The PEDvolution consortium convened in Freising, Germany, on 21–22 October 2025 for its 3rd General Assembly, co-hosted by SWW Wunsiedel GmbH (SWW) and Es-geht! Energiesysteme GmbH (ESG). The two-day meeting marked a key milestone in the project’s journey toward developing and demonstrating Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) across Europe.

Strengthening Strategy and Technical Progress

The General Assembly provided an opportunity for partners to review achievements to date, exchange knowledge, and ensure that the Project Review recommendations are effectively addressed within ongoing work. Key topics included the SUPER-PED concept, governance elements in the PEDvolution architecture — with emphasis on scalability and post-project continuity — as well as security and privacy measures, policy recommendations, and exploitation strategies.

During Day 1, partners presented status updates across all work packages, shared key performance indicators, and demonstrated several of the project’s digital tools currently under development. These included the PED Design and Planning Toolset, the Dynamic Decision Support Guideline, the PED Readiness Assessment Framework, the PED Energy Manager, and the Social Innovation Tool. The sessions offered valuable insights and stakeholder feedback on the usability, integration, and alignment of these tools within the PED implementation process.

The afternoon workshops fostered collaboration and co-creation around some of the project’s core dimensions. Participants worked on refining Key Exploitable Results (KERs), finalising data integration frameworks, and advancing interoperability efforts between tools and demonstration sites. A dedicated session on PED governance invited partners to collectively define the governance structures and decision-making mechanisms required to operate a successful PED pilot — identifying key elements that could be standardised for replication in future projects.

The first day concluded with a guided tour and networking dinner at Bräustüberl Weihenstephan, one of Bavaria’s most historic breweries. The visit offered participants a moment to connect informally, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships within the consortium in a unique cultural setting.

Collaboration and Preparing for Demonstration

Day 2 focused on collaborative planning for the demonstration phase. Partners and solution providers engaged in practical discussions to define demonstration scenarios, refine deployment plans, and coordinate the fast-track onboarding of the three follower PEDs once they have been successfully selected. These sessions ensured that PEDvolution’s technical solutions are closely aligned with the operational and data requirements of each demonstration site, creating a strong foundation for testing, validation, and future replication.

Looking Ahead

The Freising General Assembly highlighted the consortium’s shared commitment to combining technological excellence with inclusive governance, citizen engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. As PEDvolution advances into its next phase, partners remain united in their goal to translate research and innovation into real-world impact — enabling the emergence of energy-positive, resilient, and livable cities across Europe.

The consortium extends its sincere thanks to SWW Wunsiedel GmbH and Es-geht! Energiesysteme GmbH (ESG) for their warm hospitality and meeting organisation.