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Approaches to Social Innovation in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)—A Comparison of Norwegian Projects

Author

Listed:
  • Daniela Baer

    (SINTEF Community, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Bradley Loewen

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Caroline Cheng

    (SINTEF Community, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Judith Thomsen

    (SINTEF Community, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Annemie Wyckmans

    (Department of Architecture and Planning, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Alenka Temeljotov-Salaj

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Dirk Ahlers

    (Department of Architecture and Planning, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

The Positive Energy District (PED) concept is a localized city and district level response to the challenges of greenhouse gas emission reduction and energy transition. With the Strategic Energy Transition (SET) Plan aiming to establish 100 PEDs by 2025 in Europe, a number of PED projects are emerging in the EU member states. While the energy transition is mainly focusing on technical innovations, social innovation is crucial to guarantee the uptake and deployment of PEDs in the built environment. We set the spotlight on Norway, which, to date, has three PED projects encompassing 12 PED demo sites in planning and early implementation stages, from which we extract approaches for social innovations and discuss how these learnings can contribute to further PED planning and implementation. We describe the respective approaches and learnings for social innovation of the three PED projects, ZEN, +CityxChange and syn.ikia, in a multiple case study approach. Through the comparison of these projects, we start to identify social innovation approaches with different scopes regarding citizen involvement, stakeholder interaction and capacity building. These insights are also expected to contribute to further planning and design of PED projects within local and regional networks (PEDs in Nordic countries) and contribute to international PED concept development.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniela Baer & Bradley Loewen & Caroline Cheng & Judith Thomsen & Annemie Wyckmans & Alenka Temeljotov-Salaj & Dirk Ahlers, 2021. "Approaches to Social Innovation in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)—A Comparison of Norwegian Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7362-:d:586248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alan Mee & Madeleine Lyes & Philip Crowe, 2021. "Energy Urbanity and Active Citizen Participation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Bradley Loewen, 2024. "From Social Barriers to Transformative Planning in Energy Transitions: Learning from Norwegian Planners' Perspectives," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9.
    3. Bianka Plüschke-Altof & Bradley Loewen & Camilo Calderon & Mariia Chebotareva & Reeda Tuula-Fjodorov & Julia Gäckle, 2025. "Nature-Based Solutions and Public Participation: Unpacking Tensions in Sustainable City Development in Northern Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, August.
    4. repec:cog:urbpla:v:9:y:2024:i:3:p: is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Sabrina Bresciani & Francesca Rizzo & Alessandro Deserti, 2022. "Toward a Comprehensive Framework of Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality: A Systematic Literature Review from Business/Production, Public Policy, Environmental Sciences, Energy, Sustainability and," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Loewen, Bradley, 2022. "Revitalizing varieties of capitalism for sustainability transitions research: Review, critique and way forward," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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