Living Labs for citizen-centric energy transition - learning from oPEN Lab

The aim of the oPEN Lab project is to revitalize urban areas across Europe, leading the transition to Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PENs) by demonstrating the feasibility of promising technologies in an integrated, participatory, and neighbourhood-based approach. Three oPEN Living Labs in Genk (BE), Pamplona (ES) and Tartu (EE) are set up as open innovation hotspots for testing combinations of close-to-market ready technologies and services and study their performance as a unique operating system. Based on the eliciting needs from citizens, new innovators are also involved in the Living Labs. Within the project, ENoLL is responsible for the capacity building and mentoring concerning the Living lab approach. In our presentation we will focus on the best LL-practices developed, (e.g., community-based artworks, open houses, renovation-as-a-service), but also focus on the challenges concerning stakeholder engagement and barriers for Living Lab growth.