Bilbao, 12 March 2026
More than 100 participants convened in Bilbao on 11-12 March for the Final Conference of the EU Horizon 2020 project ATELIER, marking the culmination of more than six years of collaborative work to advance and replicate Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) across Europe. Attendees included the full consortium, high-level representatives from sister projects and related initiatives, as well as leading experts on PED implementation.
Plenary Sessions Showcasing Progress from Lighthouse Pilots to Legacy
On day one, the eight ATELIER’s cities demonstrated how they transformed early concepts into real-world PED deployments and how tailored replication pathways, suited to their unique local contexts, were jointly developed. Day two then shifted the spotlight to the bigger picture: did the project succeed in establishing functioning PEDs across Europe, and what recommendations can the ATELIER partners offer, now that the project has come to an end?
Breakout Sessions Deliver Practical Guidance
During both days, interactive breakout sessions offered hands- on exchanges on topics like how to kick start a PED, the potential of energy communities and Innovation Ateliers, regulatory and policy frameworks, data and digital solutions, replication strategies, and financing models for PEDs. The outcomes of the breakout and plenary sessions highlighted a shared message: robust collaboration and governance are just as essential as technological solutions in achieving climate neutral districts.
Coordinator’s Reflections: “It’s About People, Trust, and Collaboration”
In his remarks at the conference, Frans Verspeek, ATELIER Project Coordinator, emphasised the human dimension of the energy transition: “Cities are crucial for the energy transition because they are concentrated centres of energy use… but especially early involvement of citizens is crucial however also challenging.” He underlined that ATELIER demonstrated how innovation, governance, and community engagement must go hand in hand to make PEDs a reality.”
A Memorable Evening at the Guggenheim
A major highlight was the guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, followed by an official conference cocktail, giving participants an inspiring setting to reflect on the project’s results and strengthen European collaboration beyond the lifetime of ATELIER.
Laying the Groundwork for Europe’s Climate Neutral Cities
As the project concludes, ATELIER leaves a strong legacy of practical tools, governance frameworks, and city tested solutions. The conference confirmed that the project’s innovations – and the partnerships built around them – will continue supporting cities across Europe on their pathways toward climate neutrality.
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum: Driving ATELIER’s Visibility and Impact
As the leading organisation for dissemination, communication, and exploitation, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum played a central role in shaping ATELIER’s visibility and long term impact. The team coordinated the project’s outreach strategy, ensured consistent and effective communication across all partners, and supported the exploitation of key results to maximise uptake beyond the project’s duration. In addition, Steinbeis took the lead on organising the Final Conference and developed the project’s comprehensive final brochure, capturing ATELIER’s achievements, lessons learned, and its legacy for future Positive Energy District initiatives across Europe
The ATELIER consortium consists of the following members:
City of Amsterdam (NL)
City of Bilbao (SP)
Tecnalia (SP)
TNO (NL)
Cartif (SP)
De Waag Society (NL)
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (NL)
Paul Scherrer Institute (CH)
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (DE)
City of Budapest (HU)
City of Matosinhos (PO)
City of Riga (LT)
City of Copenhagen (DK)
City of Bratislava (SK)
City of Krakow (PL)
DEUSTOTECH (SP)
Cluster de Energía (SP)
IBERDROLA (SP)
TELUR (SP)
EVE (SP)
SPECTRAL (NL)
Republica Development VOF (NL)
Developer Poppies Location (NL)
Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan Solutions (NL)
Waternet (NL)
DNV-GL (NL)
Greenchoice (NL)
Zabala Innovation Consulting (SP)
Fraunhofer ITWM (GE)
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Project Coordinator
City of Amsterdam
Main Press Contact
Bettina Remmele, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
Bettina.Remmele@steinbeis-europa.eu
Further information:
Twitter: @AtelierH2020
Website: www.smartcity-atelier.eu