance, has received its first major project funding through the EU's Driving Urban Transition (DUT) funding program, that supports the transformation of urban areas in their effort to become more sustainable and energy-efficient while promoting the well-being of residents. The 4A4PEDs project, starting in spring 2025, focuses on designing positive energy districts and improving energy self-sufficiency. Positive energy districts produce more energy than they consume and can sell or share it with surrounding areas.

The 4A4PEDs (Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Alliance Principles for Energy Resilient PEDs) project aims to help cities become energy-efficient and energy-flexible by exploring regional energy self-sufficiency in terms of energy availability, accessibility, and cost. It will also involve activating various stakeholders to participate in the design and implementation of these areas. The project also seeks to combat energy poverty in Europe by promoting regional energy self-sufficiency.

Several European cities will serve as Living Lab environments in the project for analyzing energy resilience. A Living Lab is an open innovation ecosystem where new ideas and solutions are developed and tested in a real-world context. In a Living Lab, the development process moves forward in iterative stages, with feedback collected from users at each stage. This continuous feedback allows for the adaptation and improvement of innovations during their development, resulting in a better-functioning solution that meets user needs.

Metropolia coordinates the implementation of its own Living Lab environment in collaboration with the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, as well as two data processing companies, Eeneman and Nordic Data Exchange. Metropolia focuses on data collection and its utilization to develop new solutions, such as the use of micro-level weather forecasts as well as visualization of data to engage consumers and to support political decision-making. A key research tool in the project is the PED framework, which supports the decentralization of energy systems.

"The 4A4PEDs project supports the European Union's goal to establish 100 positive energy districts by 2025 and promote climate-neutral and smart cities. By working closely with both domestic and international partners in the project, Metropolia also strengthens its own position as a developer of energy-efficient urban solutions," says Metropolia's RDI Director Anna-Maria Vilkuna.

The 4A4PEDs project brings together expertise from Metropolia's Smart and Creative City innovation hub and the School of Real Estate and Construction. Several international actors are involved in the project, including EURAC Research, which coordinates the entire project, various European cities, and U!REKA partners such as the Amsterdam and Frankfurt Universities of Applied Sciences and VSB Technical University of Ostrava. The project's budget exceeds 700,000 euros, with around 480,000 euros of the funding in Finland provided through Business Finland. The project will begin in early 2025 and will last for three years.

More information:

Paula Naukkarinen
Senior Lecturer, 4A4PEDs Project Manager, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
p. 040 624 9620
Paula.Naukkarinen [at] metropolia.fi (Paula[dot]Naukkarinen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)