On October 5th, SPARCS joined +CityxChange in a combined event for the project’s final conference, titled “The Future of Positive Energy Districts.”

During the event, the audience learned about the implementation experiences and lessons learned from the project, through 3 important themes of Positive Energy Districts:

• Enabling a common energy market
• Creating connected communities
• Recommendations for new policy interventions, market regulations, and business models

SPARCS representation at the event brought together professionals from various cities, sparking engaging discussions and offering valuable insights. Mari Hukkalainen from VTT presented SPARCS initiative. Following this presentation, a workshop and group discussion were held with key participants Mari Hukkalainen and Eveliina Grönroos  from VTT, Jani Tartia from Espoo, David Škorňa from Kladno , and Sylva Wai Ying Lam from Reykjavik, sharing their experiences and perspectives on the SPARCS project.

One of the notable highlights of the event was the Mobility workshop on Day 2, led by Trondheim Kommune and FourC. They introduced their CityXchange project, Mobee Trondheim, an e-Mobility service, and provided insights into the mobility ecosystem in Trondheim. This led to a deep conversation about the similarities between Reykjavik and Trondheim, both located in non-EU countries yet closely following EU guidelines. The discussion delved into their respective demographics and shared dedication to shifting mobility behavior through Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and transport infrastructure development. This exchange of ideas and experiences promises to foster ongoing dialogue between the two cities.

Another captivating part of the event included a visit to the Brattøra PEB site, offering attendees the opportunity to witness the facilities of the district heating grid. Notably, a public display screen showcased real-time data on energy exchange in the local energy and flexibility market, emphasizing the focus on sustainability and transparency.

The tour also extended to the BREEAM Plus building at the Sluppen PEB, which aligns with the vision of Reykjavik’s SPARCS demo project, “Green Housing for the Future.” This shared commitment to sustainable building practices underlines the collective efforts of cities aiming to create eco-friendly communities.

Moreover, Kladno, a city represented at the event, conducted a kick-off meeting for the Task Group for Energy Communities and Digitalization under the Scalable Cities framework. This group, to be led by Kladno, includes a board of coordinators and aims to develop a study on energy communities. The topic of Energy Communities was also highlighted during the event’s second day, emphasizing the growing significance of this aspect in urban development.