The EU Smart Cities project SPARCS recently launched a free online course on the platform pedlearning.eu, which was launched by ATELIER in 2022. The course, PED Business Ecosystem and Stakeholder Engagement, is a comprehensive learning resource tailored to the needs of European cities and sustainability projects. Developed in collaboration with the ATELIER project, the course aims to equip cities with vital knowledge on Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), business ecosystems, and stakeholder engagement strategies. The course recognizes the growing urgency of addressing climate change and the critical role cities play in mitigating its effects. As Europe seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, PEDs are seen as a pivotal element in the energy transition.
The free course is designed for city planners, urban developers, and sustainability enthusiasts and offers an intermediate-level learning experience spread across 12 hours. Key topics include anchoring PEDs in city development strategies, understanding and engaging local stakeholders, and exploring business models for PED projects. The course provides a wealth of supporting materials, including the “How to PED Cookbook” and a “Solution Booklet,” making the theoretical aspects of PED implementation more practical and accessible. By empowering cities and urban stakeholders, the SPARCS’ PED Business Ecosystem and Stakeholder Engagement course aims to lead transformative change towards climate neutrality.
Author: Elgin Blankwater, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Picture credits: SPARCS