Stakeholder and regulatory perspectives on the creation of district-level structures for positive energy districts: the case of Hiedanranta

Abstract

The European Union is promoting positive energy districts as a model for decarbonising urban energy systems. New projects are being implemented, though their regulation and organisation are disjointed and underdeveloped. The relevant stakeholders have differing interests when creating structures that deviate from the traditional centralised energy system. This article studies those stakeholders’ interests and relevant organisational models and regulatory forms through a single case study of Hiedanranta, a potential new positive energy district in Finland. The article explores the choices that must be made between property- and district-level solutions and the related steering mechanisms available for project coordinators.