From November 5-7, 2024, the MAKING-CITY team joined the global urban innovation community at the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona. With over 25,000 attendees, 850+ cities, and leaders from 130+ countries, SCEWC is the world’s premier event for shaping the future of urban development. As part of the Smart Cities Marketplace and the European Commission’s delegation, we were excited to showcase how Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) are transforming urban energy systems across Europe and beyond.
Key Highlights from Our SCEWC 2024 Participation:
November 5: Tech Meets Policy – Driving Innovation in PEDs
We kicked off the event with a session on “Tech Meets Policy: Driving Innovation in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs),” moderated by Frans Verspeek (AtelierH2020). Our project coordinator, Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo, was joined by Jeroen Brouwer (AtelierH2020) and Benedetta Barchi (POCITYF) to discuss the synergy between technology and policy in creating sustainable urban energy solutions. With our project nearing completion, we also highlighted an exciting new AI chatbot that makes all research and deliverables from our partners easily accessible to the public. Explore the AI Chatbot here.
November 6: Workshop on Scaling Climate Solutions
On day two, Emilio Miguel Mitre (Green Building Council España / MAKING-CITY) co-facilitated a workshop organized by the Scalable Cities Secretariat on “Shaping a Successful Financial Program to Massively Upscale Climate Solutions in European Cities.” The session brought together experts from various sectors to explore innovative financial strategies for making climate solutions viable at scale. Attendees discussed how to turn unbankable solutions into feasible projects, helping cities take the lead in climate action through collaboration and innovation. A big thank you to the session facilitators and experts, including Graham Colclough, Gretel Schaj, and Philippe Fournand, for their valuable contributions.
November 7: Building Better Cities through PEDs
We wrapped up the event with a panel on “Building Better Cities in Europe through Positive Energy Districts”, moderated by Veronika Cerna. Our coordinator, Cecilia Sanz Montalvillo, shared insights from our lighthouse cities in Groningen and Oulu, detailing the key success factors in implementing PEDs: effective capacity building, strong collaboration, and active stakeholder engagement. Alongside Monjur Murshed (RESPONSE), Humberto Queiroz (POCITYF), and Omar Shafqat (AtelierH2020), Cecilia highlighted the progress made in these cities and the lessons learned that can be applied to other urban areas.
Connecting with Innovators and Policymakers
SCEWC 2024 was an excellent opportunity to connect with innovators, policymakers, and experts in the field of urban sustainability. The event underscored the importance of collaboration, capacity building, and citizen engagement in driving the energy transition and creating more sustainable, resilient cities.
We were inspired by the many exciting smart city projects and initiatives on display and look forward to continuing the work we’ve started with our partners. A big thank you to the Smart Cities Marketplace for their outstanding organization and to everyone who joined us in Barcelona!