How can the transition from fossil to renewable energy be a string driving force for the economic and spatial development of the city and region of Groningen? And how to nourish these development perspectives into implementation? The IABR–Atelier Groningen explored the opportunities for economic and spatial development that present themselves when city and region act on the energy transition in Groningen, in the North of the Netherlands.

Four spatial design proposals are developed: Energy Port, Biobased Economy for the North, Groningen Smart Energy City and Sustainable and Safe Villages. Perspectives are based on a research by design driven exploration of the economic opportunities the transition to renewable energy offers by 2035, perspectives that indicate a future for Groningen as a coherent urban region ready for the Next Economy: the Nordic City. The economic effect of the energy transition becomes substantial when the connections are taken into account that the energy sector can make with other strong urban and regional economic sectors: agriculture, chemistry, knowledge institutes, ICT, and construction.