Webinar recap: Neighbourhood-level innovation: Scaling impact through local alliances

How can neighbourhoods become the driving force behind Europe’s energy transition? This question took centre stage in this December webinar organised by CLR and introduced by Natalia Boemi, which explored innovative renovation practices, the concept of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), and the power of local alliances to scale impact.

Natalia Boemi opened by explaining PEDs as urban areas designed to achieve net-zero emissions through integrated renewable energy, storage, and demand management across multiple buildings. She stressed that these efforts must go hand in hand with social inclusion, affordability, and alignment with EU policy goals.

The presentations showcased how theory translates into action. Stavros Spyridakos, representing CLR, highlighted the evolution of the Citizen-led renovation initiative and its pilots, which could be scaling from energy communities to PEDs through bottom-up governance, integrated planning, and digital tools. Pilot projects in Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Hungary demonstrated how capacity building and financial alignment can unlock progress. Evi Lambie, representing oPEN Lab, shared the story of the oPEN Living Lab in Genk, Belgium—a pioneering effort to transform vulnerable neighbourhoods into positive energy communities. Her presentation emphasised the quadruple helix model, combining research, industry, public authorities, and citizens, alongside technical solutions like prefabricated renovations and collective energy systems. Petra Pomper, representing the Real Life Project, introduced the Real Life platform, designed to empower citizens for deep energy renovation by offering financial, technical, and forecasting services. She addressed barriers such as high upfront costs, behavioural challenges, and administrative complexity, inviting participants to contribute to policy recommendations.

Throughout the discussion, one theme stood out: citizen engagement is not optional—it is essential. Co-creation, education, and tailored communication emerged as key strategies to improve energy literacy and ensure acceptance of renovation projects. Social innovation, combined with technical excellence, is the foundation for scaling impact.

The webinar concluded with an interactive Q&A, encouraging participants to share questions and insights for ongoing surveys and policy development. As Europe moves toward climate neutrality, these neighbourhood-level innovations and alliances offer a blueprint for inclusive, scalable change—turning ambitious goals into tangible results.