One of the greatest challenges of project POCITYF is to make ancient cities more sustainable, accessible and even competitive, compared to other cities that do not have the same historic heritage. "In other words, a family's ZIP code should not affect its sustainability prospects. People living in these ancient cities must also have a set of tools that will allow them to become greener," says José Campos Costa. But how can this be achieved? Through energy-positive buildings and districts – endowed with renewable solutions that respect the city's historic heritage; smart energy management and storage systems (which make it possible to take advantage of those buildings' flexibility); social innovation in order to give citizens the role of technology co-creators (rather than users who will simply adopt it); and also electric mobility and MaaS (Mobility as a Service) solutions.

"One of the solutions we planned for POCITYF, which is actually one of the most innovative solutions, is the local energy marketplace, a tool that drives the electrification of the sharing economy. There are several use cases here, the most obvious of which is to enable some buildings with surplus green energy to sell it to their neighbors, on a peer-to-peer basis," says the head of the Energy-Positive Communities department at EDP NEW.

In addition to the local marketplace, which will allow neighbors to buy and sell green energy among themselves – cheaper than energy from the grid –, the project will also have a virtual currency, a token, to reward the sustainable behavior of Évora residents, thus combining technological and social innovation. "Basically, this is an incentive so that people will be rewarded for their sustainable behavior even if they cannot have photovoltaic panels on their roofs," says José Campos Costa. Users of this platform will also be able to donate energy to mitigate the needs of energetically vulnerable communities.

Along the same line, José Campos Costa says that POCITYF is also working to create a communal solar farm. "This communal solar farm will consist of a photovoltaic hub on the outskirts of the city, so that citizens can benefit from the energy generated there, almost like the shareholders of a company receiving their dividends. This will allow Évora residents to have a virtual energy portfolio, with the aim of reducing both their energy costs and their carbon footprint."

The goal here is that this solution will be perceived as a renewable energy community, a customized solution for citizens living in historically protected areas, the livability of which has been a major challenge for municipalities. In addition to the potential for replicating these solutions in other cities across Portugal and Europe – a continent brimming with protected urban spaces –, this solution also works as an instrument to attract citizens to these areas. "Thus, besides the three Ds – decarbonization, digitization and decentralization – which are crucial for the energy transition process, I would dare to add a C for customization."

"All the solutions described here center the transition process on individuals. Whether as citizens, tourists or consumers. In an increasingly connected world, such customization becomes crucial, as people's behavior and habits grow more flexible in both their personal and professional spheres. People are starting to demand that urban infrastructure be more elastic, that systems respond more quickly and, if necessary, in a more customized manner. Endowing cities with this intelligence and flexibility democratizes the transition process itself, and also gives people a sense of ownership and deep engagement on this road to a greener world," concludes José Campos Costa.