ProLight Final conference

The ProLight Final Conference sets the foundation for dialogue, reflection, and future cooperation. From project results to sister-project insights and local success stories, the event underlines the power of shared learning in driving resilient, climate-conscious, and people-centred neighbourhood development. 

The event will bring together project partners, cities, and stakeholders to reflect on four years of developing and implementing Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in Vienna (AU), Milano (IT), Matoshinhos (PT), Vaasa (FIN) and Kozani (GR). 

Table of Contents

Final event agenda

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Day 1 – 22 June 2026​ - On-site event

June 22, 14:30 – 15:00
Welcome and Registration

June 22, 15:00 – 16:00
The retrofit challenge: Whats holding us back - and what works?

  • Introduction – Momir Tabakovic, ProLight coordinator – (10 min)
  • Video screening (20-30 min)
    • ProLight project – Focus on the Vienna (Johannes Zeininger) and Vaasa (Teppo Rasku) demo districts, Momir Tabakovic
    • LehB:KlimafitDemo2+1Living: Climate-Resilient Renovations of Social Housing, Jens Leibold
    • Supershine project, Paola Zerilli
    • Moderated discussion with representatives of the Demo Districts (30 min),
      Moderation: Thodoris Giourkas, CluBE
    • Goal: Challenges, barriers, good practice

June 22, 16:00 – 17:00
Shared energy, shared benefits? Opportunities and barriers in social energy communities

  • Video screening (20-30 min)
    • ProLight – Focus on two energy communities: Gernika (Begoña Benito) and Urbana New Living (Stefano Fava)
    • sozialEG: Operating models for social energy communities – Mélanie Michel
    • Reschool project – Hugo Niesing
    • Moderated discussion with project representatives (30 min)
      Moderation: Thomas Nacht, 4wardEnergy
  • Goal: Challenges, barriers, good practice

June 22, 17:00 – 20:00
Social Dinner in the Cinema

Day 2 – 23 June 2026 - Hybrid event

June 23, 09:30 – 11:00
The ProLight Project: What we’ve learned across Europe: Insights from six cities

Introduction: Momir Tabakovic, Project Coordinator ProLight (FHTW)

  • Keynote by Philip Vincent Mcguinness (DG ENER, European Commission)- online
  • Scaling Impact: From Demonstration to Replication in the ProLight Project – Martina Heidenhofer, Evelyn Hummer (4ER) and Elina Bosch (Becquerel Institute)
  • Challenges and success factors for the replication of digital services in using apps– Stefano Fava (Planet Smart City) and Teppo Rasku (VOAS)
  • From awareness raising to active participation: How to succeed Citizen engagement – Begoña Benito (GAIA) and Valentina Hira (CluBE)
  • Evaluation and Multiple Benefits of the ProLight Interventions – Gianluca Grazieschi and Irene Bertolami (EURAC)
  • Q&A from the audience

June 23, 11:30 – 13:00
Connecting the dots: Lessons from parallel projects and partnerships

Introduction: Alexandre Varela (EDP)

  • The role of partnerships in successful district housing projects by Queena Qian (Technical University of Delft)
  • Supershine project: Tackling energy poverty through social housing renovation funded by Public Private Partnerships: the experience of the SUPERSHINE lighthouse districts by Paola Zerilli (University of York)
  • RENOWAVE.AT – the innovation hub for climate-neutral building and neighbourhood renovations across Austria – Isabel Mühlbauer (RENOWAVE)
  • Climate-Resilient Urban Regeneration in Vocational Training – Simon Schneider (FHTW)
  • Q&A from the audience

June 23, 14:15 – 15:15
Local Action, European Impact: The Policy Role of Cities in the Transition

Moderation: Adriano Bisello (Eurac Research)

  • Energy- and Climatefonds Austria – Julia Bina (Klimafonds)
  • Climate and Innovation Agency Vienna – Waltraud Schmid (UIV)
  • Representative City of Judenburg – Eva Volkar
  • ProLight Project – Momir Tabakovic
  • Amsterdam and energy community FlexCitizen– Hugo Niesing (Resourcefully)
  • Q&A from the audience

June 23, 15:15 – 15:30
Closing words by Momir Tabakovic

June 23, 15:30 – 17:00
Visit of the demo district "Sulmgasse 11"

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