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NEEDS Repowered unites cities for a secure energy future

The picture shows the project consortium at the kick-off meeting.
© IKB / Maria Kirchner
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The NEEDS Repowered project networks six European cities to make them more resilient to energy crises and avoid energy poverty. Led by AIT, Innsbruck, Karlsruhe, Krakow, Iași, Budaörs and Helsingborg are working together to strengthen the resilience of positive energy neighbourhoods - urban districts that generate more renewable energy than they consume. It is part of the Driving Urban Transitions partnership and is co-funded by the EU.

The recently launched NEEDS Repowered project focuses on so-called Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). These are urban districts that generate more renewable energy locally than they consume. They combine sustainable energy generation with innovative technologies and community participation to make cities more climate-friendly and resilient. Under the leadership of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, 15 European partners are working on the realisation of the 3-year project.

Cooperation as the key to energy-efficient and socially just cities
The development and implementation of effective climate policies focussing on energy efficiency and building refurbishment in cities is a complex and time-consuming process. It requires close cooperation between state actors, property developers, owners, tenants, investors and other relevant stakeholders. In view of current challenges such as increasing energy poverty in Europe, NEEDS Repowered poses key questions: Can an energy-efficient neighbourhood reduce the load on the electricity grid? How can integrative measures and innovative advisory services help to reduce heating costs for disadvantaged groups?

Focus on energy efficiency and social innovation
"The project addresses the challenges of energy efficiency by presenting technologies for building renovations, creating incentives for behavioural change and developing sustainable financing models. It takes into account social and technical innovations as well as regulatory and legal framework conditions," says project manager Gudrun Haindlmaier, Senior Scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. A Community of Practice (CoP) also networks the participating cities in order to exchange knowledge, identify obstacles and strengthen local "knowledge arenas" as innovation centres.
The project also provides valuable insights into energy crises, energy poverty and energy justice. It examines how successful approaches can be transferred to different regions and how neighbourhoods can support each other to avoid social exclusion and inefficient structures.

A holistic approach for resilient and inclusive PEDs
NEEDS Repowered takes a holistic and inclusive approach to reducing energy poverty and making PEDs more resilient. Each project site (Repowered Site) develops context-specific strategies to utilise local potential, increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption.
Supported by experts from various disciplines, joint methods for participation, co-creation and impact measurement are developed on site - an important step towards sustainable, efficient and people-centred energy systems.

The Repowered Sites - local action with common goals
NEEDS Repowered connects six cities in Europe - Innsbruck (AT), Karlsruhe (DE), Kraków (PL), Iași (RO), Budaörs (HU), and Helsingborg (SE) - each facing individual challenges and bringing different approaches to the development of resilient and inclusive PEDs.

More information at: www.needs-repowered.at
About the AIT

Research & development is the central driver of innovation for industry, the economy and society, secures jobs and prosperity and thus strengthens Austria as a business location. Applied research also provides solutions for the major challenges of our time. The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is Austria's largest research and technology organisation with more than 1,500 employees working on the key infrastructure issues of the future. The AIT focuses on the two interlinked research priorities of "sustainable and resilient infrastructures", particularly in the areas of energy, transport and health, and the "digital transformation of industry and society", working closely with industry and clients from public institutions.

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© IKB / Maria Kirchner
© AIT / Anahi Montalvo-Rojo

Contact

Beatrice Fröhlich-Rath
Mag.a Beatrice Fröhlich-Rath MA
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Marketing and Communications
Center for Innovation Systems & Policy
T +43 (0)50550-4508
beatrice.froehlich-rath@ait.ac.at | www.ait.ac.at

Daniel Pepl
Daniel Pepl, MAS MBA
Corporate and Marketing Communications
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
M +43 664 6207805
daniel.pepl@ait.ac.at | www.ait.ac.at