energies

Editorial
Harmonizing Urban Innovation: Exploring the Nexus between
Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts
Paola Clerici Maestosi

ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development,
Department Energy Technologies and Renewables TERIN-ICER Tools and Services for Critical Infrastructures and
Renewable Energy Communities, 40129 Bologna, Italy; [email protected]

1. Introduction
The emergence of the Smart City concept in Europe in the early 2010s emphasized the
enhancement of livability and sustainability in urban environments through the integrated
use of data and sensors as tools for designing comprehensive governance scenarios [1].
Data integration aimed not only to address urgent urban issues but also to integrate existing
services or offer new ones to citizens within a human-centered paradigm. Rather than
tackling challenges such as waste management, mobility, climate adaptation, and energy
independently, there was a growing belief in the potential for significant economic and
environmental benefits through a more integrated approach. The focus was on develop-
ing solutions capable of simultaneously addressing multiple challenges across different
domains such as electricity, health, and security.
At the core of Smart City development was the establishment of common technical
foundations and open standards aimed at promoting interoperability and portability across
different systems [2]. Therefore, Smart Cities can be described as complex urban systems
integrating various services and functions, a sort of system of systems, capable of providing
access to services, applications, platforms, and infrastructures. Through leveraging digital
solutions based on these principles, cities aimed to increase citizen engagement and pro-
mote innovative ecosystems, ultimately improving livability, sustainability, and lifestyles.
Indeed, rather than exclusively addressing challenges such as sustainable waste manage-
ment, mobility, water, buildings, heating, cooling, and energy systems separately, the Smart
City concept emphasized the benefits derived from adopting a more integrated approach.
Citation: Clerici Maestosi, P.
The term “smart” served as an umbrella term for innovative technologies that inher-
Harmonizing Urban Innovation:
ently incorporated a minimum level of artificial intelligence [3,4]. Key features of smart
Exploring the Nexus between Smart
Cities and Positive Energy Districts.
technologies included the ability to acquire information from the surrounding environment
Energies 2024, 17, 3422. https://
and respond accordingly. With the recent rapid evolution that artificial intelligence has
doi.org/10.3390/en17143422 undergone, the concept of the Smart City will find renewed vigor, especially in the context
of defining scenarios, particularly in energy-related aspects.
Received: 12 April 2024
The long-term goal of smart technology is to improve people’s well-being, and one
Accepted: 11 June 2024
of the main innovations introduced by the Smart City in everyday living is the “smart
Published: 11 July 2024
home” [5–8], a specific solution aimed at improving livability, especially in terms of energy
consumption. While smart home concepts assist end-users in understanding their energy
consumption, Positive Energy Buildings (ZEBs), derived from Nearly Zero Energy Build-
Copyright: © 2024 by the author.
ings (nZEBs), aim to reduce energy consumption through innovative building envelope
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. solutions supported by smart sensors and also through contributing to energy production,
This article is an open access article to the extent of having a local energy production greater than the energy consumed by the
distributed under the terms and building itself [9,10]. From this concept to the idea of expanding energy production and
conditions of the Creative Commons exchange between buildings, the concept of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) emerged [11].
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// Therefore, Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) arise from the vision of the Smart City that
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ promoted the integrated use of data, sensors, and systems, which now aim to improve
4.0/). citizens’ livability through innovative services and shape those systems and infrastructures

Energies 2024, 17, 3422. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143422 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

Energies 2024, 17, 3422 2 of 10

through which services are delivered due to artificial intelligence. Thus, Positive Energy
Districts (PEDs) represent the visionary legacy of the Smart City. This high and futuristic
ambition represents the natural evolution of the Smart City, whose legacy has been adopted
and structured within the EU’s SET Plan [12]. Positive Energy Districts are defined as
districts with the goal of achieving net zero energy import and annual CO2 emissions
while aiming for a local surplus production of renewable energy, thus reshaping energy
infrastructures and modulating flexibility. Therefore, PEDs expand the vision of the Smart
City as an integration of systems by aiming to reach climate neutrality in urban areas while
continuing to promote integration among buildings, users, and systems proposed by the
Smart City; this is all while moving from the local level to regional and national scenarios
where energy infrastructure systems, mobility, and ICT infrastructures collaborate. Energy
systems within PEDs must refer to broader regional and national energy contexts to avoid
limiting integration, expansion, and replication opportunities. The PED’s approach requires
the development of bidirectional energy networks capable of accommodating energy
exchange with renewable energy sources, addressing issues of flexibility and grid stability.
As the EU commits to ambitious climate targets by 2030, attention on Positive Energy
Buildings (PEBs) and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) intensifies. While many building
regulations are already in place, the emergence of PEDs poses new regulatory, organiza-
tional, and certification challenges. However, initiatives such as those of the Clean Energy
Package together with the Energy Communities concept can contribute to the diffusion of
the PED concept and its realization. Some cities participating in the Mission 100 Climate
Neutral Cities are considering including PEDs in their City Climate Contracts, not only
as active components of the energy system [13], but also as a broad objective capable of
aggregating multilevel governance towards a common goal.

2. Exploring the Nexus between Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts
Since Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) are considered to be the visionary legacy of the
Smart City, what is the nexus between the two? And what are the discernible dimensions
that characterize them?
The papers collected in this Special Issue each highlight a specific dimension. Before
delving into the analysis of the papers, the discernible dimensions that highlight the
connection between the two concepts are proposed below: framework conditions (I),
prefiguration (II), emerging impacts (III), integration between technical and non-technical
capabilities (IV), and key structural aspects (V).
Framework conditions (I) encompass a set of fundamental principles essential for
the effective execution of both Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). From a
technical standpoint, the energy infrastructure underlying PEDs is characterized by a wide
range of renewable energy sources, high energy efficiency, and a flexibility of the energy
system. The balance to be found for the development of PEDs is more complex than that
of Smart Cities because it extends beyond the local level to the regional level and, in the
case of central government energy strategies, to the national level. Thus, it moves from the
intrinsic capacity of local governance to delineate the development of a Smart City to the
multilevel governance necessary for the development of PEDs.
Prefiguration (II) involves identifying essential preparatory measures to initiate the
Smart City process, where a collaborative local governance model is imperative to begin
the transformation procedure, connect ecosystem stakeholders, and align their interests
and priorities. In the case of PEDs, essential preparatory measures become more complex
as they transition from a local governance model to a multilevel governance model and
aim to integrate and make energy infrastructures flexible. For such a challenging goal, a
shared national, regional, and local energy strategy among stakeholders is required.
Emerging impacts (III) pertain to the direct/indirect repercussions associated with
both Smart Cities and PEDs and reside in both the reduction in energy consumption, the
implementation of energy efficiency, the decrease in dependence on fossil fuels, and the
improvement of system flexibility. Since what changes between the Smart City and PEDs
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 3 of 10

is the scale of the dimension, it follows that the incentives to mobilize the participation
of stakeholders must differentiate according to the specific stakeholder system. However,
a fundamental and strategic role is played, in the case of PEDs, by the introduction of
regulatory and legislative provisions that are able to guide macro decisions.
The ability to integrate (IV) technical and non-technical capabilities is an important fac-
tor. Integrated planning serves as a mechanism for harmonizing efforts across governance
layers and for realizing a unified urban vision, in the case of Smart Cities. Consequently,
collaboration between local authority, external stakeholders and multilevel governance
becomes critical for PEDs. Municipal administrations must embed PED projects across
operational, tactical, and strategic tiers, supported with administrative initiatives such
as the City Climate Contract adopted by some municipalities in Mission 100 Climate
Neutral Cities. The evolution towards citizen energy communities elevates citizens from
participants to stakeholders with vested ownership in the PED’s energy landscape.
Key structural aspects (V) for the Smart City and PEDs necessitate an integrated ap-
proach encompassing technological, social, economic, financial, and regulatory dimensions
to realize a sustainable urban energy transition effectively.

3. Published Papers Highlights

This editorial article summarizes the Special Issue of Energies titled “Smart Cities and
Positive Energy Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023” which includes published pa-
pers [1–8] covering both the topics of Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The
aim of this section is to connect with Section 2, “Exploring the Nexus between Smart Cities
and Positive Energy Districts”, to identify the connections among the papers that address
topics related to the Smart City concept or the PED concept, highlighting commonalities.
The analysis on the following papers determines the topic addressed by each paper,
which can be synthesized as follows:
Paper 1: “A Systematicity Review on Residential Electricity Load-Shifting at the
Appliance Level”. This paper delves into residential electricity load-shifting, a strategy for
managing demand and optimizing grid efficiency during peak periods. It highlights the
necessity of studying appliance-level load-shifting for accurate load-profile analysis, despite
the limited literature. Current research predominantly employs load-shifting algorithms,
yielding benefits like reduced costs and peak consumption. The paper’s systematic review
process and findings underscore the significance of appliance-level load-shifting for energy
efficiency enhancement. This contribution aids decision-makers and policymakers by
elucidating new dynamics in load-shifting, informing strategies for energy efficiency and
demand-side management.
Paper 2: “Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Community Designs for District
Heating Networks: Case Study of Corticella (Italy)”. Ancona et al.’s study examines renew-
able energy community models in district heating networks, aligned with EU directives
on energy transition. It assesses an Italian energy community’s potential, showcasing
benefits like increased self-sufficiency through internal energy sharing and heat pump
integration. The research evaluates cost-effective investment options using incentive tariffs,
demonstrating significant reductions in energy demand, emissions, and costs. The results
show that integrating photovoltaics reduces primary energy demand by 11%, while the
energy community setup lowers emissions by 12% without extra investment, compared to
a reference case. This study informs strategies for enhancing energy-economic performance
in district heating networks.
Paper 3: “Classifying Regional and Industrial Characteristics of GHG Emissions in
South Korea”. Kang et al.’s study addresses South Korea’s goal of a 40% carbon emission
reduction by 2030, complicated by its carbon-dependent manufacturing sector and diverse
regional industries. Regional emission analysis is crucial due to varying mitigation capac-
ities. Existing methodologies often overlook regional differences. The study proposes a
quantitative approach using shift-share analysis and the Log Mean Divisia Index method
to classify emissions. Shift-share analysis links industry and regional traits, while the Index
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 4 of 10

method dissects economic and technological impacts. By combining these, the study offers
four classifications to evaluate regional and industrial carbon neutrality potential, focusing
on mining and manufacturing sectors in South Korea.
Paper 4: “From Buildings to Communities: Exploring the Role of Financial Schemes
for Sustainable Plus Energy Neighborhoods”. Kerstens et al.’s paper delves into financial
schemes’ role in fostering sustainable plus energy neighborhoods (SPENs), vital for carbon-
neutral built environments. Examining Austria, The Netherlands, Norway, and Spain, the
study analyzes how these schemes support SPEN development. Through mixed methods,
including case studies and interviews, it uncovers barriers such as insufficient incentives for
collective energy sharing and bias towards individuals with upfront investments, hindering
broad accessibility. By identifying these limitations, the study underscores the necessity for
policy adjustments and innovative financial mechanisms to facilitate SPEN implementation,
contributing to global sustainable urban development efforts and aiding policymakers and
stakeholders encountering similar challenges.
Paper 5: “An Indicator Framework for Evaluating Building Renovation Potential”.
Danielsen et al.’s paper discusses the impact of a new EU directive on energy renovation in
Denmark and presents an indicator framework to assess renovation potential in a specific
municipality. Four indicators—energy consumption, CO2 emissions, heating costs, and
current energy labels—were used for detached dwellings. Physical renovation potential
was quantified based on these indicators, providing an average score for 10,228 dwellings;
equal weighting was applied to all indicators. While the method is applicable beyond this
study, it highlights the need for more detailed data to accurately determine renovation
potential, suggesting that municipalities increase their data collection efforts for improved
precision in analysis.
Paper 6: “Operational Insights and Future Potential of the Database for Positive Energy
Districts”. Civiero et al. introduce the Positive Energy District Database (PED DB), a collab-
orative web tool aligned with international initiatives like JPI Urban Europe and IEA EBC
Annex 83. The PED DB facilitates knowledge sharing, collaboration, and decision-making
for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), crucial for sustainable urban development in line with
the EU’s climate-neutral goals by 2050. It maps and disseminates information on PEDs
across Europe, detailing collaborative implementation processes, current functionalities,
and future developments. The interactive platform offers customizable visualizations,
filters, and detailed case study information, enhancing the understanding and comparison
of PED projects, and consequently advancing sustainable urban development efforts.
Paper 7: “Improving the Energy Performance of Public Buildings in the Mediterranean
Climate via a Decision Support Tool”. Gouveia presents the application of the PrioritEE
Decision Support Tool in Portuguese public buildings to improve energy efficiency, cut
carbon emissions, and save costs. Analyzing energy performance certificate data from
22 public buildings across three regions, the tool’s adaptability allows thorough assessments
and customized energy solutions. The study emphasizes the significance of user-friendly
tools in aiding policymakers and local technicians to achieve national renovation goals and
advance broader energy transition objectives in Europe.
Paper 8: “Implementation of Positive Energy Districts in Euro-pean Cities: A System-
atic Literature Review to Identify the Effective Integration of the Concept into the Existing
Energy Systems”. Clerici Maestosi et al.’s review scrutinizes the integration of Positive
Energy Districts’ (PEDs) into European cities’ energy systems via a systematic literature
review. Employing open access bibliometric software and content analysis, it assesses
research and innovation program support for PEDs and their actual implementation. While
PEDs attract scientific attention and research funding, their implementation remains lim-
ited, with less than half of analyzed documents featuring case studies; moreover, there is an
uneven adoption among countries. To overcome barriers, the study recommends increased
ad hoc funding and improved accessibility, especially for municipalities less engaged in
European projects and networks, aiming to foster PED diffusion and implementation.
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 5 of 10

The topic addressed in each paper, in accordance with the factors outlined in Section 2,
are seen in Table 1.

Table 1. Topic addressed by each paper, as outlined in Section 2.

Topic Addressed in the Paper Related Topic Addressed in the Paper Related
No Reference
to Smart Cities Concept to Positive Energy Districts
Manembu, P.D.K.; Kewo, A.;
Bramstoft, R.; Nielsen, P.S. A
Systematicity Review on energy efficiency
energy efficiency
1 Residential Electricity Load-Shifting smart cities
(IV technical capabilities)
at the Appliance Level. Energies (IV technical capabilities)
2023, 16, 7828. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en16237828
Ancona, M.A.; Baldi, F.; Branchini,
L.; De Pascale, A.; Gianaroli, F.;
Melino, F.; Ricci, M. Comparative
energy production
Analysis of Renewable Energy
(IV technical capabilities)
2 Community Designs for District
energy communities
Heating Networks: Case Study of
(III emerging impacts)
Corticella (Italy). Energies 2022, 15,
5248. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en15145248
Kang, H.; Zoh, H.D. Classifying
Regional and Industrial smart urban management
Characteristics of GHG Emissions (II prefiguration)
3
in South Korea. Energies 2022, 15, energy consumption, energy mixture
7777. https: (IV technical capabilities)
//doi.org/10.3390/en15207777
Kerstens, A.; Greco, A. From
Buildings to Communities:
Exploring the Role of Financial
SPENs
4 Schemes for Sustainable Plus
(IV technical capabilities)
Energy Neighborhoods. Energies
2023, 16, 5453. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en16145453
European Union directive on energy
Danielsen, B.E.; Baxter, M.N.;
renovation in Denmark, energy
Nielsen, P.S. An Indicator
consumption, CO2 emissions, heating
Framework for Evaluating Building
5 costs, and current energy labels
Renovation Potential. Energies
(II prefiguration)
2024, 17, 846. https:
(III emerging impacts)
//doi.org/10.3390/en17040846
(V key structural aspects)
Civiero, P.; Turci, G.; Alpagut, B.;
Kuzmic, M.; Soutullo, S.; Sánchez,
M.N.; Seco, O.; Bossi, S.; Haase, M.;
Massa, G.; et al. Operational
PED database
6 Insights and Future Potential of the
(II prefiguration)
Database for Positive Energy
Districts. Energies 2024, 17, 899.
https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en17040899
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 6 of 10

Table 1. Cont.

Topic Addressed in the Paper Related Topic Addressed in the Paper Related
No Reference
to Smart Cities Concept to Positive Energy Districts
Gouveia, J.P.; Aelenei, L.; Aelenei,
ProritEE Decision Support Tool
D.; Ourives, R.; Bessa, S. Improving
Portuguese public buildings to enhance
the Energy Performance of Public
energy efficiency, reduce carbon
7 Buildings in the Mediterranean
emissions, and achieve financial
Climate via a Decision Support Tool.
savings
Energies 2024, 17, 1105. https:
(II prefiguration)
//doi.org/10.3390/en17051105
Clerici Maestosi, P.; Salvia, M.;
Pietrapertosa, F.; Romagnoli, F.;
Pirro, M. Implementation of critically examines the development
Positive Energy Districts in and implementation of Positive Energy
European Cities: A Systematic Districts (PEDs) within the context of
8
Literature Review to Identify the the Energy Union strategy through a
Effective Integration of the Concept systematic literature review
into the Existing Energy Systems. (V key structural aspects)
Energies 2024, 17, 707. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en17030707

4. Discussion
From analyzing the papers in the Special Issue “Smart Cities and Positive Energy
Districts: Urban Perspectives in 2022–2023”, it is evident that some articles focus on Positive
Energy Districts (PEDs) or related topics like energy communities, while others concentrate
on Smart Cities. Only one article integrates both categories, analyzing aspects present
in both approaches. For instance, Paper 1, titled “A Systematic Review on Residential
Electricity Load-Shifting at the Appliance Level” by Manembu, P.D.K. et al., conducts a
structured literature review emphasizing systematicity and transparency. The findings
indicate efficiency gains in installed capacity, cost reduction (including emissions), and
peak consumption reduction. Load-shifting algorithms, particularly for multi-appliance
scenarios, are commonly used, with Air Conditioners (AC) and Electric Water Heaters
(EWH) being frequently discussed shiftable loads. Most studies provide high-resolution
simulation data, crucial for near-real-time load-shifting. A basic data-quality score is
created, with ten attributes, recommending ten articles for priority review. Identified
limitations include rigid assumptions, limited sample sizes, and less flexible algorithms.
Future directions involve analyzing the role of distributed renewable systems and the
application of multi-scale controls, with a focus on improving thermodynamic precision
and comfort factors.
When considering the focus on PED and the related topic of energy communities, the
main findings discuss the following:
• Paper 2 delves into utilizing surplus solar energy for district heating networks (DHNs)
in Corticella, Italy. It compares scenarios including absorption chillers and simple PV
panel installations; the results show that rooftop PV panels offer the highest economic
and environmental benefits, with a EUR 273,000 net present value (NPV) over 20 years
and an 11% emissions reduction. Incorporating heat pumps boosts NPV to EUR
398,000–521,000, driven by improved efficiency and community incentives. The study
underscores heat pumps’ cost-effectiveness in decarbonizing DHNs and leveraging
shared energy incentives. Future work will optimize system design and integrate
storage to enhance energy community applications in DHNs.
• Paper 4 emphasizes that existing financial schemes in Europe and at federal levels
primarily focus on individual buildings rather than neighborhood-wide solutions.
This approach hinders collaborative investments for comprehensive sustainable plus
energy neighborhoods (SPENs). In the studied countries, a lack of coordination
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 7 of 10

between stakeholders was found to pose a significant barrier, leading to bureaucratic

challenges. Fragmented knowledge and a limited utilization of financial schemes,
along with the absence of viable business models for SPEN innovations, further impede
progress. Overcoming these barriers requires a shift towards collective approaches and
addressing challenges within the current financial landscape and market conditions to
advance SPEN development.
• Paper 5 introduces an indicator framework for assessing energy-efficient renovation
potential in Rudersdal municipality, Denmark. Four indicators—energy consumption,
CO2 emissions, heating costs, and energy labels—were analyzed across three scenarios.
The results show that the most effective method involves improving the building’s
envelope and switching heating suppliers, particularly in regard to district heating or
a heat pump. This approach significantly reduces CO2 emissions and heating costs.
Many buildings lack valid energy labels, indicating a high potential for renovation;
most would receive a grade of five, emphasizing the urgent need for energy-efficient
renovations in the municipality.
• Paper 6 discusses the Positive Energy District Database (PED DB), a collaborative web
tool advancing sustainable urban environments through promoting knowledge shar-
ing and collaboration. It aims to map and disseminate information on Positive Energy
Districts (PEDs) across Europe, supporting the EU’s climate-neutral objectives by 2050.
With a focus on interconnected buildings and energy communities, PEDs achieve net
zero greenhouse gas emissions. The PED DB enables data visualization and analysis,
offering insights into PED case studies and projects. Future developments include
automating dashboard population and enhancing stakeholder engagement through
a Decision Support System (DSS). The PED DB empowers stakeholders to replicate
successful strategies and drive progress towards sustainable urban development.
• Paper 8 reviews the implementation of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in European
cities, aiming to identify effective integration into existing energy systems. To overcome
barriers, the study recommends increased ad hoc funding and enhanced accessibility,
especially for municipalities less engaged in European projects and networks.
When considering the focus on the Smart Cities approach, the main findings relate to
the following:
• Paper 3 delves into smart urban management and the interplay between urban eco-
nomic structure and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in South Korea. It examines
how diverse industrial structures in regions affect local carbon emissions, aiming to
provide a comprehensive understanding of GHG emission patterns at the regional
and industrial levels.
• Paper 7 underscores the importance of energy renovation for public buildings in the
Mediterranean climate to achieve energy savings and decarbonization goals, aligning
with European legislation like Sustainable Energy and Climate Plans (SEAP/SECAP).
It introduces the PrioritEE Decision Support Tool (DSTool), an interactive online
calculator designed to assist local authorities in prioritizing energy efficiency measures
based on potential savings, costs, and return on investment. The study applies the
DSTool to 22 buildings across three Portuguese locations, demonstrating the significant
potential for energy and financial savings and CO2 emission reductions. Further
research should focus on building-level renovation solutions to align with deep energy
renovation plans and city-level strategies.
The main results/findings and future research activities highlighted by the papers can
be synthesized as follows (Table 2).
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 8 of 10

Table 2. Main results/findings and future research activities highlighted by papers.

No Reference Results/Findings Future Research Activities

Manembu, P.D.K.; Kewo, A.;
Structured literature review Future directions involve analyzing the
Bramstoft, R.; Nielsen, P.S. A
emphasizing systematicity and role of distributed renewable systems
Systematicity Review on
transparency. The findings indicate and the application of multi-scale
1 Residential Electricity Load-Shifting
efficiency gains in installed capacity, controls, with a focus on improving
at the Appliance Level. Energies
cost reduction (including emissions), thermodynamic precision and comfort
2023, 16, 7828. https:
and peak consumption reduction. factors.
//doi.org/10.3390/en16237828
Ancona, M.A.; Baldi, F.; Branchini,
L.; De Pascale, A.; Gianaroli, F.;
Melino, F.; Ricci, M. Comparative
The study underscores heat pumps’ Future work will optimize system
Analysis of Renewable Energy
cost-effectiveness in decarbonizing design and integrate storage to enhance
2 Community Designs for District
DHNs and leveraging shared energy energy community applications in
Heating Networks: Case Study of
incentives. DHNs.
Corticella (Italy). Energies 2022, 15,
5248. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en15145248
Kang, H.; Zoh, H.D. Classifying Smart urban management and the
Regional and Industrial interplay between urban economic
Characteristics of GHG Emissions structure and greenhouse gas (GHG)
3
in South Korea. Energies 2022, 15, emissions in South Korea.
7777. https: Diverse industrial structures in regions
//doi.org/10.3390/en15207777 affect local carbon emissions
Lack of coordination among
stakeholders, collaborative investments,
Kerstens, A.; Greco, A. From fragmented knowledge and limited
Buildings to Communities: utilization of financial schemes, along
Exploring the Role of Financial with the absence of viable business
4 Schemes for Sustainable Plus models.
Energy Neighborhoods. Energies Overcoming these barriers requires a
2023, 16, 5453. https: shift towards collective approaches and
//doi.org/10.3390/en16145453 addressing challenges within the
current financial landscape and market
conditions.
Indicator framework for assessing
energy-efficient renovation potential in
Rudersdal municipality, Denmark.
Danielsen, B.E.; Baxter, M.N.; (energy consumption, CO2 emissions,
Nielsen, P.S. An Indicator heating costs, and energy labels).
Framework for Evaluating Building Most effective method involves
5
Renovation Potential. Energies improving the building’s envelope and
2024, 17, 846. https: switching heating suppliers,
//doi.org/10.3390/en17040846 particularly to district heating or a heat
pump. This approach significantly
reduces CO2 emissions and heating
costs.
Civiero, P.; Turci, G.; Alpagut, B.;
Kuzmic, M.; Soutullo, S.; Sánchez,
M.N.; Seco, O.; Bossi, S.; Haase, M.;
Massa, G.; et al. Operational
6 Insights and Future Potential of the Collaborative web tool. Knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Database for Positive Energy
Districts. Energies 2024, 17, 899.
https:
//doi.org/10.3390/en17040899
Energies 2024, 17, 3422 9 of 10

Table 2. Cont.

No Reference Results/Findings Future Research Activities

Gouveia, J.P.; Aelenei, L.; Aelenei,
PrioritEE Decision Support Tool
D.; Ourives, R.; Bessa, S. Improving
(DSTool) Further research should focus on
the Energy Performance of Public
Focus on building-level renovation building-level renovation solutions to
7 Buildings in the Mediterranean
solutions to align with deep energy align with deep energy renovation
Climate via a Decision Support Tool.
renovation plans and city-level plans and city-level strategies.
Energies 2024, 17, 1105. https:
strategies.
//doi.org/10.3390/en17051105
Further research will adopt more
Clerici Maestosi, P.; Salvia, M.; formal methodologies to analyze the
Cognitive framework on
Pietrapertosa, F.; Romagnoli, F.; effective consistency of 76 case studies
implementation of Positive Energy
Pirro, M. Implementation of aspiring to become PEDs.
Districts (PEDs) review.
Positive Energy Districts in Further results on funding sources, the
To overcome barriers, the study
European Cities: A Systematic distribution of case studies, the types of
8 recommends increased ad hoc funding
Literature Review to Identify the funding and stakeholders involved,
and enhanced accessibility, especially
Effective Integration of the Concept and the characterization of PEDs will
for municipalities less engaged in
into the Existing Energy Systems. be presented in a follow-up article
European projects and networks
Energies 2024, 17, 707. https: matching the PED concept with
through a systematic literature review.
//doi.org/10.3390/en17030707 “long-term climate goals towards
climate neutrality”.

5. Conclusions
The realization of a Smart City or Positive Energy District (PED) vision in the urban
landscape embodies the next step of urban governance. It signifies the culmination of
various strategies and actions, culminating in the transition of the existing built environ-
ment into a carbon-neutral ecosystem. These endeavors demand innovative solutions to
streamline authorization processes, develop sustainable business models, and forge robust
collaborative agreements among stakeholders. Such transitions demand concerted efforts
from diverse urban communities, bolstered by institutional backing and regulatory stability,
ensuring clear policy direction as they aim for their objectives. Ultimately, the evolution
of PEDs parallels that of Smart Cities, necessitating a blend of technological ingenuity
and non-technological innovations tailored to each unique urban context. Contextual
understanding illuminates feasible strategies, sustainable economic frameworks, and co-
operative agreements to surmount decision-making hurdles, providing a roadmap for
urban sustainability. These pillars pave the path towards the realization of carbon-neutral,
comprehensively sustainable cities for a promising future of urban living.

Funding: This research received no external funding.

Conflicts of Interest: The author declares no conflicts of interest.

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