The backbone for the dialogue process were Local Working Groups (LWG), established in all cities. They served as interdisciplinary platforms for learning and institutional capacity building. Over the duration of the project, members from different city departments and perspectives debated the various aspects of the project.
At the beginning all cities thoroughly analysed the current situation. They identified how energy qualities are currently addressed in the urban planning of quarters. A key tool for the analyses were process flow charts, developed for all cities. In addition, a detailed mapping of related instruments and tools was carried out. In total, over 170 instruments and tools were identified. Due to the high number, the analysis concentrated on the most relevant 22 instruments and 22 tools. To understand better which low-carbon options are most suitable and which planning implication they have, existing lighthouse areas were assessed, supported by study tours to receive first-hand experience.
The analysis across all cities commonly showed i.a. that
• planning processes are strongly linked to legal and strategic frameworks as well as to planning cultures and traditions. Consequently, there is not only one way of doing;
• the legal and strategic framework needs more attention as it is the indispensable basis for integrative energy planning;
• there is a strong need for better data and models to soundly support a spatial differentiation of energy supply;
• there is a lack of continuity, and good intentions in master plans etc. get lost in the steps until realisation.
Based on analysis and intensive exchanges, the cities with their local working groups moved on to identify and assess options for improvements. Each city elaborated approaches for upgrading its urban planning process to better integrate energy qualities in support of decarbonised energy quarters. Finally, concrete implementation plans were developed. These plans outline priority actions and next steps towards integrative energy planning.
Overall URBAN LEARNING successfully prepared the ground for integrative energy planning in major European cities. It achieved
• a substantially increased understanding about the need to integrate energy and urban planning and enhanced institutional capacity of the administrations of leading European cities;
• an increased common understanding among key stakeholders (city administration, utility, developers) that already resulted in improved planning coordination between the city and infrastructure providers;
• eight upgraded governance processes and implementation plans equipped with clear commitment to realise them; in fact, in many cities first implementation steps already started;
• lasting structures for exchange between the key stakeholders as most cities confirmed to continue their local working group.
The local working groups involved about 100 people in this dialogue. In a first outreach the URBAN LEANING cities shared their insights with 15 cities from their countries. In a second round findings were disseminated to about 150 cities, reaching > 500 key stakeholders. Improving the governance processes around integrative energy planning for new areas is expected to result in significant long-term energy impacts: energy savings of at least 620 GWh/a and an increased renewable energy production of at least 1.500 GWh/a related to about three million new inhabitants, which are expected in the URBAN LEARNING cities within the next 20 years.
The Paris Agreement was a real booster to URBAN LEARNING and to the commitment of the cities as the Agreement enforced the need for the local level to steer the decarbonisation of its energy system, for which the integration of energy into urban (infrastructure) planning is a crucial step. URBAN LEARNING provides them timely answers. The European exchange was judged as particularly enriching. New bonds were created and exchanges will continue.
Overall, the project’s approach proved to be effective. The local working groups improved the working together with benefits beyond the actual project as city representatives convincingly expressed in the URBAN LEARNING video (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eGeP4ZcBHg(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)).
As the selected cities differ in many aspects replicability of results is valid for many European cities. Results from a web-based toolbox, process flow-charts, an animated video that explains integrative energy planning to a summary brochure and detailed deliverables are all available on the project’s website.
