On 9–10 July 2025, the InterPED consortium gathered in the inspiring setting of Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland for the project’s 4th Plenary Meeting, hosted by partner FIRE. This two-day General Assembly brought together representatives from all work packages to align on progress, plan for the second reporting period, and engage with the local pilot site and community.
Day 1: Spotlight on InterPED Pilots
The meeting began with a warm welcome and an on-site tour of the Findhorn Ecovillage, a community internationally recognised for its commitment to sustainability and innovative energy practices.
After the tour, the consortium reviewed overall progress through WP1 and WP2 updates led by coordinator partner R2M, before turning to a dedicated Pilots Workshop.
Each of the four pilot sites presented their advancements:
- Pilot 2: Findhorn Ecovillage (UK)
- Pilot 1: Lugaritz Matía Community (Spain)
- Pilot 3: Arena Innovation Community (Switzerland)
- Pilot 4: Alba Iulia College District (Romania)
Each pilot session included a Q&A, followed by breakout roundtables where site-specific challenges and lessons were shared. These discussions provided a valuable cross-pilot perspective on citizen engagement, flexibility, interoperability, and monitoring.
The day concluded with a relaxed social dinner—a perfect way to continue conversations and enjoy the hospitality of the local community.
Day 2: Impact and Engagement
The second day focused on technical and exploitation work packages.
Presentations covered:
- WP9 (LVL9): Dissemination, communication, exploitation
- WP6 (TEK): Operation management tools and services
- WP7 (IMP): Interoperability and cybersecurity
- WP8 (VEO): Validation and impact assessment
- WP4 (HWU): Citizen engagement and demand response strategy
- WP5 (UCL): Planning methodology and early deployment
Each presentation outlined key milestones achieved in RP1 and expectations for RP2. Open discussions allowed all partners to exchange insights on tools integration, user feedback, and validation strategies.
Collaboration and Connection
Surrounded by nature, the plenary meeting fostered constructive collaboration across work packages and reaffirmed InterPED’s commitment to local empowerment, sustainable energy solutions, and the scalable implementation of PEDs.
We thank our hosts at FIRE and the Findhorn Ecovillage for their hospitality and inspiration.
Stay tuned for more updates as InterPED advances its mission to build Positive Energy Districts across Europe.