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As cities seek to achieve carbon neutrality, the integration of nature-based solutions (NBSs) with renewable energy sources (RESs) presents both an opportunity and a challenge, requiring an interdisciplinary approach and an innovative planning strategy. This paper published in Designs 2025, 9(3), 60, Special Issue on Positive Energy Districts, aims to explore potential ways of achieving synergies between NBSs and RESs that contribute to urban climate neutrality.
Focusing on the railway station district in western Thessaloniki (Greece), this research is situated within the ReGenWest project, part of the EU Cities Mission. The study develops a comprehensive, well-structured framework for integrating NBSs and RESs, drawing on principles of urban planning and energy systems to address the area’s specific spatial and ecological characteristics. Using the diverse typologies of open spaces in the district as a foundation, this research analyses the potential for combining NBSs with RESs, such as green roofs with photovoltaic panels, solar-powered lighting, and solar parking shaders, while assessing the resulting impacts on ecosystem services. The findings reveal consistent benefits for cultural and regulatory services across all interventions, with provisioning and supporting services varying according to the specific solution applied.
The study identifies larger-scale opportunities for integration, including the incorporation of NBSs and RESs into green and blue corridors and metropolitan mobility infrastructures and the development of virtual power plants to enable smart, decentralized energy management. A critical component of the proposed strategy is the implementation of an environmental monitoring system that combines hardware installation, real-time data collection and visualization, and citizen participation.
Aligning NBS–RES integration with Positive Energy Districts is another aspect that is stressed in this paper, as achieving carbon neutrality demands broader systemic transformations. This approach supports iterative, adaptive planning processes that enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of NBS–RES integration in urban regeneration efforts.
The publication is available here.