Sustainable Development Goals and Performance Measurement of Positive Energy District: A Methodological Approach

The “Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods for Sustainable Urban Development” program launched by the European Union can be considered a milestone towards the clean energy transition and carbon neutrality of urban areas. The achievement of this ambitious transition requires properly defined methodologies and action plans grounded on the main environmental, economic, and social pillars of sustainability. This paper is focused on the definition of a methodology for the characterization of PEDs sustainability assessment in terms of Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, the main research question to be answered regards the allocation of the surplus energy of PEDs to target the sustainable development and growth of living areas. The main implications of SDG7, referring to the modern and reliable energy access for all, are here discussed and shaped around the features of PEDs. Interlinkages with other SDGs are proposed and measured with ad hoc defined indicators. In this sense, this paper can represent an attempt to orient urban planning decisions not only for the definition of PEDs but also for their practical environmental, economic, and social implications in the long term.