Gabaldón Moreno, AndreaVélez, FredyAlpagut, BerilHernández, PatxiSanz Montalvillo, Cecilia2021-01-02Gabaldón Moreno , A , Vélez , F , Alpagut , B , Hernández , P & Sanz Montalvillo , C 2021 , ' How to Achieve Positive Energy Districts for Sustainable Cities: A Proposed Calculation Methodology : A proposed calculation methodology ' , Sustainability , vol. 13 , no. 2 , 710 , pp. 1-19 . https://doi.org/10.3390/su130207102071-1050researchoutputwizard: 11556/1065Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.In this paper, a methodology for calculating the energy balance at the district level and energy performance of those districts aspiring to become a Positive Energy District (PED) is proposed. PEDs are understood as districts that achieve a positive energy balance on an annual basis by means of exporting more energy than is consumed within their limits. The main issue to standardize the concept, besides which characteristics should be considered, is that current standards to calculate an energy balance are not applied at the district level. This paper reviews the current standards and adapts them to propose an energy balance calculation methodology. Calculation of an energy balance at the district level is complex since it includes several parameters, such as which loads (or elements) should be included, which renewable energy technologies should be considered on-site production, and which primary energy factors should be used. The proposed methodology is thought to help cities at the design stage of a district and to evaluate its annual energy balance. The methodology is performed in eight steps, and all the needed assumptions that affect the calculation of the annual energy balance are discussed in each step192929591enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessjournal article10.3390/su13020710Positive energy districtsSmart citiesPrimary energy assessmentPositive energy districtsSmart citiesPrimary energy assessmentComputer Science (miscellaneous)Geography, Planning and DevelopmentRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnvironmental Science (miscellaneous)Energy Engineering and Power TechnologyHardware and ArchitectureComputer Networks and CommunicationsManagement, Monitoring, Policy and LawSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesProject IDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/824418/EU/Energy efficient pathway for the city transformation: enabling a positive future/MAKING-CITYinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/824418/EU/Energy efficient pathway for the city transformation: enabling a positive future/MAKING-CITYFunding InfoThis project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 824418 (MAKING-CITY).This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 824418 (MAKING-CITY).http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099484309&partnerID=8YFLogxK