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POSEIDON conducts comprehensive survey

Assessing Current landscape

In order to assess the current energy landscape in all six participating Mediterranean cities, we conducted a comprehensive survey with various focus groups. The purpose of the survey was to ensure alignment of the development of PEDs with local priorities, identify challenges, and highlight opportunities, while encouraging respondents to share pertinent documents to support their feedback.

The survey results presented distinct challenges faced by city participants and as can be presumed – each city had unique requirements.

Local NEEDS

The POSEIDON project is a European initiative focused on aiding six municipalities in developing Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) within their existing neighborhoods.

A PED is defined as an urban area capable of producing enough sustainable energy to meet all of its energy demands, representing a significant advancement in the energy transition by promoting local energy generation, efficiency, and sustainability.

Not only does POSEIDON prioritize the technical development of PEDs, but it also emphasizes the active involvement of citizens and stakeholders through local activities, exchanges, and empowerment initiatives.

By establishing urban Living Labs, the project aims to align technological advancements with community needs and interests, ensuring that the PEDs contribute to both energy goals and the enhancement of local livability. 

KEY
FINDINGS

The survey results highligh the various needs and unique circumstances of each municipality.

In Antalya, a tourism-driven city, the understanding of PEDs seems to be limited among the broader population, indicating a clear need for citizen engagement in sustainability discussions.

The results from Marseille show that the city struggles with significant social inequalities, revealing a lack of understanding regarding energy solutions.

Rome results highlight the need to balance heritage preservation with the potential for innovative energy projects.

Cesena, located in the north of Italy and embedded in landscape of towns however, revealed  a need for capacity building among civil servants and a focus on youth engagement. Following a flood event that sparked local resilience efforts, the inclusion of energy topics in the common discourse seems to be of higher priority at the moment.

The results from Alcorcón, a commuter city, show the city has made strides in initiating energy communities, yet also faces bureaucratic and financial hurdles.

Cascais, leveraging its tourism-driven economy, strives to address real estate dynamics while aiming for ambitious climate goals according to the results.

Customization of URBAN
LIving Labs

These findings underscore the necessity of improved communication and outreach on sustainability initiatives across participating cities.
 
The social programming in our Urban Living Labs will connect with different activities that are relevant for the local people.
 
Engaging communities and building the capacity of municipal teams can foster a deeper understanding and a greater push toward implementing energy projects effectively.
 
Moreover, the establishment of successful PED pilot projects could provide inspiration and guidance to other cities seeking to adopt sustainable energy solutions.
 
Addressing the identified gaps will be crucial in driving positive change and achieving a more equitable and sustainable urban future.