Towards Positive Energy Districts: Multi-criteria framework and Quality Assurance

Paper in proceeding, 2024

This research develops a multi-criteria framework and Quality Assurance checklist (QA) for Positive-Energy-Districts (PEDs). PEDs have a large potential to contribute to reach urban climate goals but require also changes of planning, development, and transformation processes of neighborhoods. Our understanding of PEDs has been broadened to include aspects of circularity and economic viability, ensuring that PED concepts not only contribute to environmental sustainability but are also economically feasible. In this enhanced perspective, Digital Twins serving as essential carriers of information and facilitators of communication, effectively bridging the gap between different dimensions of sustainable development and practical implementation and monitoring. This study is part of an ongoing European project, Digital Twin for PEDs (DT4PEDs), with Living Labs in three countries: Austria, Sweden, and Turkey. The presented study addresses the central research question, "In what phases can specific requirements be linked to the process to ensure PED development throughout the entire process using a Digital Twin?" within the context of the DT4PEDs project. Based on a participatory workshop with stakeholders from partner countries and a parallel literature review, the study encompasses three key areas. First, it seeks to consolidate property development practices across Austria, Sweden, and Turkey, including both new construction and retrofitting, into a unified framework. Second, it formulates a PED multi-criteria framework, complemented by a Quality Assurance (QA) checklist. Finally, the recommendations for digital twin are proposed to support energy related information flows and stakeholder dialogue.