AEGIR at Rethink Cities Summit 2025 | Sønderborg, Denmark
The Rethink Cities Summit, held on 8 and 9 September 2025 in Sønderborg, Denmark, brought together global leaders to advance sustainable urban development through public-private collaboration, the exchange of best practices and scalable net zero solutions.
Carsten Rothballer, Head of Sustainable Energy Systems at ICLEI (AEGIR project partner), represented AEGIR in the closing panel discussion ‘Blueprints That Work: How to Scale Technologies and Solutions That Rethink Cities.’
In that spirit, Carsten highlighted AEGIR’s approach in demonstrating that façade first renovation is ready to scale. Across four demonstration sites in France, Spain, Denmark and Romania, the project is testing quick to install, adaptable systems and plug and play façades in elderly residences, schools and individual homes. These façades integrate insulation, smart windows, ventilation and renewable energy to move buildings towards nearly zero energy standards, while improving comfort and using sustainable materials.
I had the pleasure to listen to and meet many leading net zero cities and innovators from across Europe. Among other aspects, we focused on how to mainstream and scale pilot project learnings. I took one important thing with me: if you are ahead of the game and have identified a differentiating measure or approach, be generous in sharing your learnings and successes. That is how you create added value for the net zero community and very likely also for your own organisation.
What also sets AEGIR apart is its digital backbone. A Common Data Environment (CDE) connects all steps of a renovation project, from design to operation, while a Digital Twin provides a detailed view of the building and its components. These tools enhance collaboration, transparency and quality control, giving cities and stakeholders a reliable framework to manage deep renovation at scale.
AEGIR is ready to share its experience and support replication in your city.
