Valga and Kohtla-Järve set agenda of innovative positive energy urban districts on the smart shrinking path

The project meeting with the Valga Municipality was held in March '24. The team from Tartu University presented comprehensively and concisely the CO2PED research project on positive energy districts, outlining the plans for the three-year applied study. The research team discussed with municipal officials, chaired by chief planner Lenna Hingla, how the scope, focus, methodology and deliverables could support the smart shrinking and revitalisation of city centre in Valga in highly complex energy transition. The joint plans with the Latvian twin Valka was highlighted as key element in the urban transformation. The city centre first approach in urban planning should frame multiple ambitious projects.

At our inception meetings to the recent energy transition in Kohtla-Järve, chaired by development adviser Anton Makaryev, the project team, namely prof Antti Roose underlined the importance of harmonising and synchronising the CO2PED process and project actions with the just transition. Despite the decline and phase out of oil shale energetics, the multiple innovative solutions on low carbon urban revitalisation remain the priority in the strategy of Kohtla-Järve. The project focus on Järve district provides the unique urban setting with architecture and parklands. The project should be delivered as collaborative approach recognizing the urgent need for the refurbishment, excess housing stock and market failure in the property market. There are multitude of opportunities in relation to socio-technological innovation in the urban energy transformation.