Energy Innovation for Historic Urban Spaces
MonuPED is an international research and innovation project dedicated to integrating energy solutions into monument-protected areas. We focus on sustainable energy, innovative investment models, and digital tools to support the transition while preserving cultural heritage.
Our Mission
Sustainable Energy for Heritage Cities
At MonuPED, we work towards:
Streamlining Regulations
We simplify complex legal and regulatory barriers that often hinder the adoption of renewable energy in protected urban areas. By identifying bottlenecks and proposing adaptive frameworks, we help pave the way for heritage-friendly energy upgrades.
Building Smart Tools
We develop digital platforms to support energy assessment, planning, and decision-making in historic districts. These tools provide data-driven insights, visualize energy scenarios, and enable stakeholders to make informed choices.
Unlocking Investment
We promote innovative financing and co-investment models that make Positive Energy Districts economically feasible. From shared ownership platforms to public-private funding strategies, we explore ways to align financial incentives with climate action.
Testing in Living Labs
We bring theory into practice through real-world pilots in cities like Prague, Leipzig, and Alba Iulia. These Living Labs allow us to test, refine, and demonstrate PED solutions in diverse historical settings, creating blueprints for replication.
We bring together municipalities, property owners, investors, and heritage authorities to co-develop solutions that work for all.
What Makes Us Different
Heritage-sensitive energy innovation, grounded in real cities
While many energy transition projects focus on new urban developments or retrofitting standard buildings, MonuPED takes on the toughest challenge—how to bring Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) to protected, historic city areas.
Here’s what sets us apart:
We Start with the Constraints
Most projects retrofit around technical systems. We begin with heritage regulations, architectural sensitivity, and community needs. By accepting these constraints as a creative framework, we develop solutions that respect the past while enabling the future.
We Work Locally, Think Systemically
Our work is rooted in real European cities—Prague, Leipzig, and Alba Iulia—where we co-develop solutions with local governments, planners, and communities. But our tools, methods, and models are designed to scale beyond these pilots and inform broader policy.
We Co-Create, Not Just Consult
Local participation isn’t an afterthought—it’s central to our process. We co-design solutions with stakeholders from day one, ensuring they are not only feasible but socially accepted and contextually relevant.
A Sustainable Future for Historic Cities
At MonuPED, our mission is to bridge the gap between heritage protection and urban energy transition by enabling the implementation of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in monument-protected areas.
A Positive Energy District (PED) is an urban area that generates more renewable energy than it consumes, leading to:
- Lower carbon footprints in cities
- Energy self-sufficiency through local renewable sources
- More resilient and future-proof urban environments
Where We Work
Pilot Cities Leading the Change
Prague
Czech Republic
Integrating clean energy solutions in UNESCO-listed areas
Leipzig
Germany
Developing digital mapping tools for urban energy planning
Alba Iulia
Romania
Exploring investment models for heritage energy projects
Each city serves as a Living Lab, where we test, refine, and scale solutions for sustainable energy in protected zones.
Co-funders
