The Final Conference of the EU‑funded Horizon 2020 project ATELIER brought together more than 100 experts, city representatives and project partners in Bilbao on 11–12 March to reflect on Europe’s progress towards Positive Energy Districts (PEDs).
Over two days, participants discussed lessons learned from Lighthouse and Fellow Cities and explored how PEDs can be scaled and replicated across Europe. Interactive breakout sessions addressed key topics such as starting a PED, energy communities, policy frameworks, data and digital tools, and financing models. A central takeaway was that strong governance, collaboration and citizen engagement are just as crucial as technological innovation.
As the project concludes, ATELIER leaves behind practical tools, governance approaches and tested solutions that will continue supporting cities on their path towards climate‑neutral districts.