A GIS-Based Approach to Identifying Suitable Areas for Positive Energy Districts Development

Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) have been proposed as a holistic approach to urban decarbonization. PEDs are defined as delimited areas that produce, annually, more energy than they consume. The methodology proposed for PED assessment integrates multicriteria decision-making geospatial analysis and weighted overlay techniques to assess PED suitability across different dimensions. Data harmonization is included as part of the modeling process, ensuring methodological consistency across diverse contexts. The approach employs a layer overlay and aggregation through a weighting average process, calibrated through stakeholder input, to reflect local priorities and urban-specific conditions in order to identify the potential areas for PED implementation. Geospatial datasets provided as inputs are processed to produce maps that reflect the PED suitability index for the city districts according to the selected dimensions. As a result, the open-source developed MCDA algorithm provides maps that facilitate the identification of relevant zones for PED feasibility. The algorithm was applied in Bratislava city, understanding its identification potential, adaptability and scalability to other cities. The obtained results highlight the most interesting districts in which to build a PED in Bratislava, promoting the algorithm as a replicable decision-making tool for advancing PED identification and deployment.