A groundbreaking European initiative is setting the stage for the future of clean energy in urban districts. The InterPED project, funded by the European Union, is spearheading the development of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), positioning cities at the heart of the EU’s clean energy transition. As urban centers face the challenge of accounting for a significant share of global energy use and carbon emissions, InterPED introduces a pioneering strategy. This strategy underscores the importance of sustainable urbanization, merging innovative sector coupling with cross-vector optimization, and amplifying demand flexibility, all while deeply engaging consumers in the energy landscape.
With urban centers accounting for a major share of global energy consumption and emissions, InterPED presents an innovative, cloud-based solution to make PEDs a reality.
Launched on January 1, 2024, with a budget of €3.3 million and a three-year timeline, InterPED unites a powerhouse consortium of 14 partners from seven countries: the UK, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Serbia, Romania, and Switzerland.
Software Imagination & Vision (SIMAVI), the Romanian IT software integrator, is ensuring secure and efficient energy management of the InterPED project through cutting-edge IT solutions. With extensive expertise in R&D projects, SIMAVI contributes innovative digital solutions that enhance the security, scalability, and interoperability of energy systems.
A Strong and Diverse Consortium
Bringing together expertise from multiple sectors, the InterPED consortium is comprised of:
- Technology & Urban Planning Experts: Veolia (VEO) and the Municipality of Alba Iulia (AIM).
- Research & Innovation Leaders: Tekniker (TEK), Institute Mihailo Pupin (IMP), Hive Power, and Grid Singularity (GSY).
- Academic Institutions: Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), Heriot-Watt University (HWU), and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI).
- Energy Service Companies & Grid Operators: The Electricity Company of Massagno (AEM) and R2M Solution.
- Public Authorities & Policy Specialists: Level9 (LVL9) and Findhorn Innovation Research & Education (FIRE).
- Software & Cybersecurity Experts: Software Imagination & Vision (SIMAVI), ensuring secure and efficient energy management through cutting-edge IT solutions.
Driving Innovation for Sustainable Urban Energy
InterPED focuses on integrating sector coupling, cross-vector optimization, demand flexibility, and active consumer engagement to enhance the use of local renewable energy sources (RES), storage solutions, and excess/waste heat.
Key objectives include:
- Deploying a cloud-based platform to develop highly efficient, decarbonized PEDs with over 50% renewable energy integration.
- Validating the InterPED approach through four pilot projects, enhancing grid resilience and unlocking new demand flexibility opportunities.
- Scaling up and replicating success, with strategic plans to extend the impact of InterPED to additional districts across Europe, benefiting infrastructure, the environment, the economy, and society.
Real-World Testing: Pilot Projects Across Europe
InterPED’s innovative strategies will be tested in four geographically and climatically diverse pilot sites:
- Lugaritz-Matía Community (Spain)
- Ecovillage Findhorn (United Kingdom)
- Arena Innovation Community (Switzerland)
- Alba Iulia College District (Romania)
These pilot projects will demonstrate how integrated energy solutions can optimize renewable energy use while engaging key stakeholders such as aggregators, utilities, ESCOs, and DSOs in the service model.
Join the Clean Energy Movement
- InterPED is more than just a project—it’s a movement toward a sustainable energy future. The team invites energy professionals, policymakers, urban planners, and the general public to stay engaged and follow the project’s progress.
To stay updated, follow InterPED on social media and visit our website:
🔗Website: https://interped.eu
📌 LinkedIn: InterPED
🐦 Twitter/X: @interped_eu
▶️ YouTube: InterPED Project
About InterPED InterPED is a European Union-funded project dedicated to advancing Positive Energy Districts through cloud-based innovations, enhancing renewable energy use, and strengthening urban energy resilience.
